Sick of skinny jeans? Bored of frilly blouses? Jaded at the thought of the same old black heels? If fashion's got you uninspired, give your style a boost with bold trends—you know, the pieces you see in fashion spreads, but are intimidated by in real life. We've rounded up five daring trends and are sharing the scoop on how to make them work.
Carol Calacci, Chicago-based fashion blogger and managing editor of SecondCityStyle.com, says there’s one key factor to making “daring” trends less intimidating. “You may be less shy about trying a trend that you think is daring if you wear one that flatters you,” she says. If paired with the right pieces, even the scariest of trends can make you feel comfortable. And if the trend feels comfortable, then it won’t seem so “daring” after all.
High-Waist Bottoms
High-waist hems aren’t anything new, but it’s not a trend you necessarily see all over campus. So how can the everyday collegiette make it work? The key to wearing pieces that highlight certain parts of your body–like high-waist bottoms do to your waistline and crop tops do to your midsection–is balance. “Keep a good balance of proportions in whatever you wear,” says Carol. “You need to keep opposites in mind.” Since the purpose of high-waist bottoms is to draw attention to the waist, choose a top that’s cropped or one that can be tucked in. Carol loves the look of another daring trend, crop tops, worn with high-waist bottoms.
Collegiette Hyanna Cardoso, Emmanuel College ’12, echoes that thought, as high-waist anything is her staple. “I would recommend getting comfortable with a pair of mid-rise denim shorts first, before breaking out uber high-waist pants or skirts,” she says. She’ll pair denim shorts with clean tops, like Peter Pan collared tanks—a look that she says balances edgy with something more refined—something that’s perfect for the fashion-shy collegiette.
Crop Tops
Remember the first time you saw someone wearing a crop top? You first thought, who does she think she is? And then you wanted to run out and buy one. But the fascination faded as you stood in the mirror of the dressing room, because let's admit it, crop tops can be terrifying. Pulling them off is part guts and part precision.
When it comes to wearing crop tops, modesty matters. Carol recommends making up for the midriff by covering up in other ways, like wearing longer items on bottom. She suggests trying the crop top with our two daring trends: a high-waist bottom or a maxi skirt. Simmone Seymour, Tufts University ’14, agrees that wearing crop tops with high-waist bottoms is great, but to also keep an eye on something you may forget about: your crop top’s length. “Do not go too cropped!” she says. “The hem should be a little above your hip line and should not expose everything.”
