At this point, trends come and go faster than anyone can even keep track of, and without personal taste anchoring you to reality, good luck keeping up.
I used to find myself falling victim to trend after trend in the hopes of being deemed stylish when I really should’ve been focused on what works for me. I was struggling to keep up, drowning in tired discourse about the “clean girl aesthetic,” or “mob wife” this and “red nail theory” that. It felt like a constant game of catch-up that I had no chance of winning. The second I gave up on trend-hopping, reality hit me like a truck; I had absolutely no personal taste of my own to fall back on. After that, it may have taken me a while to come into my own stylistically, but I hope that some of what I have to say spares you from the same fate of trend-hopping and tragic realization.
by Mina Le
Fashion fundamentals
Before I get into any nitty gritty details, there are only two things that should directly factor into personal style: confidence and comfort. Always try to seek out choices that you’re not just comfortable in, but feel good about wearing. And, to be clear, I don’t just mean physical comfort, I mean learning your fashion boundaries. Take a step back from fashion-centric media for a while and think about what style choices have made you feel at home in your body.
Use Social Media To Your Advantage
As cool as it sounds to live off the grid and come back a whole new person, avoiding any sort of media nowadays is pretty much impossible, so I’m not saying to abstain from media consumption altogether. Honestly, it’d probably help a lot to curate your ideal fashion on something like Pinterest. As you pin more things, the algorithm will actively adjust to your tastes, and help you expand on what you already know you like. I practically live on Pinterest now; It feels like the only form of social media that helps me curate my style instead of directly influencing it. Basically, any algorithm can be trained, so if you don’t feel like giving up on Instagram or TikTok for fashion inspo just yet, save your favorite looks and keep them in mind. Just be wary of falling into the trend trap.
Get Inspired
Expand your mental wardrobe. Visit a local thrift store and pick out something unique and alluring that makes you feel good. Don’t just pop into a department store and pick out the same shirt as the display window mannequin and call it a day. Revisit your favorite movies, memorable outfits, cute photos, and comfortable shoes, and piece together what makes you feel like you. What was your favorite outfit? Why’d you wear it? Where’d you buy it? Who’s your personal style icon? What do you specifically like about their looks? Keep expanding on these thoughts and work toward acquainting yourself with tastes you maybe didn’t even know you had.
Think outside the box
As you start to try out new looks, keep in mind that you don’t have to box yourself into just one aesthetic. With the influx of hyper-niche aesthetics, it can be way too easy to give in to the instant gratification of being a part of the “in-crowd.” Keep in mind though, that as these come in and out of popularity, all you have to show for yourself is your personal style.
Don’t be afraid to dress in all black with heavy eyeliner one day and switch to a cutesy pink look the very next. While exploring what you like, keep trying to step outside of your normal choices and experiment with new looks.
If I’d boxed myself into just one aesthetic before exploring my options, I’d just be doomed to follow another niche trend cycle for all eternity. Try and avoid labeling your tastes too soon and keep working on finding what works best for you, consistency be damned.
by Shanspeare
Most importantly…
Tips and tricks aside, there are no rules to fashion. Clothes are meant to fit you, you shouldn’t be bending over backward to style something that isn’t your thing for the sake of fitting in. Everyone has a unique sense of style and it’s just a matter of pinpointing what that means for you.
Trends aren’t the end all be all of fashion. Explore your tastes and curate your own stylistic identity. And remember, owning a look all boils down to being comfortable and confident in your skin. Own what you wear. Don’t let it own you.