DRESS SHIRT
My wife came back home from Primark the other day and got me a gift. I put it on, and it looked like I was wearing a dress. Some of you already know what I'm talking about. It was a t-shirt. We both laughed while I looked in the mirror. We tried to figure it out. "Awww, is it cuz you're overweight right now"? 😂 Well, maybe. But also it's cuz I'm short and if I had a big "A" on the shirt, I'd look like Alvin the chipmunk. Maybe a tall slender hipster from California could pull this off, but the only was I was pulling it off was by literally physically pulling it off and returning it to Primark.

Like many other instances in fashion, they're taking a simple idea to an extreme. Tight pants were in, let's make it EVEN tighter! Longish t-shirts were in, let's make it EVEN longer! For me though, this is where I drew the line. I draw that line often actually.

To be on trend, or even ahead of trend is "cool", but what I think is even cooler is to be confident in my taste and think for myself instead of wearing what the industry is telling me to wear for the sake of staying on trend. For example, a few years back, a certain type of color blocking was really in and I hated it. I skipped that trend. Before that, capris. Why. I just knew that was an immediate nope for me, even if all my fashion forward friends wore them. Bottom line is, I don't feel like I have to prove anything.

One other drawback of trying to be on trend all the time is that you end up paying for clothes at FULL PRICE! The following are ways I like to find some sort of balance when it comes to being on trend:

STAY CLASSIC
Some trends just look like they won't have staying power. However, if I go with something fairly timeless, then I can afford to NOT buy that article of clothing until the end of the season when things go on sale, and enjoy it the following year. Really, it's #NBD

DISPOSABLE FASHION (aka FAST FASHION)
If there's a trend I'm on the fence about (lets take ripped jeans for example), I often like to "try it out" by getting a cheap version of it at a store such as Primark or H&M. If I love it, I'll invest in a nicer version of it later on. Then I really take fit & quality into consideration!

TREND AT FIRST SIGHT
This past year, white shoes (sneakers) have been in again. I liked the way it looked on other people, but no matter where I looked, nothing quite fit the bill for me. I'm not sure why. It might have been a quality thing, it might have been a fit thing. But one day, I saw those Reeboks up there! Classic - they reminded me of my childhood, and I knew immediately that those were the white shoes I'd wanted but didn't realize were an option that was available. Took me a split second to purchase them. Moments like those don't really come by that often for me when it comes to fashion, but it was definitely love (trend) at first sight. Easy choice.

Quick pro-tip for those who cycle through trends often. If you're just over it, and it's taking up space in your closet - sell your clothes to Buffalo Exchange (or shops like it). You don't get a TON of money but at least you get something back!

So that's it - these are the things I consider when it comes to fashion. I don't know what it is, but I love when I can see these conscious choices being made by other people as well. Maybe it's the attention to detail I'm noticing, or an unlikely combination of patterns and colors that I'm appreciating - but I love that fashion is so personal and that I get to have a small window someone's inner world by seeing what they chose to wore that day. And..... THAT'S why I'm a fan of fashion :)

You do you. Koo do Koo.