Trends I Still Wear vs. Trends I Regret

And what I've learned from each.

Pictured left: High Sport’s signature Kick Pants. Pictured right: one of multiple big-collared blouses featured in Chanel’s Spring 2020 Couture collection.

In the wake of last week’s meditation on how to decide what trends are for you (i.e. The List!), I’m following up with what I think is another useful exercise. This one involves looking back on trends trends you’ve bought into with 20/20 hindsight goggles and reflecting on which ones were smart investments and which ones were not. The reasons behind why things fall into each category can be illuminating, and confronting them makes you a more thoughtful shopper. I’ve run through my own version below to show you what I mean.

Trends I bought into that turned out to be smart investments for me…

The trend: Birkenstocks

The context: I bought my first pair of classic white Arizonas in the spring of 2015 when the trend was still chugging along on the heels of Céline’s runway show two years prior. Phoebe Philo’s blessing, coupled with the descent of normcore over the course of 2014, pulled Birkenstocks out of the trend graveyard where they’d been laid to rest after booming in the 90s when a teenage Kate Moss wore them in that iconic Corinne Day photo. I fretted that I was buying them at the tail-end of the hype cycle, but ultimately it didn’t matter. The Birks were far too practical. I’ve worn them every summer since, logging hundreds of thousands of steps whilst cocooned in blissful arch support. Lately, I’ve been thinking about buying the red ones too.

The takeaway: Superior functionality can render trend cycles obsolete.

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The trend: Big collared blouses

The context: I’m pretty sure Ganni gets credit for sparking this trend, courtesy of the white cotton button down with a big, ruffle-edged collar they produced in 2019 and gifted to many an influencer. (It’s so popular the exact same style is still retailing at full price). Interestingly, the trend trickled in multiple directions, not only down to shoppers but also up to luxury brands like Chanel — multiple giant collared blouses featured in the Spring 2020 Couture collection. I was smitten from the get-go, and excited when I realized I could recreate the trend with an item already in my possession (see: item #4 on The List), a vintage blouse with a wide, scalloped collar that I bought in 2018. I still wear it often, most recently underneath a navy sweater with my vintage pinstripe overalls. If you’re looking for one of your own, there’s a trove of vintage options on Etsy. Just search “vintage big collar blouse” and look for ones that are 100% cotton in your size. I like styles that button all the way up to the neck so you can layer them under a crewneck. Here’s one for $59.25 to get you started.

The takeaway: If you can approximate a trend with an item you already own, it means you’re not as likely to contract a case of Trend Imposter Syndrome (the fraudulent feeling that occurs when you attempt to wear a trend that doesn’t genuinely speak to your personal style) down the road.

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Trends I bought into that turned out to be bad investments for me…

The trend: Balaclavas

The context: I wish this trend was for me because I really do love the look and the warmth, but alas, it’s just not practical for my lifestyle or the way I actually get dressed (see: item #3 on The List). Specifically because of my hair, which is thick and curly and doesn’t jive with the constraints of a balaclava, at least in my experience. Whenever I’ve squished my hair underneath one (especially because balaclavas tend to be made of wool or other friction-causing materials), it’s made my neck get hot and itchy while my curls get matted and frizzy.

The takeaway: If a trend isn’t enjoyable or comfortable to wear… you simply won’t wear it. No matter how much you like the way it looks.

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The trend: Teeny tiny sunglasses

The context: Ah yes. I can still remember passionately defending tiny sunglasses during a 2018 round table conversation with my fellow editors at Man Repeller about whether we would live to regret the trend. Such is the humbling nature of documenting opinions on the internet, because lo and behold, here I am five years later about to do the opposite. Tiny novelty sunglasses defeat the purpose of sunglasses, which is to shield your eyes from the sun. They’re also just not the best shape for my face.

The takeaway: Be wary of a trend that compromises the intended purpose of the item in question, or that you’d never wear if it wasn’t trendy.

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And just for fun: trendy things I’ve been tempted by recently but haven’t bought into (yet)…

Samba Gazelles. I think I’ve waited out this trend long enough that it’s no longer as tempting to me at it once was, but occasionally I’ll walk past someone on the street who looks so cool and comfortable in a pair of these that the desire stirs anew.

Waistcoats. I’m really into the waistcoats-as-tops trend, particularly after seeing Caitlin Burke in Attersee’s beautiful sculpted style this winter. I’ve convinced myself I can find a vintage iteration that scratches the same itch, but so far it’s been challenging due to my requirements: the neck must be high instead of low and V-shaped (which is what will make it look more like a top vs. a suit vest copped from the menswear section), and the fabric must be of a certain quality (natural, thick, and structured). Luckily at seven months pregnant, the quest for a fitted top does not feel especially pressing. I’m willing to be patient.

The High Sport Kick Pants. It’s tricky to get bright colors right. Without a precise eye, they can easily sway corny or twee instead of luxe and sophisticated. Babaà is one of the few brands that notably excels at discerning the difference, and now High Sport too, which I think is one of the main reasons these pants have become such an “it” item. A kick-flare silhouette might not be novel, but marrying it with the exact right shade of purple or red is. The pants have haunted me for years, and I know I’d wear them often, but the retail price is outside my budget. I’m hoping to find them on sale or secondhand at some point. Since they seem to sell out frequently I’m not sure if or when that will be possible — for now, I’ll be ogling from afar.

Tell me about your smartest trend investments, your sheepish regrets, and what you’re currently tempted by in the comments. I’m curious if we have any overlap.

xo Harling