Fashion & Beauty: Stylish vs. Trendy
May. 15th, 2024 12:40 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
notquiteisraeliOne of my mom's recent compliments to me was that I'm stylish. I find that interesting, because while I keep up with trends (it makes for good light reading) I don't follow them. I told her that, and she replied that stylish and trendy were two different things and the former was better.
Upon further reflection I definitely agreed with her. Style is highly personal and to a large degree trend proof. Trendy is...well, it's exhausting, isn't it? Besides, my wardrobe and beauty products are very curated. I actually don't like most trends. I might wear one if I happen to own it already. I might buy it if it looks good on me and I can wear it with a bunch of stuff already in my closet and if it's practical for my life. Thems the rules. I'm not exactly doing the capsule wardrobe thing - most people go off a four season model for that, and it doesn't quite fit the climate here. Plus there are things that people say are must haves for capsule wardrobes that I refuse to wear (button down shirts, for one - I have a large bust). But I am careful about what I buy. I have a lot fewer clothes now, but they're a hell of a lot more wearable.
I'm seeing some trends now, though, and it makes me shake my head. Mesh shoes, for example. I can't imagine they'd provide much support for walking (something I need), or be very durable (again, something I need). White dresses - look, I'm a messy eater. And life happens. I don't want to spend half my time with club soda and baking soda, trying to get a stain out of a dress. I wore white for my wedding and drank only white wine and Sprite. I ain't got time for that. Jumpsuits. May HaShem give me strength. What if you have a potty emergency? And apparently slip dresses are back from the '90s. I couldn't pull off bias cut, clingy fabric then and I certainly can't now.
Then there's the whole craze to categorize oneself in "aesthetics". Cottagecore, witchcore, dark academia, light academia, Regency, balletcore - and heaven help us, even heroin chic and kinderwhore rearing their ugly heads when they should have stayed back in the '90s.
I dunno. According to my friend Kate, "you've been dressing like everyone's cool English prof since you were 21."
I can live with that. That's a style I'm proud to own.
Upon further reflection I definitely agreed with her. Style is highly personal and to a large degree trend proof. Trendy is...well, it's exhausting, isn't it? Besides, my wardrobe and beauty products are very curated. I actually don't like most trends. I might wear one if I happen to own it already. I might buy it if it looks good on me and I can wear it with a bunch of stuff already in my closet and if it's practical for my life. Thems the rules. I'm not exactly doing the capsule wardrobe thing - most people go off a four season model for that, and it doesn't quite fit the climate here. Plus there are things that people say are must haves for capsule wardrobes that I refuse to wear (button down shirts, for one - I have a large bust). But I am careful about what I buy. I have a lot fewer clothes now, but they're a hell of a lot more wearable.
I'm seeing some trends now, though, and it makes me shake my head. Mesh shoes, for example. I can't imagine they'd provide much support for walking (something I need), or be very durable (again, something I need). White dresses - look, I'm a messy eater. And life happens. I don't want to spend half my time with club soda and baking soda, trying to get a stain out of a dress. I wore white for my wedding and drank only white wine and Sprite. I ain't got time for that. Jumpsuits. May HaShem give me strength. What if you have a potty emergency? And apparently slip dresses are back from the '90s. I couldn't pull off bias cut, clingy fabric then and I certainly can't now.
Then there's the whole craze to categorize oneself in "aesthetics". Cottagecore, witchcore, dark academia, light academia, Regency, balletcore - and heaven help us, even heroin chic and kinderwhore rearing their ugly heads when they should have stayed back in the '90s.
I dunno. According to my friend Kate, "you've been dressing like everyone's cool English prof since you were 21."
I can live with that. That's a style I'm proud to own.
