Trends are tricky. After all ladies, you don’t want to just buy trends and wear them. You want to buy and wear them well. Luckily, we have some tried-and-true rules that makes implementing seasonal trends into your everyday wardrobe as easy as 1-2-3(-4-5).
Rule #1 – Only partake in trends that you actually like and that will accurately reflect your personal style.
That really chill girl in your bio class might look great in her studded sweaters, but if your closet is full of Lilly and Vineyard Vines, chances are this might not be the look for you. Opt to incorporate ankle booties instead. What you wear should reflect who you are.
Rule #2 – Pick trends that will flatter you.
For instance, if you’re pear shaped and don’t want to accentuate your lower half by wearing high-waisted jeans or printed pants, invest in a statement necklace. Not only will it vamp up your look, but it will also draw the eyes upward by creating a higher focal point. Be mindful of your body type and consider what features you want to emphasize.
Rule #3
If you’ve whittled your list down and decided which trends you’re going to invest in, now you have to actually purchase them. This is absolutely non-negotiable: make sure what you’re buying fits. This rule applies to all types of shopping. If your new camouflage pants you picked up over fall break are too tight, no matter how awesome they are, you will not look good. Who cares what size the tag says? You’re likely the only one who is even going to see it. Don’t buy anything unless it fits well (or unless it can be tailored to work for you).
Rule #4 – Don’t feel obligated to spend tons on trends.
If you’re buying a piece you think you’ll wear well beyond it’s season in the spotlight, then, by all means, spend a little more so you will have something of quality that you’ll look forward to wearing for more than a year. Otherwise, don’t. If Kate Middleton can hunt for a bargain then, ladies, so you can you. Search sites like RueLaLa and Gilt before you head to Neiman. Maybe even pop into TJ-Maxx. All in all, just keep in mind that it’s completely unnecessary to break the bank when shopping for trends.
Rule #5
You’ve done it. You’ve successfully selected and purchased a few of this season’s most in-demand items. Now what? How do you wear them? How trendy is too trendy? The truth is trends should enable us to freshen up our wardrobes with a few key pieces. They should inspire us to create new outfits by allowing us to mix old and new. Just be wary because there is such a thing as too much. For instance, if you’re planning on wearing your new leather pants with ankle booties and a camo vest over a studded sweater, stop right there. You’ve gone too far. Generally speaking, limit yourself to two trends per outfit. Trends should never overwhelm your personal style; they should only enhance it.
After all, trend lists are essentially reducible to a marketing tool. They’re a way for brands and corporations to keep consumer appetites going. Yes, fashion is a means of self-expression, but the cold hard truth is it ultimately comes down to money. At the end of the day, fashion is an industry. Always remember, your personal style should come first, embodying a tension between conformity and rebellion to create something beautiful.
By Kira Kukon