ascending the trend
I find myself, like many of you, falling into the trap of trend tracking. How does this happen? For one, scrolling on social apps like Insta and TikTok. Whereas they serve us for obvious entertainment purposes, now, many of these apps are infected with ads. So for me, my algorithm of ads is fashion and style and beauty focused because that’s the majority of what I search on the internet besides Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner dating rumors and most recently how to un-hack my LinkedIn profile. Nonetheless, I am being stalked by countless ads trying to trap me and of course a lot of these style suggestions align with items I have purchased in the past so 50% of the time my interest is activated. With this temptation combined with similar ads on TikTok or literal influencers *trying* to influence me, it’s easy to end up visiting these sites and wasting precious time perusing these sites that are trying to promote the latest trends. In the past, I’ve given in and purchased the occasional maxi skirt or sweater and then I literally end up never wearing them beyond the initial styling attempt. So how do we ascend beyond the trend(s) that are constantly being circulated and constantly changing? Well, there are some of you out there who have made that your personality; you assume the trend and ditch it as soon as the next one is up to bat. I’m looking at those of you who took on the “Lilith” personality and then jumped on “cottage core” just as quickly. It’s giving fashion unsustainability a new name but to each their own.
Images from Pinterest
For me, I have a strong sense of my default aesthetic and like to combine this with trends, but more so trends of previous decades which ironically, (I guess) are being circulated and reintroduced in the present day. I basically wear the same uniform each day and build upon that with vintage staple pieces which predominantly consist of bags and jackets. There are a few ways however to combat the trap of trend chasing, given of course you haven’t made this your core personality. The first is pretty obvious and its to develop and have a strong sense of your personal style. Know what actually looks good on you and makes you feel confident. How do you dress everyday? What pieces do you reach for the most? You should also think about why you gravitate towards certain trends. Do you identify with the materials, color palette, or the silhouettes? This can be a good indicator of what your personal style really is.
We often hear that vintage shopping and sustainability go hand-in-hand. Choosing to incorporate vintage and secondhand pieces into your wardrobe is a great way to avoid the trend trap.. Vintage clothing often has a timeless appeal, and it's a way to stand out from the crowd while avoiding current trends which are more often than not cheap because they are fleeting, poorly made and obviously not sustainable for your closet, your look, or the planet. You also want to invest in timeless classics and yes this means spending some dough but it’s a good investment for your brand and therefore your closet. I really like what Gigi Hadid is doing right now with her cashmere brand Guest In Residence. Her mission is to provide and encourage youth to invest in high quality garments at a reasonable price that can last a long time. Pairing these rules with keeping versatility in mind as well as confidence is going to seal the deal on ascending the “trending.” Choose versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched easily and Wear what makes you feel confident and comfortable, regardless of whether it's "in style" at the moment.