Always wear your fruits and vegetables

Dressing for joy: styling fruits & veggies from plate to closet

Personal feelings about fruits & veggies

First of all, I love eating fruits and vegetables. I’ve gone through many phases in my life where I’ve attempted to be a vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, and God knows what else. There’s nothing I love more than a hot summer day with a BBQ, chafing thighs from denim shorts, and, most importantly, watermelon.

I think if I had to rank my top three fruits, it would be as follows:

1. Kiwi (golden – this is a very specific niche request)

2. Mango (pre-sliced because I am very lazy)

3. Watermelon (pre-cut into chunks because I don’t like the explosive water situation when cutting my own)

And now, a brief list of fruits I just don’t F with…

• Cantaloupe. THE WORST. I’m sorry if this is polarizing. You’ll read more about my husband’s gag reflex below, but this one makes me feel ill just thinking about it.

• Papaya. Mixed in a smoothie, okay, cool. On its own? I don’t know, it just reminds me of vomit.

Vegetables are also very near and dear to my heart. It took a long time to get my husband on the bandwagon of eating vegetables. He was fully convinced until fairly recently that he had this inexplicable response to eating them. Every time he ate one, he claimed he “gagged” and just couldn’t do it. After a lot of work and force-feeding, I’m proud to say he’s overcome this trauma.

A vegetable filled meal my husband and I can now enjoy together.

There are some he dislikes but attempts to scarf down or spread out on his plate so I don’t notice (ex: Brussels sprouts – but if I add bacon to the sprouts, it’s a game changer).

I think my top favorite vegetables are as follows:

1. Broccoli. Easy to make, easy to scarf down, just gets stuck in my teeth.

2. Another niche selection – but I love purple sweet potatoes.

3. Is it basic to like cauliflower? I know she’s very busy these days sneaking into my kids’ nuggets and pizzas, but definitely one of my favorites.

Vegetables I don’t F with?

None. I honestly looked at millions of lists of vegetables and couldn’t find one that I passionately hate as much as cantaloupe. If this changes, I’ll keep you posted. TBD.

As a kid, anytime my mom served me vegetables I would grab ranch dressing from the fridge to utilize as dipping sauce. I think I still believe that there’s no veggie that can’t be made appetizing with a little ranch now and then.

Is that gross? I don’t know, in college, we dipped pizza in ranch dressing, and we turned out slightly okay.

Fruits & Veggies in Fashion

Brazillian singer, Carmen Miranda. Picture via: Getty Images

The Brazilian singer Carmen Miranda in the 1940s was very well known for her iconic fruit hat. She wore elaborate headdresses with fruits like bananas, pineapples, and grapes. Thank God no cantaloupes. Her fashion risks inspired more modern stars like Katy Perry (outer space trip, ugh, really triggers me – sorry), Margot Robbie, Gigi Hadid, Kim K., and Lady Gaga.

Today, brands like Farm Rio, Lisa Says Gah, Moschino, Stella McCartney, and even Gucci are known for their incorporation of fruits and veggies into their styles. Yes, we can take note of some of these household-name brands, but let’s not forget that some of the best fruit and veggie-inspired looks can be found by small and local creators on sites like Etsy.

Complimentary Prints

When it comes to the fruit and veggie aesthetic, certain prints immediately come to mind. Here are some of the key styles that complement the trend:

1. Gingham

• Currently having a massive moment, gingham perfectly captures that "Farmers Market" local produce vibe.

• Fun story: I once told my husband to grab his gingham shirt to wear out, and he was totally confused by what he thought was a made-up language.

2. Bold Colors

• Think pops of red or bright green – these hues lend themselves beautifully to the fruit/veggie style. Even bold striped skirts or pants can complement the look without overwhelming it.

3. Floral Prints

• Floral patterns give a fun, garden-inspired touch to any fruit/veggie style, adding texture and depth to the look.

4. Polka Dots

• Also having a moment, polka dots strike the perfect balance between fun and vintage, making them a natural match for the playful, earthy vibe of the trend.

5. Abstract Geometrics

• These prints can highlight organic fruits and veggies without clashing, providing a modern yet complementary element to the style.

6. Animal Prints

• Surprisingly, even animal prints work well! Brands like Gucci and Saint Laurent have paired them with the earthiness of fruit and veggie designs to create unexpected, yet stylish, combinations.

7. Denim

• A timeless fabric that never goes out of style. Denim pairs effortlessly with the fruit/veggie look, offering just the right amount of functionality while complementing your farmer-chic vibe.

8. Linen

• Linen is made from a natural fiber, flax. Just like fruits and vegetables evoke freshness, linen has the same effect. I think of a linen bag at a Farmer’s Market or a linen dress while sun bathing on the Amalfi Coast.

9. Raffia

• Raffia gives off extreme resort-energy. When I think of resort life I think of texture and fruit baskets!

---

Inspo I’m Loving Right Now (Spoiler: No cantaloupe prints)

GAP Graphic Tee // Urban Outfitters Lemon Bucket Hat // Target Baseball Hat // Target Blue Sweatshirt // DSW Lemon Clutch // GAP Factory Lemon & Blue Dress // Lemon & Black Dress, H&M Graphic Tee #2 // LOFT Lemon Raffia Earrings // LOFT Lemon & Baby Blue Dress // J.Crew Brown Sandals // Amazon Crystal Lemon Earrings

1. GAP Graphic Tee - I feel like GAP Graphic tees are always solid quality.

2. Urban Outfitters Lemon Bucket Hat - Bucket hats are very in. If you are into these like I am here is a more subtle one without lemon print.

3. Target Baseball Hat

4. Target Blue Lemon Sweatshirt

5. DSW Lemon Clutch

6. GAP Factory Lemon & Blue Dress

7. H&M Lemon & Black Dress

8. H&M Graphic Tee

9. LOFT Lemon Raffia Earrings

10. LOFT Lemon & Baby Blue Dress

11. J.Crew Brown Sandals - Have these in black and absolutely LOVE them. They’re on sale, so I am going to snag the brown as well.

12. Amazon Crystal Lemon Earrings

Madewell Denim Shorts // Zara Blue Flats // J.Crew Peach and Pink Dress, Anthropologie Yellow Graphic Tee // Target Shoulder Raffia Bag // J.Crew White Woven Flats // J.Crew Orange Woven bag // GAP Denim Shirt // J.Crew Cat Eye Sunglasses // Free People Peach Tee-Shirt // J.Crew Factory Orange Earrings // Anthropologie Fruit Shift Dress // Anthropologie Orange Scarf // Sam Edelman Raffia Sandal

1. Madewell Denim Shorts - Have and LOVE these jean shorts.

2. Zara Blue Flats

3. J.Crew Peach & Pink Dress - I have never met a square-necked dress I didn’t like.

4. Anthropologie Yellow Graphic Tee - I am eyeing this one big time.

5. Target Shoulder Raffia Bag

6. J.Crew White Woven Flats

7. J.Crew Orange Woven Bag

8. GAP Denim Shirt - You all know I am a HUGE fan of GAP’s “BIG” shirts! This one is great.

9. J.Crew Cat Eye Sunglasses - There is also a fun Amazon dupe of these I’ll link.

10. Free People Peach Tee-Shirt

11. J.Crew Factory Orange Earrings

12. Anthropologie Fruit Shift Dress

13. Anthropologie Orange Scarf - I’m really into this. I want to unapologetically wear a head scarf this summer… stay tuned, it may be this one!

14. Sam Edelman Raffia Sandal - Have these sandals and LOVE them. They’re chunky and high - but super comfortable. I wore them chaperoning an entire graduation event without any discomfort.

Old Navy Fruit Pajamas // Anthropologie Gingham Dress // Anthropologie Strawberry Skirt // WAYF Strawberry Dress // J.Crew White Button-Down // Amazon Beaded Strawberry Earrings // Anthropologie Strawberry Babydoll Dress // Madewell Red Woven Flats // Target Cherry Sandals // Target Raffia Sandals // Banana Republic Factory Woven Bag // ETSY Bag Charm

1. Old Navy Fruit Pajamas

2. Anthropologie Gingham Dress

3. Anthropologie Strawberry Skirt

4. WAYF Strawberry Dress

5. J.Crew White Button-Down

6. Amazon Beaded Strawberry Earrings

7. Anthropologie Strawberry Babydoll Dress - I loved reading this recent Substack post by Maura Brannigan!

   Unpacking the Psychology Behind the Gen Z Babydoll Dress Trend

8. Madewell Red Woven Flats - I have these exact flats (red) but not “woven.” It’s always nice to have a piece that can add a pop of color/interest to your looks.

9. Target Cherry Sandals

10. Target Raffia Sandals

11. Banana Republic Factory Woven Bag

12. Etsy Bag Charm - Bag charms are ALL the rage right now. If you don’t like this one— scroll through some small creators on Etsy. Their work is unique and stunning!

J.Crew Red skirt // Anthropologie Vegetable Sweater // Anthropologie Vegetable Set // Anthropologie Vegetable Sweatshirt // Madewell Denim Dress // Dolce Vita Raffia Platform sandals // Anthropologie Radish Bag // GAP White Dress // Old Navy Vegetable Dress // Etsy Graphic Tee

1. J.Crew Red Skirt - Obsessed, really want this one!

2. Anthropologie Vegetable Sweater

3. Anthropologie Vegetable Set

4. Anthropologie Vegetable Sweatshirt - Have and love this! I snagged it a few weeks ago when it was oddly on sale. It’s warm, comfortable, oversized and French.

5. Madewell Denim Dress

6. Dolce Vita Raffia Sandal

7. Anthropologie Radish Bag

8. GAP White Dress - Have it, love it, obsessed with it. I think it runs a tiny bit small.

9. Old Navy Vegetable Dress

10. Etsy Graphic Tee - I love going to Etsy for graphic tees and fun details. I especially go there when I want to find something that is more “off brand” and less people can be spotted wearing it.

    

    The adorable veggie sweatshirt from Anthropologie.

Styling These Pieces

A big trend I’m seeing right now on TikTok is “Dopamine Dressing.” I am not a scientist. Just a C+ influencer, but for context: Dopamine is a brain chemical that helps control how we feel pleasure, stay motivated, and form habits. It's like your brain’s internal cheerleader, rewarding you when you do something it likes and pushing you to continue doing it.

This approach to fashion centers around wearing clothes that boost your mood by stimulating the release of dopamine, your brain’s “feel-good” chemical. Think vibrant colors, playful prints, and unique pieces that spark joy and confidence.

I personally think fruit and veggie-inspired outfits fall perfectly into this category. Adding a bold pop of color, a quirky earring, or a fun graphic tee can act as a little mood booster.

This lemon dress from Anthropologie gives me a massive dopamine boost everytime I wear it.

Below, I’m sharing a few ways I’d style the pieces showcased above. I’ve also included a few extras that aren’t listed—those are linked below!

You don’t have to walk around like Katy Perry wearing 15 different fruits on a costume covered in glitter.

• You can take a bold piece like the J.Crew peach/orange dress and pair it with more subtle details: a solid woven flat and a bold orange bag.

• A tee-shirt and denim shorts will never go out of style. But spice it up! Add a chunky sandal and cat eye sunglasses to add some interest.

• A plain white dress is a closet staple, but if you want to lean into the fruit vibe, add some fun inexpensive Amazon strawberry earrings with a complementary pair of red woven ballet flats.

All examples of not walking around like a tropical rainforest, but instead using fruits, vegetables, and various complementary patterns/prints to add interest to a look!

My favorite white denim I wear comes from Madewell. Not see through, comofortable, lasts forever. I also have the brown Gucci sunglasses above and the white button-up! I really love the Etsy shirt and may invest.

Just like the previous looks, easy, simple ways to incorporate the fruit and veggie trend into your everyday outfits.

Small hints of fruits and veggies without ovewhelming colors/prints and fabrics! I have the J.Crew tee shirt in the styling above. The red sweater-tee is also a J.Crew find.

This featured white tee shirt is by far my favorite white tee shirt. It’s cropped so I can wear it with highwaisted leggings, jeans, or shorts. I sized up and am happy with that choice! The raffia clutch bag is a cute Etsy find!

Okay, now I’m hungry. This was really fun—I hope you enjoyed it! Adding vibrant fruit and vegetable patterns to your outfits gives your look a fresh and playful vibe.

A friend told me that if they wore a fruit-inspired outfit, their children might giggle at them, which is valid. However, wearing a “fruit-inspired” style doesn’t have to mean piling on sixteen different fruits all at once. It can be a subtle detail like a radish bag, a beaded strawberry earring, or a lemon graphic tee.

Fashion is meant to be fun—so have fun! Take risks and feel good.

What do you think - are we willing to lean into the fruit trend this Spring/Summer? What are you loving from this list or your own closet?

Love you guys! xo,

❤️ Liked this post? Tap that heart so the algorithm knows someone’s out there.

📩 Think a friend would love this? Share it—good taste isn’t meant to be gatekept.

📸 Want more style and unfiltered ramblings? Follow me on Instagram @timelesslytraci. Tag me if you post—I’ll be in the comments with emojis, enthusiasm, and yas queens.

If you enjoy my work and want to support the content I create, consider BUYING ME A COFFEE ☕🍵—think of it as a virtual tip jar to keep the ideas flowing!

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them. This comes at no extra cost to you, and it helps support my content and allows me to continue sharing the things I love. Thank you for your support.