When Current Trends Don't Complement Your Style--MAKE THEM!

I’m sure you’ve been here like me.  I recently walked into Zara and it was like I walked through a time portal and entered the 1960s. When you see the fashion trends, but they don’t match your personal style, what do you do? Yves Saint Laurent said it best, “Fashions fade. Style is eternal.”  When this happens, you must add your personal style elements to make it your own.

Whether you know it or not, we all have some essential items that makes our style unique whether is a certain style of shoes, handbag, jacket, accessories, t-shirt, hair style, nail shape, or combination thereof.  This is how we transform trends, even trends we don’t gravitate towards, and make it our own. If you follow my style blog, you see my go-to’s are usually a jacket or coat and some shoulder bag. Jackets usually add an edgy element (biker) or can tone the look down a dressy look (denim) which is what I appreciate.  I can drape over the shoulders, wear it regular, roll up the sleeves, tie around the waist, each giving off a different vibe changing the look altogether. I have never really been into trends. I tend to buy expensive but timeless, classic items: nude and black Louboutins (other simple colors), simple high-end, but affordable handbags, graphic T’s with iconic people and groups that have influenced me. It’s nice to have a statement piece but I love items that will always be considered in style (hence my business name; Currently InStyle). And to be honest, being trendy can be crazy expensive because they are constantly changing.  Learning how to navigate trends while saving your coins isn’t my area of expertise (one of my favs: PrettywithPennies is the guru of this! and she is STYLISH AF!). In that same token but unrelated, I am struggling with the idea of fast fashions and their negative impact on the environment (it’s the public health in me). My strength is forecasting and anticipating trends and figuring out how I can adapt elements of the trend to my personal style within my budget.

The takeaway: Integrate personal style essentials to make it your own. 

So, what are your essentials? How have you used them to maybe wear something you wouldn’t normally consider?

Also, here is a good reference article from my favorite finance blog, Clever Girl Finance: https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/blog/improve-your-personal-style-on-a-budget/