Writer Caitlin Abber lives with her husband, Geoffrey, and their five-year-old daughter, Simone, in Queens, New York. “Style has always been part of my identity,” she says. “When I was little, I’d dress up like a grunge kid or the orphans in Oliver. Now, as a 42-year-old mom, I want to express vitality and an excitement to be alive.” Here, she shares five favorite outfits…
“When you’re short — I’m 5’1” — it’s hard to find full-length pants that don’t drag on the ground. I wear Levi’s 501s, because they have the right inseam for my height. I also love a cropped pant, although it’s one of those things petite people aren’t ‘supposed’ to wear, because it can make you look shorter. I’m like, I’m short! There’s no hiding it! It’s okay, it’s great! Everything is for you if you want it to be for you.”
“In our apartment, my clothes closet is in the home office. My husband is a therapist, and he does Zoom sessions in there all day. So, in the morning, I have to grab all the clothes I might want — underwear, coats, shoes, everything. The other day, we had a super busy morning, and I didn’t get a chance to grab an outfit in time. I wound up going to a coffee shop wearing my husband’s jeans and old T-shirt with a picture of Barack Obama playing basketball. That’s life sometimes! I find that with age comes the ability to say, ‘I’m going to put on something that makes me feel hot’ or say, ‘I’m going wear this outfit that makes me look like Adam Sandler.’”
“Ten years ago, my husband and I walked past a tattoo shop and decided to hop in. I randomly picked a bunny for my ribcage. Flash forward a decade, and we now have a daughter who is completely obsessed with bunnies — everything is bunny, bunny, bunny. She always tells me, ‘Mommy, you knew I was coming.’”
“I wear makeup every day, even if I’m working from home. I turn on music, and the process puts me in a good mood. I love red lipstick — VioletteFR is my go-to. Their lipsticks are so good, often on sale, and never get on your teeth.”
“My body has changed a lot over the past few years, but I have so much gratitude for these legs that get me places, for this body that birthed and fed my child. I like showing skin, and being a little fun and provocative, because I’m not dead yet, you know? I look at this photo and think, ‘Hang this at my funeral. This is who I was.’ I also walk around in my underwear, because I want my daughter to see me relaxed and confident in my body.”
“My hair is naturally brown, but I always felt like I had a blonde woman inside me. Then one day, in my thirties, I decided to just go for it. Full blonde, no subtlety. And suddenly, it was like, ‘Oh. There I am.’ I think a lot of people have a moment like that, where it feels like they’ve become who they’re meant to be.”
“One tricky thing about being petite is that coats are impossible to find. I’ve been wearing the same winter jacket for a decade, since all other coats swallow me. I’d also wanted a trench forever, but even the petite sizes never looked right. Then one day I walked into a vintage store in my neighborhood, pulled this off the rack, and it FIT. The sleeves, the shoulders, it was perfect…and it was $30.”
“I like this outfit’s Gloria Steinem vibes — I feel very ‘in charge.’ Funny story: When we were taking photos, just as I was putting it on, I got a call from the school nurse saying that my daughter had thrown up. So, I jumped into my shoes and we took these last pictures while speed-walking to pick up my sick kid. Classic parenthood moment: You’re in the middle of something important, and then all of a sudden, plans change!”
Thank you so much, Caitlin. Readers, please share your own petite style recommendations, if you have them, and let us know who else you’d like us to feature! xoxo
Note: If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission or have a sponsored relationship with the brand, at no cost to you. We recommend only products we genuinely like. Thank you so much.
We spend hours choosing what to wear. The perfect dress, the right lipstick, the small touches that help express who we are. But there is one layer that never appears in photos and rarely gets mentioned. It is not about fashion or fabric. It is about how the body feels underneath it all. That hidden […]
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you purchase through our links. Please read our full disclosure here.
For all my talk about styling, I’ve never talked about the one thing I get the most questions about: trends.
But trends can also help you experiment with your style, and they can open up new avenues for inspiration.
For instance, maybe you try Pantone’s color of the year (Peach fuzz) for the first time and realize it’s actually your *perfect* color. Or maybe leopard print works with everything in your closet. And you never would’ve known if it wasn’t trending.
This week, I’ll share all my tips and tricks for using trends and incorporating them into your closet for the long term.
What *Is* Up With Trends?
Trends are easy and affordable to shop for, and it’s easy to find inspo on how to wear them. By nature, trends are ubiquitous when they’re in style.
Unfortunately, this also means they come and go fast. Today, we love cherry red, bows and ribbons, and leopard print. Tomorrow? It might be olive green, cowboy boots, and camo.
So what happens after this short lifespan? What do you do with those trendy pieces you bought? Is peach fuzz still your perfect shade? Or does leopard print still work with the rest of your closet?
How can you be sure that a trend works for you long after it leaves your FYP?
Let me help you figure out how to work with trends without shopping too much and ensuring you will get a bang for your buck. Or decide you don’t need to add them to your closet after all.
How to Tackle Trends: Tips, Tricks, & Hacks.
Here are some easy tips and tricks to help you work with trends and figure out if they’re for you.
Like goes with like. Try incorporating things that already match your style or what you have in your closet.
Start small. If you want to try something that isn’t in your comfort zone, start with accessories or shoes first.
Classic or statement? Depending on your style, is that trend going to be a classic, everyday item or a statement piece in your closet?
Aesthetics are fun, but not everything. Aesthetics are trendy and made up of trendy pieces, but before you adopt a new aesthetic, consider your existing closet. If it requires buying a whole new wardrobe, it’s probably not a smart choice.
Borrow before shopping. Before buying a trendy piece, borrow it from a friend or family member to try it out first. See how you feel about it before you spend money on it.
How to Use Trendy Pieces in Your Wardrobe: Examples
For this guide, I chose a couple of trendy colors, patterns, pieces, and aesthetics to use as examples. Let’s get started.
Outfit 1 (Easy): Cherry Red
For our first look, let’s go with a *very* trendy color: Cherry red.
Since last year, red has taken over our feeds and stores. Personally, I’m here for it because I looove red. But what about you? How can you know if red is for you?
For this example, I started with a neutral base: a cotton, white t-shirt and blue denim jeans.
Now, let’s add a pop of red. I chose a pair of red velvet Mary Jane flats and accessorized with a cherry red purse and a red statement ring. The rest of my accessories are simple: gold rings and a necklace.
As you can see, adding a trendy color is easy. I could’ve just used the flats and left everything else neutral. But it made sense for me to add more red items because I have a rainbow closet and love color. Extra color = my personal style.
But if you’re not a color lover like me, red is also a great addition to a mostly neutral closet.
The most important thing to remember is that red demands attention. So, if you’re not comfortable with that or prefer less color, you can use just one item to bring in that intensity. This could be a pair of shoes, earrings, a ring, or a bag.
Outfit 2 (Easy): Bows/Ribbons & Peach Fuzz
Now, let’s try a combination of trends.
Bows have been appearing here and there since the Fall/Winter season. Now, they’re everywhere. They’re so feminine and so easy to incorporate into an outfit.
Then, we have Pantone’s color of the year: Peach Fuzz. Love it or hate it, that peachy color is working its way into our favorite stores.
For my look, I chose a ballet pink, polka dot long-sleeve shirt and pants set as a base. Then, I added pink ballet flats to follow a monochromatic, ballet theme.
Finally, I did my hair up and accessorized with a pair of peach velvet (too literal?) bows.
This outfit is already in my comfort zone, and I just added a small, trendy accessory to take it up a notch. The set is actually pinker than the bows, but since the bows are so small, it is easy to overlook that they’re not a perfect match.
Let’s start by talking about Peach Fuzz.
I’m not a big fan of light, peachy colors: I feel those shades wash me out, and I need a bit more contrast. (Read about my experience with color analysis here.) But in small doses, like bows, I think they work with other pieces in my closet.
If you have a warm neutral closet, peach fuzz might be a good addition as another neutral. If you have a cool neutral palette, peach might work better as a pop of color.
On the other hand, how do you know if bows work for you?
Bows are immediately associated with romantic, girly-girl styles, and that’s just not everyone’s cup of tea. But if that’s your style, you can work them in easily. For instance, you can wear bigger, bolder bows with more casual looks. And dainty, detailed bows look great with sexier or more dressed-up outfits.
However, if you have a more classic, androgynous, boho, or sporty type of style, bows are probably going to be tricky for you. I’d stick to simpler, smaller ribbons that you can tie however you want, in matte fabrics and colors that match your closet.
Outfit 3 (Easy): Leopard Print
Leopard print has made a strong comeback. It started trickling in with Ganni’s viral jeans (and their whole Spring line, honestly) and then with the Mob Wife aesthetic.
Leopard print is usually made up of neutrals, so it will work with most wardrobes. To make it easier to style, choose a less saturated and contrasted version of the print.
For this outfit, I paired a white t-shirt with a leopard print skort. The print, instead of its usual light and dark browns, is made up of all-dark brown shades.
Then, to add more texture and a layer, I threw on a brown corduroy shirt. Finally, I grabbed a pair of white sneakers with a very subtle leopard print detail.
As you can see, a less saturated version of a viral print makes it more subtle and timeless no matter what your style is.
Again, this print might not be for everyone, but there are so many variations of it. Chances are, you can find a leopard item that suits your style and will be in your closet for a long time.
Since this trend is more of an actual item instead of a color or print, it’s harder to decide whether it can fit in your closet.
I mean, it’s a cute blouse. We all have space for one, right?
Yes and no.
Not all items fit with all styles and comfort levels. So, if you love this blouse, instead of looking for an exact dupe, search for something similar that leans more toward your personal style.
For example, take this look I created here.
First, I wore a white and orange striped tie-up blouse. It has a large collar and white floral details. Then, to keep it casual, I added black straight-fit jeans. Finally, for shoes, I went with a sleek pair of black sock booties.
As you can see, I got myself a tie-up blouse but in a slightly different fit.
Personally, I don’t love peplum waists, and I already have a few blouses with balloon sleeves. So, I wanted a tie-up blouse with a different waist and different sleeves. When I saw this one, I knew the color was perfect for me and I loved the fit, too.
This is what I mean when I say you should look for a version of a trend that works for you and your closet.
Look for the details that work for you, and don’t just shop for an exact dupe or item.
So if you want to try this type of blouse, consider how comfortable you are with just the ties as a way to close it, the fit of the blouse, and how much the feminine style of the blouse fits your vibe. Then find a suitable piece from there.
Outfit 5 (Medium): Leopard Jeans & Red Items
Now, let’s create an entire look using trends. To do this, my best tip is to pair an item in a popular solid color with a trendy print.
Let’s also consider fit. If one of the items has a trendy fit, like a tie-up blouse, ensure that your other item has a classic fit, like an Oxford shirt or just a t-shirt.
Look at this outfit to see what I mean.
I started with a white t-shirt and layered on a cherry red sweatshirt. Then, I wore a pair of trendy leopard print jeans. For accessories, I kept it simple with gold jewelry. Finally, I chose a trendier piece to finish, namely some white and red Adidas Sambas.
First, I know this combo is not for everyone, but it fits my colorful style to a T. The sweatshirt has a trendy red color, but it is such a classic design that it doesn’t look “trendy”.
In contrast, the leopard print jeans are more outwardly trendy. For the jeans, I didn’t want an exact dupe of Ganni’s muted print because it doesn’t fit my closet. So I looked intensely for at least a month and a half until I found a more contrasted, bright print that was better for me.
These choices make my jeans and sweatshirt work for me and my style instead of just working for the trendy moment.
The same goes for my sneakers. I like the look of Sambas, but personally, I prefer something less flat. When I saw there was a version with a bit more of a platform, in a color combination that I loved, I knew they were for me.
Outfit 6 (Medium): Bows and Scandi Pants
Now, we’re dipping our toes a bit more into a viral type of look, through a trendy piece. I’m talking about Scandi pants.
You’ve seen this outfit: a relaxed, loose-fitted pair of pants (usually in powder blue), a white tank top or shirt, and an oversized shirt or jacket. Those *almost* pajama pants are called Scandi pants.
To create this outfit, I wore a white baby tee and loose-fitted, striped pants. The pants have bow details on the sides, and they’re orange and white. Then I added an oversized, white button-down shirt instead of a jacket. Finally, white sneakers kept everything comfortable and casual.
Just as I said earlier, you need to find a version of the trend that works for you.
For instance, I saw those pants everywhere, but I didn’t love the blue. Then I found this orange set (yes, it is a set with the tie-up blouse), and the color and details made it more interesting and fun for me.
FYI, this is an easy trend to try without shopping for anything. You just need a pair of elasticated, loose-fitting pants. I’d recommend borrowing a pair or using ones you already have, even if they’re pajamas, just to see how much you actually like them before you buy.
Outfit 7 (Difficult): Office Siren
Now, let’s tackle aesthetics. They can go just as viral as a particular color or item.
One such example is being called Office Siren. (Think Gisele Bundchen in The Devil Wears Prada.) Or just think of office-wear that you probably cannot wear to an actual office, but you can wear on girl’s night or date night.
To be honest, Office Siren doesn’t fit my personal style at all. I’m more of a colorful, loose-fit, comfort-first type. And this aesthetic is about form-fitting, sexier, dark neutrals.
Nonetheless, I gave it a shot.
For my take on Office Siren, I started with a white cropped button-down shirt. Then, I paired it with a black leather mini. Important colors for an Office Siren look are charcoal or dark grey. So, to bring that in, I threw on a grey blazer.
For this aesthetic, the magic is in the details. I wore white socks with black velvet pumps. Then, I did my hair up and put in hair sticks. Finally, I used my glasses as a finishing touch.
First off, this outfit isn’t perfect, I know. But when you see it, you know exactly what inspired it.
Creating a look like this is a good way to decide whether an aesthetic fits you or if you just want to play with it. (No problem with that, it just helps to know!) It also helps you deduce what about that aesthetic calls to you. For some, it might be the makeup or the accessories. To others, the actual clothing items.
The thing with aesthetics is that you might feel you have to get all those new items to create that look and see what entices you about it. But you don’t.
Aesthetics are more of an idea than a particular look. So, you can totally emulate that vibe with things you have, making slight adjustments here and there.
Outfit 8 (Difficult): Costal Cowgirl
Beyonce is going Western, and so are we. Or at least, a good chunk of people are.
Costal Cowgirl is a toned-down version of the cowgirl aesthetic. There are lots of loose-fitting cotton dresses and cowboy boots, with a white and blue color scheme. Hats are optional.
This one is fun to me, but it’s not very close to my personal style. Which, again, makes it perfect as an example for our purposes.
To test out the Costal Cowgirl aesthetic, I started with a white shirt dress. It comes with a matching white cotton belt, but I switched it with a brown leather belt with a bigger buckle. Then, I layered on a denim vest.
Finally, I chose brown riding boots to match the belt. I do have a few pairs of cowboy boots, but they’re silver and pink, and I don’t think they’d match the aesthetic as much.
I think, out of most popular aesthetics right now, Costal Cowgirl might be the easiest to try out. It’s made up of classic or basic items we all have, like denim skirts, jeans, and white shirts.
The only item you might need to borrow are the boots, but I do believe that even a pair of knee-high boots will do the trick just fine.
Outfit 9 (Difficult): Coquette
Finally, let’s tackle the one style that keeps coming back: The Coquette aesthetic.
Coquette is all about pink, ballet, pearls, ribbons, and lace. It’s an ultra-feminine, girly type of look.
Out of the three aesthetics I covered, this one is probably the easiest one for me since Coquette can go really camp with exaggerated silhouettes and maximalist accessories.
Let’s make it a bit more wearable and day-to-day.
First, I wore a red and white baby doll dress. The dress’s straps can be tied into bows, and it has a lovely lace detail on the skirt. Then, I added white socks with the red velvet Mary Jane flats from the first look. Finally, I accessorized with a pearl necklace and a white lace bow.
I think Coquette encompasses quite a few trends, so it explains how it has managed to stay in our focus for longer than expected. For instance, it includes bows, romantic silhouettes and fabrics, ballet flats, and mary-janes. Plus, pink and red have become the colors of the year (even more so than Peach Fuzz).
I do think that Coquette is easy to emulate with just color and fit; you don’t need to buy a specific dress or blouse to try it out!
Final Thoughts
Trends are tricky. For more than one reason, I don’t recommend buying trendy pieces. Instead, always try to emulate them first with what you already have. After all, keeping up with the trend cycle can get really expensive, and you might end up with a closet full of clothes that don’t work for you.
But trends are also fun and, most of the time, incredibly tempting. I love to see what’s trending and use it as inspiration to play with my clothes.
I’ve realized that observing the trends for a bit more time before buying anything has helped me decide what is just a shiny new thing and what is something that will work with my closet and personal style.
So whenever you see a trend that excites you, try to emulate it with things you have, or borrow it. Then, take a breather and, while doing so, look at what you have and think of different outfit combinations that you could do with that trend and your clothes.
If, by then, you’re still thinking of it and you have at least 6 different outfits in mind, then you’ll be sure it is a trend that works for you. That’s the key to wearing a trend instead of being controlled by trends.
How do you incorporate trends into your wardrobe?
Would you wear any of these trends? What’s your favorite trend right now? Do you have any styling questions?Let us know in the comments below!
Like many high schoolers in the early to mid-2000s, Telsha Anderson-Boone spent a lot of time scrolling through Tumblr. A fashion obsessive—now 30, she owns and operates her own store, called T.A., in New York—she saved any image that piqued her interest to a folder on her computer called “Style.”She didn’t realize it at the time, but many of the looks she liked had something in common: They were all designed by Phoebe Philo, the then-creative director of Celine (the brand was styled “Céline” during her tenure, but has since rebranded sans the accent). Later, Anderson-Boone changed the folder name to simply “PP.”
A Paris Fashion Week attendee wears Philo-designed Celine pieces in 2018.
Melodie Jeng
In September, Philo will launch her own eponymous label after a five-year hiatus from the industry and public life. Excitement around her return has been mounting pretty much since the day she left. But for many shoppers in their late twenties and early thirties, who were in middle school when Philo was at Chloé (2001–2006), and high school and college when she was at Céline (2008–2018), the occasion is an especially momentous one. Finally, after years of collecting “Old Céline,” as they call it, and hearing their elders talk about the good old days, when it was everywhere and theirs for the taking, they can purchase Philo’s ready-to-wear fresh off the rack and participate in the frenzy themselves.
It felt like the adult I wanted to be.”—Olivia Haroutounian on Philo’s design aesthetic
Erin Wasson walking the Chloé spring 2003 show.
Fairchild Archive
“When I was in college, I could barely afford a slice of pizza, so at the time there was no way I was buying $800 shoes or a $1,500 dress,” Anderson-Boone says. “So I saved them [to the folder], and then I began to discover resale.” Over time, she tracked down and invested in her Old Céline favorites: leather mules, the two-tone Madame ankle boots from spring 2018, and the mohair slides from fall 2018. (Accessories, which tend to be more affordable, are oftentimes an entry point for young consumers.) “I waited a long time,” she says. Now she can’t wait to mix the old with the new.
I definitely bought a pair of Adidas because of her in high school.”—Eden Pritikin
“I remember watching a Style.com video about her spring 2010 Céline show and thinking, Oh, this is going to change the tides,” says Blythe Marks, 28, a vintage dealer and writer, who was a teenager living in Phoenix at the time. (She also collected Céline images under the Tumblr tags “Art Gallery Owner” and “AGO.”) “By fall 2010, you couldn’t go anywhere without minimalism being the buzzword, and Phoebe was at the forefront of that. So I was intrigued from the jump.”
Alexis Novak wears Old Céline.
Travis Schneider
“It gave [me] permission to be bold but also relaxed,” says Alexis Novak, 32, founder of Tab Vintage, of Philo’s Céline era, from which she’s since collected about 60 pieces. “She humanized fashion, in a way, and made me realize that you can just wear sneakers and some cool tailored trousers and still be stylish.” Olivia Haroutounian, 24, a vintage dealer and TikToker based in Texas who collected Philo’s more “girly” Chloé-era pieces on Poshmark in high school, also found her Céline look to be aspirational, yet attainable. “It felt like the adult I wanted to be,” she says.
Céline spring 2010.
Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho
Beyond what Philo sent down the runway—which evolved beyond minimalism to offer something more eclectic, yet equally wearable, by the end of her time at Céline—her personal style inspired a cult following as well. “I definitely bought a pair of Adidas because of her in high school,” says Eden Pritikin, 26, also a collector.
I hope she does literally whatever she wants.”—Blythe Marks
This bodes well for a line that, although backed by LVMH, has no heritage to live up to other than that of its founder. “I hope she does literally whatever she wants,” Marks says. That said, she still has some wishes: Given that Philo’s taken time away from the spotlight, “I would like her to address an aging woman’s wardrobe. What is sexy for women in their fifties and beyond that isn’t being dictated by an algorithm or the fantasy of a designer? I started buying Céline because I could see myself, as someone in my twenties, wearing it until I am [Philo’s] age, or older, and I hope she continues that.”
Telsha Anderson-Boone
Justin Boone//Instagram
Philo’s younger fans have grown up along with her, and it’s the timeless, principled quality of her output that appeals to them, especially in today’s era of rapid microtrends and empty buzz. Pretty much whatever she does, they’ll follow her to the end, Marks says: “Even if it’s just a good white T-shirt.”
Writer
Emilia Petrarca is a Brooklyn-based freelance writer covering fashion and culture. She previously worked at New York Magazine’s The Cut, where she spent five years obsessing over everything from going-out tops to Anna Wintour’s lunch to The RealReal. Her work has since been featured in The New York Times, T Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and more. She also took *that* video of Larry David at NYFW.
