Embracing your personal style is the holy grail of fashion - but what if you’re still finding yourself? Experimenting with trends is a way to try new styles, especially when done thoughtfully. You can update your look without falling prey to the idea that you need the latest version of everything.
Shiny new clothes can be tempting but don’t forget trends are more tha just new silhouettes - there are also trends in color combinations, styling, and beauty styles. It can be hard to resist springing for cute fast-fashion clothes, especially if you’re on a budget, but continually buying cheap one-off clothes isn’t the answer!
Here are a few tips that’ll help you balance updating your wardrobe while staying true to your style and saving money:
1. Look For Trends You Already Own
Trends are cyclical and similar items go in and out of fashion regularly, so you might already have some of them! Browse through trending outfits on Pinterest, Instagram, and runway shows and try to spot items you already have in your closet. Remember: you don’t need the exact item. Look for similar elements like shape, volume, length, color, and texture. Then try restyling what you have in a way that fits the new version.
I like to save my favorite style inspiration in Stylebook, where I can easily organize them and look for similarities in how the items are worn. Keeping a closet inventory saves me so much money because I can easily see what I have in my closet inventory and save my new outfit ideas.
2. Find Classic Looks In Current Trends
Many eye-catching trends depend on extreme silhouettes and colors that won’t look good on everyone, but there are also runway looks targeted at investment-piece shoppers. If you look at runway shows, you’ll almost always see familiar pieces like white blouses, LBD’s, black trousers, animal prints, etc. Pay attention to how they’re styled and see if you can wear the classic items in your wardrobe the same way.
3. Try New Color Combinations
Each season there are a few new colors, but there are also new color combinations. You may already own items in those colors and just never thought to wear them together. Chances are, if you own them already, they probably look pretty good on you. I use the color search feature in Stylebook to see what I have in my closet and then make outfits.
4. Restyle an Existing Outfit
Your accessories and styling can make an outfit. Just the way you choose to tuck your shirt can change your entire look! In these examples, I tweaked existing outfits based on styling ideas I saw on high-end fashion retailer websites. The left side is how I would have worn it normally and right shows the updated version. I like both but I think the right is a little more contemporary.
- Swap the shoes
- Button your top differently (try unbuttoning a few at the bottom or going all of the way to the top)
- Untuck or tuck your top
- Swap the jacket style
- Layer unexpected pieces
- Layer your jewelry
Clone an outfit in Stylebook and try adding in an “of the moment” accessory or make one of the changes above. I make a few versions of each and then rearrange the icons to group them together.
5. Update As You Replace
If your favorite blazer - circa 2005 - has finally succumbed to being cleaned too many times, explore some new jacket shapes when you replace it. If you find a more contemporary style you like, you will instantly upgrade every outfit that incorporates a blazer. In Stylebook, you can easily see every outfit that uses the same item on the notes page; this will give you a quick idea of how many looks you make without even trying. Taking your time to replace things like this gives you more time to save for a better version and reduces your overall consumption.
6. Find Your Match
If you love the way a new trend looks on you, go for it! Then keep wearing it even after it has cycled out. If you feel great about something, there is no reason to give it up once the moment has passed. The key is to carefully plan your purchase and buy a version that will last. Every few years, there is a trend that is perfect for me. When that happens, I take advantage of the wide variety of choices and find the ideal version. If you’re hesitant, it’s always safer to buy items you’ve seen around for more than one season. I also recommend using Stylebook to test out new clothes with what you have by importing a photo and making some outfits.
7. Update Your Makeup and Hair
If you’re not feeling any of the new looks, try a new makeup technique. You don’t even need to buy new shades. Sometimes just changing the way you apply your makeup is all you need. Updating your eyebrow shape, changing up your eyeliner technique, and yes, hair part can give you a fresher look without even changing your outfits at all.
Accept that not every trend is for everyone
Don’t feel bad if you don’t like anything in the current trend cycle. If everyone is wearing neon bra tops and you’re more into classics, that’s ok. Trust me; your time will come! Fashion is cyclical. What’s “out” today will be “in” tomorrow. Wear what you love! In the meantime, save the money you would’ve spent on clothes. I don’t know about you, but chasing trends usually gets me down. I don’t feel true to my taste, there’s pressure to spend extra money on clothes and I wind up with clothes that I’ll dislike in just a few months. I know the trend cycle is a critical component of the fashion world, but dressing well and dressing trendy are two different things.
