Staying On-Trend

Having signature style can be tricky to master. It must reflect current trends but not too much, while still being unique to you. Mastering this balance can be even tricky given a little trend goes a long way, risking a costume-y look if gone overboard. The secret is adapting trend with a measured, appropriate approach to keep signature style everlasting yet still au courant. Practice makes perfect, so start this season using these guidelines as guardrails for your summer capsule, then autumn capsule, and so on:

1. Shapes
   Look closely and you’ll see each season has a dominant silhouette shape. Sometimes it’s long and narrow (skinny jeans, pencil skirts), sometimes it’s rectangular (boxy blazers, shift dresses) and other times triangle — or inverted triangle — which usually signifies volume (A-line skirts, shoulder pads). Gently adapt the same shape to your seasonal capsule but less exaggerated, like monochromatic head-to-toe outfits (long and narrow), untucked or half-tucked shirts (rectangle), pleated trousers (triangle) or drop-shoulder sleeves (inverted triangle). If you master the basic seasonal shape, at a glance you’ll be on-trend.

2. Hemlines
   They say hemlines fluctuate as often as the stock market, which can be tough to keep up with. Simplify things by adjusting hemlines below the knee only, forgoing anything above it. Keep skirt lengths ranging from one inch below the knee to one inch above the ankle and instead focus on design trends — A-line, pencil, wrap, bubble, ruffled, flounced, tiered, pleated, asymmetrical — and adapt with moderation. This will keep you both on-trend and age appropriate.

3. Pant legs
   Like hemlines, modify your pant leg as trends change but with subtlety. Try a tapered jean when skinny jeans dominate street style, a pleated pant when exaggerated, wide leg trousers rule the runways and a classic, timeless capri when anything cropped is hot. Remember that after 60 a nod to trend is just enough to be on-trend.

4. Color
   Color is perhaps the easiest trend to integrate after 60. Take Pantone’s Color of the Year as your first cue and, if it’s bright, add as an accent color — scarf, tote, shoe or lipstick — for an on-trend pop. If it’s a neutral, consider a more substantial wardrobe investment like a jacket, cashmere sweater or seasonal handbag. Never forget accent colors are fleeting and neutrals stand the test of time.

5. Accessories
   At its core, trend is impermanent. For this reason, be disciplined by first evaluating how many dollars you’re willing to commit to it, then start small with accessories to assess if the trend warrants a larger investment. If asymmetrical hemlines are on-trend, try a crossbody purse to echo the line and test drive it before shopping skirts. When shoulder pads make a comeback, accessorize with a scarf over your shoulders to experiment extra volume above the waist before buying a wide-shouldered (and potential one-season-wonder) blazer. Or, when bold neon, geometric prints rule the runways, try it in a fun beach tote to ensure scale and color palette don’t overpower. Always remember accessories are a cheap and cheerful way to mitigate trend risk, so use them wisely.

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