I like to imagine trends like clouds.
Imagine: You’re laying down, watching clouds float by. One grabs your attention as it morphs into what looks like a lopsided puppy. You follow as it twists into a heart and then slowly fades away into wisps.
Or maybe, you choose to let the clouds go by, not taking in any particular one, just observing.
Despite not caring about trends, I do believe that they can be incredibly helpful.
Trends can bring something to your awareness that you might not otherwise come across. They can introduce you to new shapes, brands, colors, or styles.
I can give a hardy “thank you!” to trends for getting me out of skinny jeans and into some good old fashion mom jeans (ha).
On the flip side, I can, and will, give a hardy “NO THANK YOU!” to the low-rise jean trend that (somehow) found its way back to us.
Trends, like cloud shapes, are something you can choose to follow, partake in, or not.
A lot of time my clients ask: “Am I on trend? Is this on trend? What’s new for the season?” And my response is, more often than not, “Does it really matter?”
I ask more questions:
Do you want to be wearing low rise jeans? Do you want to wear cargo mini skirts? Do you like the balloon jeans?
If the answer is yes, go for it. If the answer is no, let it pass you by.
While I can shout this to the clouds (pun intended), there is personal reconning that every person has to do for themselves when it comes to trends. You can’t out run trends. They are omnipresent: in your Instagram feed, on the influencer you follow, and pushed to you by retailers.
But what you choose how you want to react to them:
Do you want to embrace trends and have fun with it?
Do you want to avoid trends completely?
Do you want to land somewhere in the middle?
Confession: I have tended to plop myself in the 2nd category, with more than a bit of “style snobbiness.” You’d never catch me in a pair of Sambas (they’re everywhere!). I’m about ready to ditch my fanny pack (but I won’t, I can’t! It’s so useful.). On the other hand, I have cargo pants and balloon jeans and New Balances (hey, they’re not Sambas) on my Closet List.
There’s nothing wrong with not wanting things because everyone else has them. There’s nothing wrong with wanting things because everyone else has them. Both experiences of and interactions with trends are valid. It comes down to your own personal reconning with trends: embrace, avoid or appreciate?
I appreciate trends for the chance they give me to explore my personal taste and create a closet that is full of energy and life. I can enjoy them from afar, and on other people, and in my Instagram feed. And I can choose to avoid what doesn’t draw me in.
Because I know, just like clouds, another version is already on its way.
Happenings
I’m mentioned in this Substack!
style LAB
By the time you read this email, we’ll have wrapped 6 weeks and the 1st round of style LAB! Stay tuned very soon for how you can go through this program on your own. I gotta get all the tech stuff set up like…. emails, platforms, blah blah blah. I’m planning for a June roll out.
Stay tuned for all the news + dates!
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