How to Know Which Trends to Skip

And which ones to thoughtfully embrace.

Image Credit: Getty

Here’s the thing: Most trends are not worth investing in if your goal is to build a wardrobe with roots — one that sinks deep into the ground, impervious to the sudden, panic-inducing changes in weather that might otherwise make you doubt yourself, your likes, and your dislikes when it comes to clothing. But we happen to be living in an era where it is more challenging than ever to resist the allure. Trends are served up to us on algorithmic silver platters, full of tantalizing promises about how getting dressed would make so much more sense — you would make so much more sense — if only this particular thing was in your possession. 

That’s why it’s not realistic, at least for me — and perhaps for you, too, if you’re at all similar — to ignore trends completely. It’s more helpful to reframe how we respond to them, or rather, what it looks like to “invest” in them: not with money, but with other forms of participation. Trends can teach us fascinating things about the state of the world. I’ve found that observing and learning from them — considering where they came from, what’s driving them, and how they impact my perspective — can be just as satisfying as buying into them. Sometimes this practice manifests through talking about a trend in a group chat with my friends. Or reading a think piece by a writer I love. These are mental investments instead of financial ones, but still powerful vehicles for participating in the cultural conversation around something. 

After digesting a trend in this way, more often than not, I come out on the other side quite satisfied. On rarer occasions, I’m left with an itch that is still asking to be scratched. When that’s the case, and I’m still tempted to actually spend money on something, I consult The List. The List is precisely what it sounds like — a list! — of questions I ask myself to determine whether or not a trend is truly worthy of financial buy-in. Some of the questions might be more helpful for certain people than others, but on the whole it’s a decent rubric for introspection – and becomes more intuitive the longer you’re in the habit of using it, i.e. less of a literal “let me sit down and answer these questions” and more of an organic evaluation you’ll undertake without always being fully conscious of it.  

THE LIST

What is it about this trend that’s sucking me in? 

If the answer is simply the fact that you’re seeing it all over social media and it’s tricking your brain into thinking you need it, then you should resist the urge to buy. If, however, you determine that this trend is one that speaks to your personal style on an intrinsic level and that’s why it has lodged tenterhooks into your psyche, you’ve got the beginnings of a viable case. 

How long will this trend appeal to me?

If the previous question is stumping you, then this one can often help clarify things. If your answer to it is “a few months, maybe a year at best,” your money is better saved or spent elsewhere. If you can see yourself wearing the trend even after it’s no longer trendy… well then! That says a lot. 

How practical is this trend for my lifestyle and the way I actually get dressed?

It’s possible for a trend to genuinely connect with your personal style in such a way that it would appeal to you for the rest of your life but still not be a smart investment… because loving a trend does not always translate to wearing it. Such is the case for me with most shoe trends — I know myself well enough to understand that I will always prioritize the ability to comfortably walk 10,000 steps in whatever I'm wearing, so even if I love clogs or strappy heels, I really shouldn’t buy them.  

Can I recreate or approximate the trend with things I already possess?

If the answer is yes — or even just maybe — that should absolutely be the first thing you attempt before adding something new to your wardrobe. As an added bonus, the outcome will almost always end up looking more interesting, and more original, than just buying and wearing the trendy thing itself. Which brings me to the last question…

Can I make this trend my own?

You’re less likely to get sick of it, or feel like you’re simply regurgitating something, if the answer is yes. Otherwise, your impulse to buy and wear it is more bot-like than human. 

Remember: there is an element of “practice makes perfect” in being able to answer these questions accurately and honestly, but familiarizing yourself with the pleasure (yes, pleasure!) of sitting out trends that don’t actually speak to your sense of personal style is a great place to start. And finally, on occasions when you do decide to act on the desire to invest in a trend, consider buying a version of it that has already been worn and loved. 

xo Harling