Trend Rehab, yes yes yes.

Trends come and trends go. Most of us cross our fingers hoping the bad trends go rather quickly. [Read: shoulder pads, papasans, and zubas.] Then there is always that one neighbor who still has avocado green counter tops, or the coworker who will has pleated – or worse yet – tapered pants. So how do we prevent our own looks from falling into the dreaded trends trap? Step one: admit that we are all influenced by trends. Isn’t the first step in any rehab situation to admit you have a problem.

Hi my name is (insert name here) and I am a…
…trend follower.

Why do we fall in to trends? Our own human ego, paired with a self loathing self-esteem is at the root of all bad trend decisions. In my understanding most trend decisions are made in a moment of weak mall madness. When we feel that our look is out of date and unflattering, when in the rare occasion this might be true, we go to the nearest shop girl or sales clerk and ask them to make us over. We walk out with a false sense of looking good, a hole in our bank accounts, and the latest look anchoring us to this moment in time. This same moment where we felt out of date and vulnerable to any vanity fair or dwell magazine’s editors top ten “do’s.” How does this go wrong? Should we trust the uber-trendy and slick sales people? Yes you can trust a sales person but it takes time. If they are a compassionate shopkeeper, and not driving the sale from a numbers position, it will take time, listening, and understanding of your resources and current base pieces to build off of.

This base if left unset or ignored will be the downfall of any new look. The base is what keeps us grounded and out of the trend traps. I like to call the base, phase 1. Phase 1 is the point where you get to know your body type or your room’s bones. From a wardrobe perspective this is the point where you find out what cut of jeans is best for your body, the perfect bra and undergarments, and your color family. When you are uncovering the bones of your room or space, phase 1 is the point in which you realize the style of the space, natural lighting, and also the main/dominate color. Here in lies the difference between trendy and on trend. The “Trendy” look is when the base is missing and is replaced with a large collection of trend pieces hastily thrown on top of each other. While the “on trend” look is a composition that is a gentle play between a good strong base and highlighted with a few smartly chosen on trend pieces. Without a solid understanding of the foundation or phase 1, you can easily slide into the trappings of the overly trendy and regrettable decisions that make a glance back into a photo album an embarrassing and entirely avoidable act.

Once the base is established you are then free to add the flashy accessories that make the look timely, or “on trend.” One patent leather belt or hounds tooth pillow is something that can easily be switched out and smartly replaced once the fad has passed. This is also a way to be budget conscious. By making your larger ticket items the base pieces you extend the life of that piece. Then leaving you free to experiment with the latest trends without committing.

This base is not the easiest thing to build. The foundation is not the most fun part to focus on. During this time avoid most sales clerks, fashion mags, and home design publications. It is too hard to not jump on the slickest trend that trips your trigger. When
I am working with a new client one of the first things I tell them is to put away such magazines and focus on the needs of the space or wardrobe. Working with a good stylist or designer should be the first step in putting you in the right direction. Good design is more than aesthetics. Good design is about creating a timeless look while being timely. It sounds like a catch 22 but trust me with a bit of time and understanding you will be matching your patterns in the blink of an eye.

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