Fall ’14–Fashion or Fail?

Do you guys remember a few years ago, when everybody—no, literally everybody—was rocking the Juicy Couture velour tracksuit? You know what I’m talking about? The one with “JUICY” emblazoned on the backside? That is, if you were “hip” enough to grab the original. Later the trend came to encompass bottoms that advertised “PINK,” “RUTGERS,” “ED HARDY” or assorted other brands on the asses of America. 

That tracksuit was fashion poison, and of course I had one two a few. In assorted colors. That I wore with Uggs. Because of course I did…and when I walked down the street I felt in style, trendy, hip—generally awesome. Until I one day I realized that, regardless of how “in” they were and what celebrities were wearing them, velour pants looked awful on me. Especially, (but not exclusively) velour pants that could comfortably fit five 4-inch tall letters with room to spare across my rear end.

But if we’re honest with ourselves, that happens every season, right? A trend catches fire and produces the “it” item. Before we know it, some sort of noxious fashion fumes overcome us and we find ourselves obsessed with buying something that is so in, so on-trend, that we forget to think about whether that item is flattering to our body type or even practical in our day to day lives. We just have to have it.

I’m here to tell you that you are not alone. I’m also here to tell you to snap out of it! It’s not easy, and it takes a bit of work and knowledge, but you never have to plunge into the velour vortex again. Let’s use three of this season’s key trends and ask ourselves:

1) What would our bosses (assuming we don’t work in fashion) say if we walked in wearing them to the Monday morning staff meeting?

 2) Does this look good on you, as opposed to, say, Cara Delevingne?

Trend: Sneaker 

Alternative: Moto Boots

All the casual chic in a buttery and acceptable leather.

Trend: Cool Sweatshirts

 Alternative: Technicolor Sweater

Color and comfort without the Nickelodeon vibe.

Trend: Sheer

 Alternative: Ladylike Lace

 Save the peek-a-boo for a Saturday night.

See? You can always make fashion work for you, instead of the other way around. It just takes a bit of knowledge, effort and most importantly, knowing your own style. And there are always exceptions that make the rules: You will have to pry my Uggs off my cold dead feet.

xoxo

Natasha Walsh