Surviving A Trend
Happy Friday ladies. Your insightful comments yesterday got me thinking about trends and current fashion. And in case I haven’t said it lately, you are the best and I thank you for sharing your wisdom here. Today I have some thoughts on how to survive an unflattering trend.
Trends are the general direction that fashion is going and usually last 3-8+ years. Some women are energized by change and love incorporating new looks, into their wardrobe. Other women love classics all the way and their look stays relatively the same year after year. Most women fall somewhere in between, including me because I believe a touch of trend helps keep us looking current.
A few comments from the community yesterday:
“I know ruffles are big this year, but I am tall so I feel they can make me look silly.”
“The cute little ruffled tops and dresses would suit a child, certainly not a mature woman.”
“I’m tall and feel silly in the ruffles that are so popular this year.”
“The current trend of “angel-wing” shoulder ruffles feels ridiculous on me.”
“If I wore something as a child or teenager, it’s not appropriate now.”
“The days of walking into stores and finding lots of choices are gone. Looking for clothes that look well on the older me takes more time. 😮 It means looking at the inventory with a different eye. ”
Vogue has just declared that the puff-sleeve trend is here to stay, and yet many of us are not embracing it. So how do we survive an unflattering trend that seems omnipresent?
- Stay in your lane. It’s more than ok to sit a trend out.
- Try different retailers…this is where online shopping shines.
- Go through what you own and put things together in new combinations that feel fresh to you.
- Take better care of what you already own.
- Buy better quality in styles you love.
- Avoid shopping.
Brands tend to give us more of what sells well and apparently that’s puff sleeves, ruffles, and shapeless tiers that could be worn by a 5-year-old right now. These styles are particularly unflattering for my silhouette and I feel goofy in them so I’ll be sitting these out for my wardrobe.
The other thing that came up yesterday was how our bodies have changed and the ways we allow that to limit what we’re comfortable wearing.
We’re aging, it’s a fact, and we’re lucky to be doing so. That doesn’t mean we’re crazy about our crepey skin, ropey veins, sagging knees, or wobbly upper arms but we must learn to love the body we have and dress it strategically. We also need to give ourselves permission to wear what we love, no matter what others think.
Trends are a bit like fast food. They’re easy to find, may feel good initially, but are ultimately never healthy for your wardrobe. I chose to tread lightly with trends and will continue to do so.
Just for a laugh, here are a few upcoming 90s trends I will be sitting out. Scrunchies, bike shorts, low-rise jeans, jelly sandals.
Thanks for reading and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.
Jennifer, well said! Often I try to find accessories that might be on trend that are not expensive to perhaps take part in a trend. Since trends come and go it does not bother me too much to not participate. I like the wide leg pants this year ( not super wide ) so that’s fun but not most of the other trends. Love your comment about dressing like a five year old!!!! So true!!! We are aging and grateful! In this season of my life I will do as you say “dress strategically” and enjoy my life!!!
I totally agree! One positive about maturing is that I know if something isn’t for me.
Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, doesn’t fit anymore 😊😊
I am enjoying all the thoughtful comments – this topic really resonates with mature women1
About 2 years ago I acquired an awesome off the shoulder blouse. I loved the way it looked. But I noticed when I tried to wear it, every time I moved my arms – for instance, driving or reaching for something, the elastic would slide up my shoulder!
This meant I was constantly pulling the sleeve down to the proper off the shoulder level. Has anyone experienced this?
I’m a classics gal and have learned to accept that. Trends tend to not look all that great on me and I don’t feel comfortable in most. I remember a quote from years past that has served me well, “ clothes should never wear you, you should wear the clothes”. Makes sense, I think we should be seen as the whole package, not outdone by our outfit.
Well said! My post breast cancer, post pandemic body and end of my 60’s body must be respected and accepted. This is good advice about clothing it. Thank you.
I still love off the shoulder tops when I’m in Florida! I have to be careful with ruffles/ruffle placement! Ruffles don’t work in my bust area. Long puffy sleeves, especially on white button ups, are good for me but short puffy sleeves don’t work unless I’m much thinner and my bust is smaller 😂. I’m currently rethinking my closet. Cleaning out stuff that doesn’t suit me. I’d really like my closet to be filled with less but with stuff I love. I seem to be looking at cost per wear too.
Agree! Shirt puffy sleeves do not belong on anyone older than 8! 😂
Thank you for speaking fashion sense to our “mature” sisters. The off shoulder tops look as bad or worse now than they did in 2017! Ruffles and puffed sleeves are a hard NO for any woman over 40, or at least a woman who wants to be taken seriously. You look great in your jeans, t-shit and summer blazer. Those cute sandals and your accessories pull your fabulous fashion look together with style!
I guess I am one who stays in her own lane.
I will try different styles but know what is me and what is not.
I give much credit to those who wear the newest trend. I am too conservative for some of the new styles and will stick to what is me.
Has the half tuck gone away yet? That’s one I’m sitting out.
Nope, it’s just changing proportion. Now people tuck in one side and leave the other hanging out.
You look good in the off-shoulder top!
I “stay in my lane” as you wrote so the puffs and ruffles are out for me. Your point about trying new places to shop online is really helpful. I found that to be a great way to find a place (for pants in particular) with sizing that actually fits nicely. Sizing is all over the place in retail stores. I’m thin and straight and follow the sizing charts. WHBM is accurate for me.
Thanks for the post.
I so agree “that a touch of trend helps keep us looking current” and admit being a classic dresser I am very selective when it comes to them. That being said and for an example; the other day while browsing YouTube I came across a very popular channel where the topic was ‘trending footwear’ (casual to dressy / flats to heels) and was amazed that the negative comments on them far out-weighed the positives, which IMHO signifies consumers on the most part know what they want and not necessarily what’s being marketed.
-Brenda-
Sorry, it should have read ‘and it is not necessarily what’s being marketed’. -Brenda-
As a young girl my mother would get very frustrated with me because I disliked bows, ruffles and little prints. I once cut the bows off of a new pair of Easter shoes & I still remember my dad’s angry comment! I still don’t like frills; I accept I can’t wear cutesy outfits and it’s all good. I have to add that one trend I’m avoiding is eyelet. It seems I see women everywhere here in SoCal dressed in white eyelet. I picked up my 10 year old granddaughter for school today & she was in a white eyelet maxi dress. I thought she looked perfect! I’m sure many women can wear eyelet especially in colors but I’m over it!
I usually stay away from fads, but sometimes I see a trend that could work for me. Ruffles and puffy sleeves are way too much for my petite figure. I like how you show us how to incorporate new things.
Appreciate all the comments that allow us to dress our age. Few can pull off the “mutton dressed as lamb” look!
People don’t pay as much attention to what you’re wearing as you think they do. I am reminded of the woman who wore the same shirt 264 times on Zoom meetings during Covid. No one noticed. Like it, wear it. Don’t like it, skip it. Dress for yourself, always.
Well, I’m not so sure … I worked with a woman who tended to wear the same suit several times a week. One of the suits was purple. Everyone, including my male colleagues, noticed and remarked on it. I also had a male professor in college who wore the exact same thing every day. (In the winter, he added a vest.) Someone finally asked him: turned out he had about 15 denim shirts and multiple pairs of green twill pants. Maybe the zoom woman was doing the same?
The off the shoulder top looks nice on women of a certain age because our shoulders stay pretty. The downfall is we can’t go braless (not a good look) and strapless bras are uncomfortable or slip. You look wonderful in your off the shoulder top but wonder if you didn’t wear it because of those reasons.
I love to know the trends but tread carefully.
Me too. I want to know them, but am cautious about which ones I will add to my wardrobe.
I’m with you on the ruffles and flutter sleeves. I have never liked ruffles or puffy sleeves on myself. I tried several flutter sleeved tops but did not like the look on myself. I am a lot like you choosing to wear a classic style.
I feel like trends have a longer shelf life than fads. For instance the trend toward shorter cardigans and other sweaters is one I think may stick around awhile, and it suits my petite frame, so I’ll gladly add a few to my wardrobe. Ruffles and tiers I feel are more of a fad that won’t be around long. We’ll see!
Puffed short sleeves, flutter sleeves, poet tops and tiered dresses don’t work for everyone. However, I have found some that work for me. I’m a full size smaller on top than on bottom. Because these trends seem so oversized, I’ve been able to size down and order in a tall length. Much better! The longer length in the tops, and losing the width of too much fabric does the trick. I found the same approach worked in a tiered midi dress. Longer was better and triple tiers suit me. Mine are all printed. The scale and color of the patterns matter. As always, looser tops work better with straight-leg pants.
Adding a few of these items has given my wardrobe a lift that it needed. I plan to wear these pieces at home after the trends pass because they make me smile and they’re so comfortable.
I’m with you on the scrunchies, bike shorts, low-rise jeans and jelly sandals.
All this talk of avoiding trends…..how do you avoid boredom? Last winter I realized how tired I was of skinny jeans, and then I was delighted to learn they were on the way out. I struggle with the “slow fashion” concept as I love something new and different (that doesn’t include the return of previously worn trends). But I too have to pass on the puffed sleeves.
If they make you happy, you should wear them with joy
Jelly sandles 🤷♀️, I passed on them on the ’90s and its a hard pass now.