Any fashion conscious person knows that apparel speak louder than attitude
But not all of us are fashionistas
Some of us just like to wear whatever the we want
Should we feel bad about that? Just because the rest of the world is practically slaving over fashion trends? No.
I know we've all had those moments when we just get so sick of wearing only what is deemed fashionable by the fashion gods (whoever they are).
And that's okay.
After all, the trend itself was started by people just like us, right? (Well, maybe not like us exactly. But they have blood flowing through their veins and they breath air.)
And if that's not a good enough reason to stop following trends and wear what you deem fit, here are a few more reasons:
1. Trends Don't Last
You know that awkward moment when you buy an outfit that is, in your opinion, very sexy, but then you wear it out and everyone is looking at you with that your-clothes-are-so-last-season look (you know that look), and you start contemplating your whole life, reflecting on all the bad decisions you've made, including the decision to buy an outdated outfit. What was cool last season is, apparently, an abomination this season. Who has time to keep up with all that? (Except super stars who have people working round the clock to make sure they don't accidentally wear one pair of jeans twice.)
2. Fashion Is Not About You
Personally, I love loose-fitting clothes. Can't stay too long in clothes that squeeze the life out of me. But loose clothes make you look like a slob, so I gave them up. If you do a thorough search of your motive for following the trends, you'll find that it has very little to do with your personal comfort or preference, and everything to do with others'.
You dress in a certain kind of way to impress friends, intimidate the competition or endear yourself to the object of your desire.
Which is all well and good until it starts to become a difficult chore. That's when personally I throw my hands up in the air and say, "I'm done. I'm doing me."
3. You Have Your Own Fashion Identity
The trends we're dying to keep up with were all started by someone somehow. And that's their identity. Not necessarily ours. People who copy other people's fashion identity do so probably because they have no identity of their own. None of those trends were written in stone and passed down to us from some ancient ancestors. So who says we have to conform to another person's idea of what is socially acceptable? We can't all be fashion icons, and we shouldn't lose our identity whenever a new style hits the market (or the runway, if you're that rich).
4. The Trends Aren't for Everyone
Perfect example is the once-trending jean shorts. They're really very short right. Extremely, butt-hugging-underpants kind of short. But almost everyone was wearing them (and some people still are). Personally, going out in public wearing what looks like panties made out of jeans that leave my butt cheeks out is not my thing. And just because some hot celebrities are wearing it, it doesn't mean I can pull it of. So, again, I'm doing me.
5. Let's Face It: Most Fashion Designers Are Weird
Don't believe me, just look at models on the runway. The pieces they wear are absolutely ridiculous. (I can't even call them clothes.) They'd make you want to ask yourself, "Who would wear this?"
I'm all for progress but, seriously, what woman would wear a dress that leaves her butt hanging out?
They hardly design anything immediately wearable. At least wait until the clothes have been taken off the runway and distributed to stores in more wearable, in-real-life forms.
6. Getting Dressed Is Easier
... when your closet is filled with clothes you chose for you. Not for the sake of the trendsetters.
7. Fashionable Often Implies Mass Production
How would you like to go out and see several other people wearing an outfit you own? If all the clothe stores are selling only what they deem fashionable, we might all be wearing identical clothes.
The time for fitting in is high school (honestly, I didn't even fit in back then). After that, we should be striving to stand out.
Which brings us to...
8. You Get to Stand Out
By not following trends set by others, you're making your own fashion statement.
At a time when wearing a ring on your pinky was a thing, Cameron Diaz (or was it Kate Hudson?) decided to wear a ring on her thumb instead, and it wound up being a trend. She ended up inventing the thumb ring.
By not conforming to the "in" thing, what you're really doing is creating your own "thing."
9. Trends May Not Make You Happy
If you buy clothes only because they're on trend and not because you like them, they may not make you happy
If you wear what makes you happy, you'll feel good about yourself
If you feel good, ultimately, you'll look a lot better
10. What is in Vogue May Not Always Suit Your Body
After going through old pictures of myself and seeing how unflattering the then "in vogue" styles were on me, I realized that the fact that something is trending is no assurance that everyone would look good in it.
It's better to wear styles that flatter your figure, rather than whatever the fashion gods say you should wear -- this season.
11. You Need Clothes You Can Confidently Wear to Work
As the saying goes "dress for the job you want..."
If you keep wearing what models advertise on the runway, what job are you hoping for? A career in modeling?
Some fashion trends are quite clearly not for anyone who has a real job (or wants a real job).
Not suggesting you wear suits every day of the week. But instead of copying people who wear what's convenient for their lifestyle and work, which may not be convenient for you, stick to what you know
12. You Have to Consider Your Budget
Not everyone can afford to clean out their wardrobe whenever there's a new trend.
Don't feel bad if you can't spend as much as everyone does in the fashion department.
You can't blame yourself for not buying clothes that aren't in your price range .
All fingers aren't, after all, equal.
13. What Goes Around Comes Back Around
Especially in the world of fashion.
So if your favorite type of jeans are no longer in, don't throw them out just yet.
Just wait long enough and they'll come back around again. And then look who's suddenly wearing what's in season.
14. As Fashion Evolves, So Do You
Truth be told, many of the fashion trends these days are for teenage (18-year-old) bodies.
You can't expect a full grown, cellulite-adorned woman to wear high-waisted, butt-bearing jean shorts. That's just cruel. Her butt is where all the cellulite and stretch marks are!
As we get older, we tend to evolve in style and taste and, eventually, we may not be able to stand (or fit into) the clothes we've chattered on account of the fact that they were trending.
15. You Shouldn't Have to Feel Self-Conscious in Your Own Body
Certain fashion trends are meant only for the models and superstars who advertise them -- they have the perfect bodies for it
Take crop tops for instance. Why should you have to wear a top that makes no effort to cover up your protruding belly (if you have a protruding belly)?
It'll just make you less confident about your beautiful body. It's not worth it.
16. You Get to Save Loads of Money
Trending items are a lot more expensive than normal stuff. So if you give yourself a break from buying ridiculously expensive things simply because they're what's en vogue, you're giving yourself the luxury of saving a ton of money.
17. Give Some Consideration to Basic Hygiene
Because some people decided that wearing socks with men's shoes was way too much work, they decided to stop wearing socks.
And some people followed them.
Wearing men shoes without socks? What kind of a disgusting trend is that?
This is a perfectly good reason to stop following trends. They can't even be bothered about hygiene.
Fashion is beautiful. Getting dolled up is nice. But feel free to wear what is right for you, and not just what is socially acceptable
Never feel like you need to become a slave to the trends by investing insanely in clothes that don't really fit you or throwing away good clothes which you like just because they're no longer in.
Don't feel bad that the latest kinds of shorts don't suit you or that you can't afford them
Just enjoy fashion when you can. When it begins to seem like too much work, it's time to leave it well alone.