trendy vs timeless- tips to navigating a world of fast fashion

It's a big and scary world of fashion out there, we feel you, but it doesn't have to be. Shopme has collated a step by step guide to help you find your very own unique style. With specific tips and tricks of the shopping world, you'll be building the wardrobe of your dreams faster and easier than you could have ever previously imagined.

An episode on Emma Chamberlain's podcast titled 'trendy vs timeless' discussed the concept of lasting wardrobe pieces and the way the fashion industry is rapidly evolving into a place of micro-trends and fast fashion. She gives advice on how to avoid these unsustainable practices in an ever-changing market of consumerism. The trendy vs timeless cycle is a major issue for the individual and is redefining the way we view personal style.

The commercial market seems to be ever moving towards a world where trendy outweighs ethical practice or lasting wear. The best way to solve this dilemma is to reframe your view of fashion; to redefine your sense of style. For years the concept of style has remained a 'buzz word'; it is often reduced to a cliche due to its popularity and use in media and marketing. However, my challenge for you is to look at style with completely fresh eyes. It's up to the individual to decide what it means to them, and the purpose of this article is to help you do this.

First off, lets start with a familiar topic;

What are micro-trends?

A micro-trend is 'a fashion item or aesthetic that rises in popularity quickly but falls out of taste even faster'. While trends have always been a thing, the lasting rate of micro-trends are becoming increasingly smaller due to the popularisation of social media apps like Tiktok. I think at times we can get caught up in specific genres of clothing e.g. y2k, cottage core, minimalist e.t.c. when really a person's style is a make of numerous different 'micro-genres'. Micro trends feed into these narrow-minded clothing styles and cater to specific audiences. While it can be useful to research these collated styles to get a sense of the type of clothes you like, it can often be harmful to feel confined to a micro-genre. The aim of this blog post is to guide you in creating your very own mix of micro-genres which make up your personal style and to escape the mainstream cycle of clothing.

5 STEPS TO FINDING YOUR STYLE- back to basics

1. Curate an inspo board

I know you've probably heard this a million and one times but it really does help. There are a lot of different platforms you can use to do this such as Designspiration, Moodboard and Mix but my personal favourite is Pinterest. If using Pinterest, I recommend creating a brand new account so that your feed isn't biased and you can start on a totally clean slate. You might already have a board similar to this, so if you do, go back through and make sure the whole board still represents the style you want to outwardly and inwardly portray.

2. Create another board specifically dedicated to finding YOUR style

Now, one important point of differentiation here is that you're not pinning outfits or clothing items which you like the style of but clothing items which represent you. I want you to analyse each outfit; 'Do I really like the clothing or combination of clothing in this outfit or is it just set out aesthetically by a person I think looks pretty?'. THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT. You don't want to be pinning something just because its a photo of someone in a mediocre outfit in the Bahamas or a field of flowers- save that for instagram.

This board can now build off the algorithm which your previous board has created on your feed page but can be more specific to you. Look for items which make you go 'That's me'. If you're a Stranger Things fan, rewatch the scene in season 3 where Eleven asks Max how she knows when she's found a clothing item she likes. Max responds by saying that you try things on until you find something which feels like you. This is a great vision for your collation of clothing; make sure everything feels like you and is the truest representation of your style. Once you're done, go back through the board and ask yourself these questions for each pin; 'Does this represent who I want to be in fashion?', 'Is this achievable with my available resources?' and 'How would wearing this make me feel?'. Once you've edited this board to as close to perfection as possible; it's time to move onto the next step.

3. Build your new style with existing clothes

It's important to revisit what you currently own when establishing your style. Often when people think of changing their style they imagine big shopping sprees and a whole new wardrobe but most of the time, this isn't beneficial. The result is you are left with a whole bunch of clothes you don't know what to do with and that will end up being chucked out or left in the back of the closet. Start simple, go through what you currently have and ask yourself the same questions you did in the last step but with an addition; 'How could I style this item to fit my new vision?'. Think of what you could wear it with and try it on with other things in your wardrobe. Try to repurpose clothing pieces which need a new lease on life and find pieces which will be a welcome and exciting addition to your wardrobe and will most importantly; stay there. This will help you have a wardrobe full of clothes you wear and love, not to mention its better for the environment!

4. Shop 'till you drop!

Now for the step you've been waiting for; SHOPPING! Admittedly, this is often the most exciting step but can turn out to be the least fun. But, fear not, for those out there who find shopping more difficult than it has to be, I've got some simple recommendations.

If you're looking at mall shopping, it can often be overwhelming entering a place with so many options. My best advice is to simply go where your feet take you, don't have too detailed of a plan otherwise it will feel like work- and it's not- it should be fun! The most important thing, and I cannot stress this enough, is that you don't have to buy everything. Rome wasn't built in a day. I know that often you only have enough time to dedicate one sole day to shopping but trust me, the minute you walk into a store with an intention of buying a specific item, it wont be there. Enter shops with the mindset to try on everything but without pressure to buy anything. A successful shopping trip can merely be an opportunity to fine tune your skills. Because, shopping is a skill, and thats what its all about; practice!

Try and make a list of one or two essential items as building blocks of your style and make these first priority as stores often have these basics readily available. Leave other more specialised items to the end of the list; it can sometimes take months to find the perfect one of these and it's important you keep trying and don't settle for mediocre. You deserve more than that! When trying clothes on, think back to your inspiration boards and ask yourself questions with each item you try on. My favourite are these 4:

1. 'Will I actually wear this?'

If an item only has the potential to be worn every now and then, it's probably not as worthwhile as something which will become a wardrobe staple. Look at the item from all angles and don't rush into the decision, theres nothing worse than getting home and realising you've bought something you wont wear.

2. 'Is this comfortable?'

Only pick an uncomfortable clothing item if you think you would still wear it. You shouldn't have to sacrifice style for comfort.

3. 'Do I love it?'

Possibly the most important question, always ask yourself if you love a clothing item. While you don't have to instantly fall in love with essential staples, most items that you are excited by will fare well in your wardrobe.

4. 'How will this fit into my wardrobe?'

Imagine the item in relation to the rest of your wardrobe, does it fit an overall theme? What would you wear it with? Does it require you to buy anything else for you to be able to wear it? (This last question is important because if you have to buy something else to be able to wear it, it will sit in the back of your wardrobe forever.)

For online shopping, it is important to also have some simple guidelines so as not to get lost in the world of micro-trends and fast fashion. Ask yourself the same four questions as before but with an addition of 'How will this fit on my body?' to visualise whether this is something worth buying. Before you go shopping, consider sustainability and ethical choices of brands; I'm personally at the stage where the only clothes I buy new are things I need last minute and/or can't get anywhere else. Think of the environment when you're buying clothes; do you feel about this item strongly enough to negate its environmental impact? Try to buy local where you can and handmade is always a good way to go. If there's something you're looking for that you can't buy anywhere else, try to teach yourself how to knit or sew, this adds a fun element of satisfaction and creativity to your new wardrobe item.

5. The Haul

The very final step, and arguably the most important, is to ensure that you wear all of your new and existing clothing items in the way that represents you and your new style. In my personal experience, hauls are pretty fun. You have all the excitement of new clothes magic and get to see how everything fits in a new light. But, I wan't you to add an extra element to The Haul which will really help elevate your fashion smarts. For each item you try on, make as many outfits you can with the clothes in your wardrobe.

We all know the feeling of having a jam packed wardrobe but nothing to wear. This simple step could help eliminate this feeling completely. My favourite way to document the new outfits I've created is to use an app ('whering' is a personal favourite) which allows you to have a digital wardrobe at your fingertips. Each item in my wardrobe is catalogued in the app and when I get home from a shopping trip I can log new outfits so that next time I don't know what to wear, I have options for every occasion. It also allows you to document how many times you've worn an item to calculate its cost per wear. This is a great tool in your fashion journey. Be experimental and have fun with this, and next time you need something to wear you'll have a thousand and one options at your fingertips.

Now you're well on your way to becoming a major fashion bombshell. The ideas and clothes to match, you are runway ready. Good luck and happy shopping- You've got this!

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