Individuality and the Signature Style Trend
It’s a long holiday weekend for many of us, which means the sales are plentiful and generous. That doesn’t mean you should go wild and buy things just because they’re marked down. This is a good time to buy things that you know you need for your wardrobe. Was there something missing this season that you wished you had, or did a favorite item bite the dust? These are very valid reasons to peruse the sales, but please be mindful of buying something just because the price is right. I share a lot of sales with readers for informational reasons, not to encourage overconsumption.
Mobile Phone Addiction
Last week we had an amazing dinner at a very unique restaurant. Baan Lao has been rated one of Canada’s 10 finest restaurants and won many culinary awards. It’s tiny with only 10-12 tables and a fixed menu.
When you eat there, you get a refined dining experience with very personalized service. Our waitress described each course in detail, down to where the ingredients were sourced and how Chef Nutcha prepared it. Then two servers would place a plate in front of each of us with pecision timing. The courses look more like works of art than food, yet are incredibly tasty.
I hate taking photos in nice restaurants because I find it offensive. I had my back to the room, but my husband could see the rest of the diners and commented that everyone else was glued to their phones. I turned to find the other couples all staring down into their phones. Not briefly, but constantly. They weren’t talking to each other, not enjoying the ambiance or the amazing experience. The young lady next to me, who was clothed in head to toe Chanel, only spoke a few words to her date (wearing a logo, collarless tee shirt) as they left the table.
Call me old fashioned, but staring into a phone during a fine meal seems like a waste of money, rude to your date, and unfair to the chef and the waitstaff. The waitress and everyone who served us was obviously proud of what they were doing and it showed in their attention to detail. At the end of our meal, the chef came out to meet us and check that we had enjoyed everything. Then they presented us with a thank you card signed by everyone who took care of us, including Chef Nutcha. It was charming, heartfelt, and you could just feel how proud everyone was of the meal they presented us.
What are your thoughts on mobile phone addiction? Clearly, it’s rampant among the young, but older poeple are struggling with it too.
Individuality and Signature Style Trend
Believe it or not, one of the biggest trends emerging for 2025, is signature style and individuality. It’s all about making a look your own with unique styling, one of a kind pieces and/or unexpected pairings. I’ve been feeling bored with the sameness I see everywhere, so this one really speaks to me.
Creating individuality starts with giving yourself permission to be just a little (or a lot) different from everyone else. It means going off script and using details that speak to your own taste rather than a head-to-toe look that a brand puts together. Pin on a brooch from a local artist or try combining colors differently. Swap that safe black handbag for one that stands out. It’s a great time to add sentimental accessories and personal touches that reflect who you are. It’s about boldly saying, this is how I like to style my…fill in the blank, no matter what other people do. Individuality is in, and blending in is out!
Look the Week
I could not resist this fun Swiss frog brooch from the Metropoliton Museum Of Art store and love it nestled into a fuzzy, soft cardigan. I added gold earrings, an olive colored east west bag, olive oval sunglasses and a leopard print tee. Classic trousers and penny loafers to finsh this look of the week…which is anything but ordinary.
I will be leaning more heavily into my accessories to add personality and plan to experiement with different shapes. How will you be expressing your signature style this year?
I cannot believe people would go to an expensive restaurant and look at their phones! what ever happened to talking to each other! So many of us have become isolated and the phones have been a big reason. People call me and say they never can get me, but that’s because I am not glued to my phone! Nobody calls anymore to talk, just text! So annoying! I dress rather plainly, classically, (for example, I never wear patterns, only patterned scarves) but I show my individually with my accessories, especially my jewelry.
Accessories are so perfect for that! I get the same reaction from people if my phone is turned off!
Hi I recently got new glasses-far from my usual all black no trim-to teal with burgundy yellow red green and turquoise trim. No colors I even had in my wardrobe but this is the new me and I will be wearing all the colors. Except yellow not my favorite with grey hair. Big change from black grey and navy!!
They sound fabulous!! Good for you. I want red frames but never wear red. I’ve been toying with the idea for years. This may be the year.
Good morning! I love the dark olive bag. Love the color and shape. I’m a cool summer and wear classic medium contrast neutrals. Like you, I’m craving color and a less conservative look. (Bring on the fringe and flares!) The colors in today’s outfit don’t work for me as a whole, but could I do an olive bag? I love your personal style—is this a bag you chose for yourself? Thanks, Jennifer.
I adore the olive too but I think it would be clashy (is that a word?) with too many of the colors I’m beginning to introduce to my wardrobe. It does come in other colors. Part of what makes this bag so fun to me is the color. It’s a challenge but that is part of the “new personal style” trend. Make it unique. Wear what you love.
How did this latest trend “get approved” by the fashion industry??? Isn’t that what the fashion industry is all about? Getting everyone to wear what they want us to wear? Lol! I love it!!!
Lol!
It’s sad that some people are more into their friends than being in the moment with the one they are with at the time. Maybe take a snap or two of interesting architecture but put the phone away.
It looks like a wonderful culinary experience, Jennifer.
I use scarves to add personalization to simple outfits. They are great for travel, since they take up so little space. I own some that are 40 years old and still look current.
I adore scarves for that reason too.
Yes, the cell phone addiction we see is awful! I just retired from teaching at a university so I have a particularly dislike for cell phones as some of my students could not seem to put them away even for a short class period. I too am shocked that people will spend a LOT of money to eat at an exquisite restaurant and then spend their entire meals looking at their phone – they’re not paying attention to the food and drink OR their dinner companions. Why?
Your dinner sounds fabulous! If you like Thai, I wonder if you’ve eaten at Maenam, in Vancouver? We did a couple of years ago and just loved it!
We have eaten at Maenam and agree it’s fabulous!!
I have to admit that occasionally when we have a long wait for our meal we will both get our phones out till our food arrives. After that we put them away. But if we are with friends, the phones do not come out and I don’t feel they should . Love the frog brooch! Enjoy it!!
I thought that frog was so cute. I’m excited to get my bee brooch back!
Hi Jennifer. I’ve really noticed the cell phone use at restaurants too! At first I thought it was a generational thing, but I’ve noticed older people doing it too. So sad that people can’t just put the phone away and enjoy being together.
I felt guilty taking the food photos but my back was to the room so no one noticed and I was quick about it. Don’t get me wrong, I take lots of pictures of food, but not at a place this special.
Love your glasses! They look great on you!
Thank you!
Hi, Jennifer. I love the idea of adding individual touches to an outfit. My granddaughters knit and crochet, and I have noticed that they create original outfits by adding their one-of-a-kind hand crafted items to their outfits. One granddaughter Maddie quite frequently wears black pants and a top and then adds a unique, colorful third layer that she has made. It gives her a signature look.
That’s marvelous!!
Thanks for more focus on individual style. I am so bored with the white tee, black pant sameness. Love the color in your outfit of the week.
I do love classic pieces, but it’s also fun to accessorize to add personality. We own the accessories so we should enjoy them.
Completely agree with you about adding touches to an outfit as expressions of individuality. I often wear a piece of paper jewelry – yes, it’s a thing! – and find that it makes for a great conversation starter. (Just posted examples on my blog if anyone is curious.)
It’s so wrong to stay on a phone throughout a nice meal. On the other hand, snapping pics of beautiful courses probably gives restaurants welcome publicity since people love to tag and share on social media.
Paper jewelry sounds amazing Annie. Do you make it?
I do! (and not meaning to toot my own horn, but I wrote a book that teaches others to make it too. It’s on Amazon… The Art of Quilling Paper Jewelry).
Amazing Annie! I will check it out
I agree that phone addiction is a problem with people of all ages and that we all would likely benefit from putting our phones down more. However, I won’t go so far as to say that just because people were on their phones during a meal that they were not enjoying the experience or were not appreciative of the meal- perhaps just in a different way than you were. People can and do enjoy things in different ways. I also don’t think it matters that one of the diners was wearing a collarless tee shirt. I suspect the wait staff didn’t care as long as they received a nice tip. It sounds as though you and your husband enjoyed the meal and you looked well dressed as always which is really all that matters.
I think signature style and showing your individuality is something to look forward to this spring and hope the trend sticks. It’s a bit like going to someone’s home that reflects the people who live there. I think it’s fun when people decorate with items they have collected and love, not concerned about what’s currently “in”.
Wearing items that reflect your individuality gives others a little glimpse into you and could make for some lovely conversations and connections.
I totally agree Stormy
Phone addiction is real! Set time limits on apps / social media helps…
I use an app to let me know when I’ve been scrolling IG too much. It always surprises me.
Love your posts. Looking for some advice for what to wear to a funeral. Thinking of black slacks and blouse with the blue sweater jacket. Thoughts?
I’m sorry for your loss. I have some info on that here. Your idea sounds perfect.
First, the photos of your meal look amazing. The folks in that kitchen are artists! My husband and I try to avoid “dining alone together.” We are guilty of reading papers and looking at phones during breakfast and lunch, but at every evening meal, without fail, it’s just the two of us and a conversation.
Your style comments lead me to a request. Could you do a post about scarves? I have several from my working days that I love, but don’t know how to wear them in more contemporary way in casual lifestyle. Thanks.
I am working on one now so stay tuned.
Wonderful ! I am wanting to buy some nice scarves as I don’t own any right now. Especially to wear with black / navy as I have a lot of clothes in that color .
Great post. I agree on the disappointment of seeing people using their phones instead of enjoying the moment of the occasion. The food looked amazing.
I will be working on my accessories to add my style to my outfit. Thanks
I think accessories are the most creative part of putting an outfit together.
Yes I do see this terrible phone addiction playing out in all sorts of places- the market; hair salon; theaters, And yes, especially restaurants ! Its getting worse not better. I leave my phone on mute when I’m anywhere interacting with another (present) person.
I mute my phone often then people complain that I never pick it up! You can’t win.