Look, I’m Tired of Chasing Trends
It’s 2023, and I’m done. Done with trends, done with fast fashion, done with the endless cycle of ‘what’s in’ and ‘what’s out.’ I’m 47 years old, for crying out loud. I’ve been in this industry since I was 23, and I’ve seen it all. The trends come and go, but my closet is a graveyard of styles I thought I’d love forever.
I remember back in ’98, when I was working at Vogue, and this intern—let’s call her Marcus—told me that cargo pants were the future. I bought into it, hook, line, and sinker. Spent $87 on this ridiculous pair that made me look like a rejected cast member from ‘Survivor.’ And what happened? Two seasons later, they were out. Just like that.
Enough is enough. I’m not saying I’m gonna start wearing the same outfit every day like Steve Jobs. But I am saying I’m gonna be more intentional about what I buy and why.
My Friend Sarah’s Closet Revolution
About three months ago, I was over at my friend Sarah’s place. She’s a stylist, and her closet is basically a shrine to fashion. But even she’s had enough. She told me, ‘I’m done with the committment to trends. I’m done with the physicaly exhausting cycle of buying, wearing, and then tossing.’
She showed me her new approach: a capsule wardrobe. Basically, she’s keeping only the pieces she loves, the ones that make her feel like a million bucks. And the rest? Gone. Donated, sold, or turned into rags. It’s kinda liberating, honestly.
I asked her, ‘But what about when a new trend comes along?’ She just laughed and said, ‘Trends are for magazines, not for life.’ Which… yeah. Fair enough.
The Problem with Fast Fashion
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Fast fashion is killing us. Literally. The environmental impact is staggering, and the human cost is even worse. I read this report last Tuesday—214 pages, if you can believe it—that talked about the aquisition of cheap labor and the physicaly demanding conditions in these factories.
And for what? So we can have a new outfit for every social media post? So we can keep up with the Kardashians? No thank you. I’d rather wear something that makes me feel good and does good, too.
I’m not saying you gotta go out and buy all organic, ethically sourced clothing tomorrow. But maybe, just maybe, we can start thinking about where our clothes come from and who made them. It’s a start, right?
My New Fashion Mantra
So, what’s my plan? Well, I’m gonna start small. I’m gonna go through my closet and keep only the pieces that spark joy. (Yes, I’m channeling Marie Kondo here. Deal with it.)
And when I do buy something new, I’m gonna ask myself a few questions:
- Do I love it? Like, really love it?
- Will I wear it more than 36 times?
- Is it made by someone who’s paid a fair wage?
- Is it made from materials that won’t end up in a landfill in six months?
It’s a simple checklist, but it’s a start. And who knows? Maybe I’ll even start a blog about it. A fashion diary, if you will. But for now, I’m just gonna focus on me.
Oh, and One More Thing…
I was gonna talk about how to accessorize your outfits, but honestly, I’m tired. And I just remembered I left my coffee in the kitchen. So, yeah. Maybe next time.
Before I go, though, I wanna leave you with this: fashion should be fun, not stressful. It should be about expressing yourself, not about keeping up with some arbitrary standard. So go ahead, break the rules. Wear that mismatched outfit. Mix your prints. Have fun with it.
And if anyone gives you a hard time, just tell them Auntie Carol said it’s okay.
About the Author
Carol ‘Auntie Carol’ Thompson has been in the fashion industry for over 20 years. She’s worked at Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and even had a brief stint at a small-town newspaper where she wrote about the latest trends in overalls. She’s opinionated, she’s blunt, and she’s not afraid to tell you that your outfit is completeley wrong. But she means well, and she’s always got your back. You can find her on most social media platforms, ranting about the state of fashion today. Or just hanging out with her cats.
