yes! i was so glad to be steadfast in my stance about the color red, particularly adjacent to my face in 2023. red + brown was everywhere, and i am very much a brown girl, so this could have been super tempting for me to buy into and would have led to big regrets (alternatively, when brown was suddenly everywhere again i knew it was a good time to stock up because i have always loved wearing that color). one benefit of aging i think is that we have all been through the cycles already and can easily think back: how did i feel the last time i was wearing denim maxis? i shudder to think back to how those worked for me 25 years ago and feel no need to try again.
Yes to the benefit of aging, fully agree! It takes experience to know what you like and what works for you. It would have been unrealistic for most of us to have that knowledge at a younger age.
I had a denim maxi skirt in the late 90s/early 2000s as well. I loved it and wore it a lot back then, but I don't feel tempted to wear one like it again.
I personally think that trends can move into the realm of classics if they also have a functional value besides the aesthetic one. Birkenstocks were classic for some people even before they were trendy but the reason we still wear them is that they are plain comfortable. I haven’t been one to ever wear ballet flats but I'm contemplating them as I'm looking for more options for everyday flats. And mary janes are particularly functional because the strap keeps your foot fixed even when your foot size fluctuates from morning to evening. On the other side, I see no functionality in mesh flats unless you have gorgeous feet and want everyone to admire your great genes. And the only places I think I'm likely to see people wearing knitted panties as an outfit are instagram pics, clubs (if I went there), and any capital during fashion week (again, if I went there). So I'm definitely on board with you regarding some of these.
I agree on the functionality aspect. If a trend is functional, I'm more likely to at least consider it. But sometimes functionality can be a trap as well. Athleisure is very comfortable and in that sense functional, but it doesn't matter if it just doesn't feel right for one's personal style. Sometimes it's difficult to tap into those feelings, because they're not always rational.
I so admire people who dare to tackle the pantless trend. It's not for me personally, but I applaud everyone who feels empowered by it. And that's the beauty of it. It's not about 'ins' and 'outs', or even 'likes' and 'dislikes'. I think all of these trends can be/look amazing if the right person taps into that place within them where they feel powerful while wearing these things.
I like to fight the mere-exposure effect. But it's funny to see what's on Your list. Mary Janes, pearls and skirts over pants (or dresses) are things I never left since last time they were trends. As a consequence I bought myself new pairs of Mary Janes now. However, when something I use to wear suddenly becomes a trend I nearly get a little frustrated and can feel the urge to explain that I've been wearing the actual trend "for ages". Slingbacks for example. Isn't that strange?
I totally understand! I've owned a bright red turtleneck for years, and last year when red started trending, I felt a little annoyed. It's funny how that is, like we want the world to think/know that we're not victims of fashion.
I love how one person's 'don't wear' list is full of another person's favorites. That shows that we're all different, we're drawn to different things, and style is such a personal thing!
Some things that I used to have but no longer I'm actually happy they're back. I already found myself an oversized vintage barn jacket directly after I'd seen the Prada SS24 show (used to have my brothers old one 20 yrs ago) and also bought some secondhand oversized rugbyshirts after I'd seen Dries van Noten SS24 (used to have my brothers there as well back in the days). A lot of other upcoming trends I'll skip...
Right! I am a skirt over pants, wide leg trousers and Birkenstock wearer since forever and it’s so annoying when these become trendy! On the other hand it’s a good time to replenish my wardrobe. I just bought a pair of beautiful wide leg denim and am over the moon about them, knowing they are a cornerstone of my style and will stay with me for a long time. I’m also excited that Birkenstock is coming up with updated styles, like the chunky soles. They are not trends for me so well worth buying right now.
It pays to know your style, that's for sure! Stocking up your forever favorites can be such a treat. But it is weird when the cornerstones of your style become "fashionable". I remember my roommate back in the early 00s. She was an avid wearer of black leggings since forever, and how annoyed she was when leggings started trending back then.
I feel this comment! I don't think I wore pants for like 15 years when low-rise pants were all you could find in stores. When higher rise pants started coming back in, I bought them up fearful they would trend cycle their way out and I'd never see them again!
OMG, I do this too. I love that some of these trends are now evergreen (metallics, leopard). I would hoard during trend and wear all the time. And when it comes back, yes you do quietly say....this is business as usual for ME :-)
sometimes 3 or 4 decades of life is a huge advantage because it acts like an automatic filter - I saw those denim maxi skirts in the 90s and 00s and thought they were hideous when I was 18, at 38 I still think they're hideous no matter who gets photographed in them or what a Gen Z or a popular substack or fashion media says. About half the things on your list are things I would also say a firm 'no thank you' to, maybe it's a generation marker but sometimes instinct knows best and sometimes it's just personal, and as steady as a food sensitivity (those mary janes in the picture look EXACTLY like my school shoes, I was so happy to never have to wear them again that no designer price tag will convince me to bring them back into my life)
Laura is right that trends can move into classic territory if they are in some degree comfortable/functional, though that's where the personal angle comes in - I'm sure mary janes for adult women is very edgy as a concept but all I see is 'school shoe, no thank you', it's fine if other people wear them but I personally will not. That's a different type of 'no' from the 'no' I give to a pointed stiletto (physically uncomfortable) or collarless jackets (no amount of Chanel branding is going to make me like the way they look, I refuse to have outerwear without a lapel unless it's a mandarin collar)
Colour trends are things I am relatively open to, though. Unless it's a shade I find unflattering on me, I'll wear almost any colour.
I think generation has a lot to do with it. What you grew up with, what you wore as a child, what was trending when you became an adult, things like that. And the best thing is that items on one person's 'no way' list will be someone else's favorites. I love that.
And yes, I don't find it necessary to put things like stiletto heels or platform shoes on my list because I just wouldn't wear them for any reason. Even if I might appreciate them on someone else or even if I liked them aesthetically (which I don't, but that's beside the point), they're physically impossible for me to wear.
I think I'm the same way about color. That's an interesting observation, I hadn't thought of that!
absolutely - it's a result of personal experience, which is often closely connected to the generational experience. Like I know my rejection of mary janes is 100 percent to do with having worn them as a school shoe but a woman who's never had them as part of a school uniform/didn't come to dislike them at a formative age doesn't have the same connotations in her head and would be more open to the trend. oddly, I do like them with a slight heel or a little twist to the design detail e.g. the Carel Kinas, it's the ones that really look like a school shoe that I would never wear.
I do think colour is a broader category than most trends, which makes it relatively easy to work with. Also not restricted to fashion, which helps - someone might not want to wear a red dress, but be fine with red lipstick or nails.
Ok, so fascinating and this brings me to -- is having personal style dependent on that style being fixed/consistent? So many of my nevers become "maybes." Is that more evidence that I lack true personal style? Or is that just an openness to experimentation? Birkenstock would be #1 on my never list. But then I see this blue pair. And my feet are so wide. And yes, someone whose style I relate to is wearing them on IG in a way that I relate to. Is it "better than" to stand firm? Or maybe the eye changes and that's ok and even leads us more places. I don't knowwwww!
I don't think it's a question of "better than", I think it's just a different approach. I see you as an experimental dresser, like I don't think you long for permanence and stability in your style like I do. You love to change things up, right? I think some people thrive stylewise when they embrace whatever speaks to them at any given moment, and they move onto other things when time is right, and that totally works for them. I think style can come from that place, too. And I'm definitely not against change per se. Change is good, but I choose to trust my gut reaction when I see new things. There's so much out there that I feel that I can't choose everything.
Oh I like this list too...items we said no but then changed our minds...! Birks for sure. Gizeh metallics summer '01 made me change my mind. Now I appreciate the wabi sabi feel to the old arizona suedes but it's still not me. High waisted pants (because it reminded me of pantsuit 1.0 from the days of formal work wear). Puffy jackets. (because I hate being cold and if the color is fun I convince myself it's not bad). Sneakers with everything. White blazers (felt like a waiter for years). And I am sure so much more!!
The exposure effect-you speak my mind! It’s the reason I have a Doen blouse (turned out be a good buy) and a long waistcoat (haven’t worn this at all) and, and why I ordered a Babaa jumper during their winter sale (love it but time will tell if the quality holds up). Another item I bought due to sheer exposure was the Celine trio purse back in the day, though I admit, that worked out well because it’s quite a cool design even after the trend passed. I’m a fan of exploring trends after they’ve passed because it’s the only way to test whether my fervour is real. In the case of the waistcoat and the Doen blouse, I dipped my toes by buying secondhand, and perhaps that’s a “sustainable” way of participating in a trend and sussing out whether it works for one. I think IG is especially virulent as a carrier for such trends, which is why staying off it really helps me avoid falling for it.
Waiting until a trend has passed is definitely something that I like to do as well. At that point you can safely assume that there's actually something there. I did that with Birkenstocks and it worked.
IG is like a carriage that the mere-exposure effect travels on, and it keeps pulling up to you as you're walking and trying to mind your own business, and it asks you every time if you're sure you want to walk.
So interesting! I've really enjoyed reading the lists of others. Here's what's on my list: skinny jeans, fitted blazers, dresses, skirts, shirts that require special lingerie, pants that are too fitted at the waist, new Levi's, tops that feel painted on, jeans or pants that feel too basic.
A lot of great things to think about, especially after reading @heymrssolomon on whether personal style is possible in an age of social media. I’ve been thinking all morning about what I love regardless of trends (Mary Janes, wide jeans, denim skirts, sneakers w suits) and what I just won’t do (ripped jeans, turtlenecks, heels). Recently I wore a vest over an untucked shirt, and while it looked good, I wondered all day whether I was wearing my shirt untucked only because it was trendy. I mean, who cares if I was, but it felt weird to me. Yet I leapt on the “let’s all buy grey” bandwagon once Becky Malinsky told us to. Maybe our style is what pattern of yes & no we apply to trends?
Pattern of yes & no -- that's a fascinating thought! I guess what we wear is always just about inclusion and exclusion. It's a mix of what we choose to wear and what we opt out of. That is a good question whether it matters at all that we're wearing something because it's trendy. We still made the choice to wear it, even if we were influenced to do so. And literally everybody gets influenced by something, anyway!
I can't even remember how many Levi's 501s I've bought over the years and I've always sold them. They just don't work for me. They bunch up in all the wrong places and I just can't stand them on myself. On others, they're great!
Phew. Ok, so it’s not just a trend revoltion, it’s also knowing what doesn’t work for you! I feel that way about Tibi pants. I’ve tried and tried and wanted to make them work, but they just don’t suit me. Moving on!
Yeah, sometimes classic wardrobe building blocks (like for me, Levi's 501s) make the list. They might be timeless for many people, but they just don't work for me. It's just as valuable to recognize if something doesn't work as it is to find a thing that does work. We can learn and, like you said, move on!
Also...my shopping budget has shrunk considerably in the last 6 mos. from what I was spending the entire year before (by a lot)...due to an increased overall lifestyle, have to cut back on clothes purchases. Not complaining, just saying. Perhaps a benefit of this is that I can't buy into all the trends (not that I'd want to buy into them all, I tend to steer away from many trends, but I do buy into some of them). I'm concerned about the oversized blazers and a few oversized sweaters I bought before my budget lowered. I don't know yet if they will stand the test of time. Crossing my fingers I still like them in the coming years as they were quite an investment! Also, agreeing with others who say that aging and see trends come and go and return and go again over time is helpful somehow. I think trend-buying for me sometimes pulls at my FOMO strings. As in, what if I miss out on this great look!!! But then, months later, I usually don't regret NOT buying into it.
Oh yes, I can relate to the FOMO strings being pulled. It's especially challenging when it comes to IG communities and people you love and appreciate wearing things that you don't feel are "you". There's a temptation to jump in, to belong. I think it's just human nature.
I have similar thoughts re: oversized blazers and sweaters, and also oversized shirts. I still like the oversized silhouette, but I wonder if that will last. I am already intrigued by fitted blazers and coats. I can feel that the pendulum is swinging in the other direction, so I'm a little worried...
Re the oversized to fitted silhouette, I feel it swinging on a macro level as well! Having said that, I will continue to be wearing my oversized pieces on top. I just don't feel entirely comfortable with fitted tops most of the time.
I thought about this a little more, and now I'm thinking that since I've always liked slightly larger menswear on women, maybe I'll still appreciate and wear oversized tops if and when they go out of style... I know for a fact that I've never cared for fabric bunching under my armpit!
Great list, thanks for sharing this and getting me thinking more about trends that I buy into or don't...bringing more awareness to the whole trend thing. Thanks!
So pleased to see the mere-exposure effect, aka the Zajonc effect, get some exposure! I learned about it in the context of language and names (my field), and have written about it at least twice.
I am pretty resistant to fashion trends. No amount of exposure will tempt me to wear flat shoes (which torture my feet), any kind of stripes (always being promoted by fashion editors; utterly not for me), or the color pink, which looked bad on me even when I was little.
I have a mental list of “not for me” as well. Some are simply because I just don’t like them (sneakers, flats, birks, athleisure, dresses, big button earrings) others because they wouldn’t work for my body type or lifestyle (I love mini shorts). I loved maxi skirts and wide leg jeans in the early aughts and kept several just bc they were my personal aesthetic Wore them in the fall and was asked “where did you get them”. Um 2004?
I love that! Out of curiosity, have you worn your maxi skirts and wide leg jeans through the years when they weren't fashionable? That kind of tenacity regarding personal style is truly fascinating to me.
I find that if a trend is impossible for my body or lifestyle, it doesn't necessarily even have to go on the list. Like I don't have to put stiletto heels on the list because I wouldn't be tempted to buy them even if everyone else on the planet wore them. :D Sometimes I still like to make a mental note of these types of "no ways" as well. It keeps me in check!
I love a good closet purge, but over the years I have kept a few pieces simply because they were well made and flattering. Nothing designer-y really, but pieces that I think are forever cool. The three maxi skirts (gray wool 1998, denim 2000 and black leather 2004) were my versions of pencil skirts -
I wore/wear them but styled them differently to stay modern.
I’d like to think I have a good eye for what works for me. But last week I was at an actual store and for a laugh tried on a pair of barrel jeans. They were actually kinda fun - salesperson said they were cute - so I bought them. I’ve tried them on each day since then thinking I’d wear them out in the real world. But honestly, I feel like a dork!! it’s a bad costume! Filed under “what was I thinking?”
It's good to experiment sometimes, and you can't win them all! I like to think that there's a reason we buy those "what was I thinking" -things, and I find that they can actually work out a few years later. Time will tell! But having said that, sometimes it's better to just move on from something that doesn't feel right.
Haha I love this! I also have a do not buy list, though I keep it in my head. Some are items I’ve tried again and again (either bought and kept or returned) and they just don’t suit my lifestyle. That being said, I recently broke my rule and bought a trench coat--historically they felt either to formal or “fashion-y” for where I live, but now that I’m in my mid-thirties I feel like I can pull it off. Plus I feel like fashion has shifted to embracing some more formal clothing, like trousers, as casual wear.
I also have those "tried again and again" pieces on my list, and it's incredible how many times I still have to remind myself that Levi's 501s do not suit me!
I wonder if profound shifts in fashion allow you to re-investigate some items on the list. Maybe sometimes we need a change in context, like you experienced with trench coats...
Tia, this is so great. I need to make my list. Honestly. I love a lot of the trends right now - tailored items, wide leg jeans, cashmere sweaters, flat shoes ( yes, Mary Jane's). I'm with you on so many items - no red tights here or athleisure. Sometimes a trend looks so bad on most people that I'm amazed it takes off. Things like cold shoulder tops, strapless dresses, prairie dresses and skinny jeans are all trends that I'm happy to see in the he rearview mirror. Thanks again for such a thought provoking article.
Thank you for reading! I love wide leg trousers/jeans as well.
I try to not think of trends (even the ones I don't personally like) as "bad" because if they make people happy and they can express themselves by embracing them, it can't be "bad". I think it's more about picking what works for you and allowing others to play with what works for them.
This really resonated with me! I think the deductive approach of spelling out what you are unlikely to wear can be as helpful as (or even more than) defining what your style archetypes are.
I keep a similar list, which includes timeless wardrobe starter pack pieces that just don’t do it for me (blazers, plain white tees), specific items that have become too over-saturated where I live (Blundstones, Levi’s jeans), and trends that pique my interest but should probably be avoided (chunky Babaa-esque sweaters, leather trench coats). I become automatically suspicious when I feel a strong pull towards a trending item — Iike Mary Janes — and try to hold off on making any rash purchases until the tide has shifted.
Yes to becoming suspicious when a trending item begins to seem interesting! It's like a warning sign to me, an immediate red flag. I did my share of buying into every single trend out there for quite a while, so I recognize that pull well.
Those "timeless wardrobe starter packs" are evil! They definitely do not work for everyone, and it takes guts to say no to those items.
Indeed "Timeless wardrobe starter packs" are evil. Nothing more trendy than "the white shirt", "the black blazer" and "the black dress". I actually don't own any white shirt...I feel I'm drawn to trends that complete my current style like red tights atm (a fresh thing to all my skirts) as well as more oversized outerwear, because I'm tall and I like the oversized outerwear (especially bombers, shearling and leather men's jackets) to my midi skirts and slingbacks/mary Janes.
yes! i was so glad to be steadfast in my stance about the color red, particularly adjacent to my face in 2023. red + brown was everywhere, and i am very much a brown girl, so this could have been super tempting for me to buy into and would have led to big regrets (alternatively, when brown was suddenly everywhere again i knew it was a good time to stock up because i have always loved wearing that color). one benefit of aging i think is that we have all been through the cycles already and can easily think back: how did i feel the last time i was wearing denim maxis? i shudder to think back to how those worked for me 25 years ago and feel no need to try again.
Yes to the benefit of aging, fully agree! It takes experience to know what you like and what works for you. It would have been unrealistic for most of us to have that knowledge at a younger age.
I had a denim maxi skirt in the late 90s/early 2000s as well. I loved it and wore it a lot back then, but I don't feel tempted to wear one like it again.
I personally think that trends can move into the realm of classics if they also have a functional value besides the aesthetic one. Birkenstocks were classic for some people even before they were trendy but the reason we still wear them is that they are plain comfortable. I haven’t been one to ever wear ballet flats but I'm contemplating them as I'm looking for more options for everyday flats. And mary janes are particularly functional because the strap keeps your foot fixed even when your foot size fluctuates from morning to evening. On the other side, I see no functionality in mesh flats unless you have gorgeous feet and want everyone to admire your great genes. And the only places I think I'm likely to see people wearing knitted panties as an outfit are instagram pics, clubs (if I went there), and any capital during fashion week (again, if I went there). So I'm definitely on board with you regarding some of these.
I agree on the functionality aspect. If a trend is functional, I'm more likely to at least consider it. But sometimes functionality can be a trap as well. Athleisure is very comfortable and in that sense functional, but it doesn't matter if it just doesn't feel right for one's personal style. Sometimes it's difficult to tap into those feelings, because they're not always rational.
I so admire people who dare to tackle the pantless trend. It's not for me personally, but I applaud everyone who feels empowered by it. And that's the beauty of it. It's not about 'ins' and 'outs', or even 'likes' and 'dislikes'. I think all of these trends can be/look amazing if the right person taps into that place within them where they feel powerful while wearing these things.
I like to fight the mere-exposure effect. But it's funny to see what's on Your list. Mary Janes, pearls and skirts over pants (or dresses) are things I never left since last time they were trends. As a consequence I bought myself new pairs of Mary Janes now. However, when something I use to wear suddenly becomes a trend I nearly get a little frustrated and can feel the urge to explain that I've been wearing the actual trend "for ages". Slingbacks for example. Isn't that strange?
I totally understand! I've owned a bright red turtleneck for years, and last year when red started trending, I felt a little annoyed. It's funny how that is, like we want the world to think/know that we're not victims of fashion.
I love how one person's 'don't wear' list is full of another person's favorites. That shows that we're all different, we're drawn to different things, and style is such a personal thing!
Some things that I used to have but no longer I'm actually happy they're back. I already found myself an oversized vintage barn jacket directly after I'd seen the Prada SS24 show (used to have my brothers old one 20 yrs ago) and also bought some secondhand oversized rugbyshirts after I'd seen Dries van Noten SS24 (used to have my brothers there as well back in the days). A lot of other upcoming trends I'll skip...
Right! I am a skirt over pants, wide leg trousers and Birkenstock wearer since forever and it’s so annoying when these become trendy! On the other hand it’s a good time to replenish my wardrobe. I just bought a pair of beautiful wide leg denim and am over the moon about them, knowing they are a cornerstone of my style and will stay with me for a long time. I’m also excited that Birkenstock is coming up with updated styles, like the chunky soles. They are not trends for me so well worth buying right now.
It pays to know your style, that's for sure! Stocking up your forever favorites can be such a treat. But it is weird when the cornerstones of your style become "fashionable". I remember my roommate back in the early 00s. She was an avid wearer of black leggings since forever, and how annoyed she was when leggings started trending back then.
I feel this comment! I don't think I wore pants for like 15 years when low-rise pants were all you could find in stores. When higher rise pants started coming back in, I bought them up fearful they would trend cycle their way out and I'd never see them again!
OMG, I do this too. I love that some of these trends are now evergreen (metallics, leopard). I would hoard during trend and wear all the time. And when it comes back, yes you do quietly say....this is business as usual for ME :-)
Definitely! "Oh this old thing, I've had it for YEARS!"
sometimes 3 or 4 decades of life is a huge advantage because it acts like an automatic filter - I saw those denim maxi skirts in the 90s and 00s and thought they were hideous when I was 18, at 38 I still think they're hideous no matter who gets photographed in them or what a Gen Z or a popular substack or fashion media says. About half the things on your list are things I would also say a firm 'no thank you' to, maybe it's a generation marker but sometimes instinct knows best and sometimes it's just personal, and as steady as a food sensitivity (those mary janes in the picture look EXACTLY like my school shoes, I was so happy to never have to wear them again that no designer price tag will convince me to bring them back into my life)
Laura is right that trends can move into classic territory if they are in some degree comfortable/functional, though that's where the personal angle comes in - I'm sure mary janes for adult women is very edgy as a concept but all I see is 'school shoe, no thank you', it's fine if other people wear them but I personally will not. That's a different type of 'no' from the 'no' I give to a pointed stiletto (physically uncomfortable) or collarless jackets (no amount of Chanel branding is going to make me like the way they look, I refuse to have outerwear without a lapel unless it's a mandarin collar)
Colour trends are things I am relatively open to, though. Unless it's a shade I find unflattering on me, I'll wear almost any colour.
I think generation has a lot to do with it. What you grew up with, what you wore as a child, what was trending when you became an adult, things like that. And the best thing is that items on one person's 'no way' list will be someone else's favorites. I love that.
And yes, I don't find it necessary to put things like stiletto heels or platform shoes on my list because I just wouldn't wear them for any reason. Even if I might appreciate them on someone else or even if I liked them aesthetically (which I don't, but that's beside the point), they're physically impossible for me to wear.
I think I'm the same way about color. That's an interesting observation, I hadn't thought of that!
absolutely - it's a result of personal experience, which is often closely connected to the generational experience. Like I know my rejection of mary janes is 100 percent to do with having worn them as a school shoe but a woman who's never had them as part of a school uniform/didn't come to dislike them at a formative age doesn't have the same connotations in her head and would be more open to the trend. oddly, I do like them with a slight heel or a little twist to the design detail e.g. the Carel Kinas, it's the ones that really look like a school shoe that I would never wear.
I do think colour is a broader category than most trends, which makes it relatively easy to work with. Also not restricted to fashion, which helps - someone might not want to wear a red dress, but be fine with red lipstick or nails.
Ok, so fascinating and this brings me to -- is having personal style dependent on that style being fixed/consistent? So many of my nevers become "maybes." Is that more evidence that I lack true personal style? Or is that just an openness to experimentation? Birkenstock would be #1 on my never list. But then I see this blue pair. And my feet are so wide. And yes, someone whose style I relate to is wearing them on IG in a way that I relate to. Is it "better than" to stand firm? Or maybe the eye changes and that's ok and even leads us more places. I don't knowwwww!
I don't think it's a question of "better than", I think it's just a different approach. I see you as an experimental dresser, like I don't think you long for permanence and stability in your style like I do. You love to change things up, right? I think some people thrive stylewise when they embrace whatever speaks to them at any given moment, and they move onto other things when time is right, and that totally works for them. I think style can come from that place, too. And I'm definitely not against change per se. Change is good, but I choose to trust my gut reaction when I see new things. There's so much out there that I feel that I can't choose everything.
Oh I like this list too...items we said no but then changed our minds...! Birks for sure. Gizeh metallics summer '01 made me change my mind. Now I appreciate the wabi sabi feel to the old arizona suedes but it's still not me. High waisted pants (because it reminded me of pantsuit 1.0 from the days of formal work wear). Puffy jackets. (because I hate being cold and if the color is fun I convince myself it's not bad). Sneakers with everything. White blazers (felt like a waiter for years). And I am sure so much more!!
The exposure effect-you speak my mind! It’s the reason I have a Doen blouse (turned out be a good buy) and a long waistcoat (haven’t worn this at all) and, and why I ordered a Babaa jumper during their winter sale (love it but time will tell if the quality holds up). Another item I bought due to sheer exposure was the Celine trio purse back in the day, though I admit, that worked out well because it’s quite a cool design even after the trend passed. I’m a fan of exploring trends after they’ve passed because it’s the only way to test whether my fervour is real. In the case of the waistcoat and the Doen blouse, I dipped my toes by buying secondhand, and perhaps that’s a “sustainable” way of participating in a trend and sussing out whether it works for one. I think IG is especially virulent as a carrier for such trends, which is why staying off it really helps me avoid falling for it.
Waiting until a trend has passed is definitely something that I like to do as well. At that point you can safely assume that there's actually something there. I did that with Birkenstocks and it worked.
IG is like a carriage that the mere-exposure effect travels on, and it keeps pulling up to you as you're walking and trying to mind your own business, and it asks you every time if you're sure you want to walk.
So interesting! I've really enjoyed reading the lists of others. Here's what's on my list: skinny jeans, fitted blazers, dresses, skirts, shirts that require special lingerie, pants that are too fitted at the waist, new Levi's, tops that feel painted on, jeans or pants that feel too basic.
That's an impressive list! I am fascinated to see what others have on their list, too. It makes me appreciate how different we all are!
A lot of great things to think about, especially after reading @heymrssolomon on whether personal style is possible in an age of social media. I’ve been thinking all morning about what I love regardless of trends (Mary Janes, wide jeans, denim skirts, sneakers w suits) and what I just won’t do (ripped jeans, turtlenecks, heels). Recently I wore a vest over an untucked shirt, and while it looked good, I wondered all day whether I was wearing my shirt untucked only because it was trendy. I mean, who cares if I was, but it felt weird to me. Yet I leapt on the “let’s all buy grey” bandwagon once Becky Malinsky told us to. Maybe our style is what pattern of yes & no we apply to trends?
Pattern of yes & no -- that's a fascinating thought! I guess what we wear is always just about inclusion and exclusion. It's a mix of what we choose to wear and what we opt out of. That is a good question whether it matters at all that we're wearing something because it's trendy. We still made the choice to wear it, even if we were influenced to do so. And literally everybody gets influenced by something, anyway!
I mean, Levi 501s? As a San Francisco gal, maybe I’ve been brainwashed for generations but ???
I can't even remember how many Levi's 501s I've bought over the years and I've always sold them. They just don't work for me. They bunch up in all the wrong places and I just can't stand them on myself. On others, they're great!
Phew. Ok, so it’s not just a trend revoltion, it’s also knowing what doesn’t work for you! I feel that way about Tibi pants. I’ve tried and tried and wanted to make them work, but they just don’t suit me. Moving on!
Yeah, sometimes classic wardrobe building blocks (like for me, Levi's 501s) make the list. They might be timeless for many people, but they just don't work for me. It's just as valuable to recognize if something doesn't work as it is to find a thing that does work. We can learn and, like you said, move on!
Levis 501 LOOK SO BAD ON ME. I have tried and tried and tried....
Me too, Irene, me too!
Also...my shopping budget has shrunk considerably in the last 6 mos. from what I was spending the entire year before (by a lot)...due to an increased overall lifestyle, have to cut back on clothes purchases. Not complaining, just saying. Perhaps a benefit of this is that I can't buy into all the trends (not that I'd want to buy into them all, I tend to steer away from many trends, but I do buy into some of them). I'm concerned about the oversized blazers and a few oversized sweaters I bought before my budget lowered. I don't know yet if they will stand the test of time. Crossing my fingers I still like them in the coming years as they were quite an investment! Also, agreeing with others who say that aging and see trends come and go and return and go again over time is helpful somehow. I think trend-buying for me sometimes pulls at my FOMO strings. As in, what if I miss out on this great look!!! But then, months later, I usually don't regret NOT buying into it.
Oh yes, I can relate to the FOMO strings being pulled. It's especially challenging when it comes to IG communities and people you love and appreciate wearing things that you don't feel are "you". There's a temptation to jump in, to belong. I think it's just human nature.
I have similar thoughts re: oversized blazers and sweaters, and also oversized shirts. I still like the oversized silhouette, but I wonder if that will last. I am already intrigued by fitted blazers and coats. I can feel that the pendulum is swinging in the other direction, so I'm a little worried...
Re the oversized to fitted silhouette, I feel it swinging on a macro level as well! Having said that, I will continue to be wearing my oversized pieces on top. I just don't feel entirely comfortable with fitted tops most of the time.
I thought about this a little more, and now I'm thinking that since I've always liked slightly larger menswear on women, maybe I'll still appreciate and wear oversized tops if and when they go out of style... I know for a fact that I've never cared for fabric bunching under my armpit!
I hear you on that! Never feels good when that happens.
Great list, thanks for sharing this and getting me thinking more about trends that I buy into or don't...bringing more awareness to the whole trend thing. Thanks!
So pleased to see the mere-exposure effect, aka the Zajonc effect, get some exposure! I learned about it in the context of language and names (my field), and have written about it at least twice.
I am pretty resistant to fashion trends. No amount of exposure will tempt me to wear flat shoes (which torture my feet), any kind of stripes (always being promoted by fashion editors; utterly not for me), or the color pink, which looked bad on me even when I was little.
I love your list, and always appreciate how some people seem to be almost immunite to trends. It's admirable!
I have a mental list of “not for me” as well. Some are simply because I just don’t like them (sneakers, flats, birks, athleisure, dresses, big button earrings) others because they wouldn’t work for my body type or lifestyle (I love mini shorts). I loved maxi skirts and wide leg jeans in the early aughts and kept several just bc they were my personal aesthetic Wore them in the fall and was asked “where did you get them”. Um 2004?
I love that! Out of curiosity, have you worn your maxi skirts and wide leg jeans through the years when they weren't fashionable? That kind of tenacity regarding personal style is truly fascinating to me.
I find that if a trend is impossible for my body or lifestyle, it doesn't necessarily even have to go on the list. Like I don't have to put stiletto heels on the list because I wouldn't be tempted to buy them even if everyone else on the planet wore them. :D Sometimes I still like to make a mental note of these types of "no ways" as well. It keeps me in check!
I love a good closet purge, but over the years I have kept a few pieces simply because they were well made and flattering. Nothing designer-y really, but pieces that I think are forever cool. The three maxi skirts (gray wool 1998, denim 2000 and black leather 2004) were my versions of pencil skirts -
I wore/wear them but styled them differently to stay modern.
I’d like to think I have a good eye for what works for me. But last week I was at an actual store and for a laugh tried on a pair of barrel jeans. They were actually kinda fun - salesperson said they were cute - so I bought them. I’ve tried them on each day since then thinking I’d wear them out in the real world. But honestly, I feel like a dork!! it’s a bad costume! Filed under “what was I thinking?”
It's good to experiment sometimes, and you can't win them all! I like to think that there's a reason we buy those "what was I thinking" -things, and I find that they can actually work out a few years later. Time will tell! But having said that, sometimes it's better to just move on from something that doesn't feel right.
Haha I love this! I also have a do not buy list, though I keep it in my head. Some are items I’ve tried again and again (either bought and kept or returned) and they just don’t suit my lifestyle. That being said, I recently broke my rule and bought a trench coat--historically they felt either to formal or “fashion-y” for where I live, but now that I’m in my mid-thirties I feel like I can pull it off. Plus I feel like fashion has shifted to embracing some more formal clothing, like trousers, as casual wear.
I also have those "tried again and again" pieces on my list, and it's incredible how many times I still have to remind myself that Levi's 501s do not suit me!
I wonder if profound shifts in fashion allow you to re-investigate some items on the list. Maybe sometimes we need a change in context, like you experienced with trench coats...
Tia, this is so great. I need to make my list. Honestly. I love a lot of the trends right now - tailored items, wide leg jeans, cashmere sweaters, flat shoes ( yes, Mary Jane's). I'm with you on so many items - no red tights here or athleisure. Sometimes a trend looks so bad on most people that I'm amazed it takes off. Things like cold shoulder tops, strapless dresses, prairie dresses and skinny jeans are all trends that I'm happy to see in the he rearview mirror. Thanks again for such a thought provoking article.
Thank you for reading! I love wide leg trousers/jeans as well.
I try to not think of trends (even the ones I don't personally like) as "bad" because if they make people happy and they can express themselves by embracing them, it can't be "bad". I think it's more about picking what works for you and allowing others to play with what works for them.
Yes!
So true. My personal bias is getting in the way. Live and let live!
This really resonated with me! I think the deductive approach of spelling out what you are unlikely to wear can be as helpful as (or even more than) defining what your style archetypes are.
I keep a similar list, which includes timeless wardrobe starter pack pieces that just don’t do it for me (blazers, plain white tees), specific items that have become too over-saturated where I live (Blundstones, Levi’s jeans), and trends that pique my interest but should probably be avoided (chunky Babaa-esque sweaters, leather trench coats). I become automatically suspicious when I feel a strong pull towards a trending item — Iike Mary Janes — and try to hold off on making any rash purchases until the tide has shifted.
Yes to becoming suspicious when a trending item begins to seem interesting! It's like a warning sign to me, an immediate red flag. I did my share of buying into every single trend out there for quite a while, so I recognize that pull well.
Those "timeless wardrobe starter packs" are evil! They definitely do not work for everyone, and it takes guts to say no to those items.
Indeed "Timeless wardrobe starter packs" are evil. Nothing more trendy than "the white shirt", "the black blazer" and "the black dress". I actually don't own any white shirt...I feel I'm drawn to trends that complete my current style like red tights atm (a fresh thing to all my skirts) as well as more oversized outerwear, because I'm tall and I like the oversized outerwear (especially bombers, shearling and leather men's jackets) to my midi skirts and slingbacks/mary Janes.
I love a white shirt and always will! I have so many and I wear them all the time.
It's the best thing when you know what works for you, and a part of that is also knowing what doesn't.