I used to think I was bad at fashion because I couldn’t keep up.

There was always some new thing, cargo pants, micro minis, ballet core, mob wife coats. Every time I try something trendy, I wear it once, and immediately feel off, not myself. And then it’d end up hanging there, like a souvenir from someone else’s style phase. Pretty maybe, but not mine. I feel those pieces didn’t belong to me, they were just visiting.

Eventually, I figured it out, I wasn’t missing style at all. I just didn’t need trends to prove it.

Trends are exhausting

Let’s be honest. Fashion trends move fast for a reason. They’re designed to make you feel like you’re already behind. So you keep chasing, keep buying just to stay relevant, you know what I mean, keep feeling like you’re missing something.

One week it’s quiet luxury. The next it’s metallic fringe and mesh. Honestly… how are we supposed to build a wardrobe with all that noise?

Every time I tried, I felt like I was playing dress-up. Not the good kind, more like “trying to convince myself I’m into this even though I know it’s going to end up on Vinted in two months.”

It’s not that trends are bad exactly. It’s just that they aren’t personal. And after a while, that gets tiring.

The best outfit has nothing to do with trends

The most stylish people I know? They don’t follow trends at all. They follow themselves.

They’ve figured out what fits them, what flatters them, and what they actually enjoy wearing. And they stick to it, even when it’s not what’s “in.”

There’s this woman I always see at the little bookstore café near me, probably in her sixties. She’s always in some version of the same look: linen shirt, navy trousers, worn-in loafers. Hair clipped back, gold watch, minimal makeup. Effortless. Chic. Not trendy at all. And she always looks incredible.

She’s not trying to impress anyone. She just knows her style. That’s what makes it elegant.

Style is about self-knowledge, not algorithms

There’s something really peaceful about deciding you’re done chasing trends. You start dressing based on how you want to feel, not what your feed is pushing.

You can ask:

What do I reach for again and again?

What makes me feel strong, soft, powerful, playful?

What have I owned for years and still love?

Your closet becomes less of a mood board and more of a reflection of who you actually are. You stop overthinking what to wear. You buy less. And when you do buy, you actually wear it.

A big win, if you ask me.

What I wear on repeat

Here’s what’s always in rotation for me, no matter what’s trending:

• A camel wool coat I bought six years ago and still get compliments on. Max Mara’s coat is timeless and somehow gets better with age.
• High-waisted trousers with a slight pleat, structured enough to feel dressed. These from Mango are simple, flattering, and hold their shape.
• Slim cashmere sweaters in black, cream, charcoal… they go with almost everything and always feel just right. I swear by Naadam’s sweater, soft, minimal, and not too clingy.
• Loafers or ballet flats depending on my mood, but always something I can actually walk in
• One perfect white shirt, oversized, lived-in, and soft like pajamas. I’ve probably washed it a hundred times and it only gets better Sézane’s Max Shirt is my go-to.
• Small gold hoops, everyday. I’ve worn these from Mejuri for years, never too shiny, never too much.

None of it’s trendy. But it all feels like me.

And when I do add something new? It has to earn its place. Not just look good in a flat lay.

You don’t have to reject all trends

Sure, some trends are worth trying, and that’s fine. But the key is to choose with intention, not impulse.

I once bought a pair of deep olive riding boots during a brief equestrian-core moment. Thought they’d be a phase. Turns out, they go with half my fall wardrobe. I’ve worn them for four seasons now. So maybe they weren’t a trend for me. Maybe they were just… good.

It’s not about ignoring everything new. It’s about asking whether it fits your life.

Not your Pinterest board. Not someone else’s idea of stylish. Yours.

The old money lesson here

I think this is why I love the old money aesthetic so much. Not because it’s about wealth (honestly, most people doing it right don’t care about logos). But because it’s about confidence. Taste. Personal clarity.

It’s the opposite of trend-chasing. It’s choosing pieces that feel timeless and letting them do the work.

It’s buying a navy wrap dress because you know it’ll look good every time, not because some list said it was “in” this month.

It’s knowing that elegance has more to do with how you carry yourself than what brand your shoes are.

So what if we just… stop following fashion trends?

Not in a smug way. Not in a “I’m better than this” way. Just… in a quieter, calmer, more self-aware way.

What if you wear that blazer again even though everyone on TikTok says it’s outdated?

What if you skip the shiny new bag and use the vintage one you’ve had for years?

What if you let your style be something you live with, like a home, not something you constantly renovate?

You don’t have to trend-cycle yourself into an identity crisis.

You can opt out. 

I did. And I’ve never dressed better.

So, the real flex might be skipping the trends and just wearing what makes you feel good.

If you’ve ever felt exhausted by trends or like your closet doesn’t reflect you anymore, I’d love to hear it. Have you stopped following fashion trends too? Or are you somewhere in between?

Drop a comment below. I’m genuinely curious how everyone’s navigating this.