fashion trends into closet staples
Photo Credit: Emma McAlary
Remember the wedge sneaker? The brightly colored denim? Juicy Couture track suits? Trucker hats? Timberland-esque heeled booties? Butterfly hair clips? Fashion trends and fads by and large come and go. And come again. And go again.
But some style trends arrive, are met with typical mass suspicion, but then keep coming back season upon season until they become closet staples. Here are a few of my favorite “trends” that hit hard, stuck around, and are now items we recommend as closet staples to all our clients.
The Skinny Jean
Slim-fitting pants are a classic (think Audrey Hepburn in her black turtleneck and cigarette pants.) The evolution of the skinny jean as we see it today started in the early 2000s, though, with a very low rise and very little stretch. Any bending over, sitting down or general moving yielded backside, um, exposure. Real women with real bodies, curves, lumps and bumps balked at the idea of wearing a garment that would cut into stomachs, fall off backsides and–with a skinny, tapered ankle–accentuated hips.
Fast-forward ten years and the skinny is ubiquitous. The silhouette has been updated to become an easy-to-wear closet staple. Today, every woman needs a dark skinny pair of jeans in her closet. Why?
– They solve any tall-boot-tucking issue in one fell swoop; no need to jam a bootcut or wider-leg jean into your boots.
– You don’t have to hem them to fit heels or flats; one length for all shoe heights.
– They come in stretchier cotton and lycra combos so they actually feel great to wear.
– The mid-rise style (7-8 inches) of most skinny jeans out there make them more accessible to a wide range of body types.
Animal Print
Animal print in fashion started centuries ago when Europeans began colonizing Asia and African in the 18th century. They brought back to their homelands the skins of leopards, tigers and zebras. The exotic patterns were soon reproduced on fabric. Each decade we see animal print reinvented as an alluring, bold, sexy fashion fixture. Today, though, we see it in everyday wear — for the office in pumps, flats for the weekend, scarves to add a little texture to a casual jean outfit and more.
What makes the animal print of the last decade a staple? This time around the print is used as a neutral that adds interest in blouses, shoes and accessories instead of a bolder statement in dresses, hats, caftans and coats. The animal print pump–a wonderfully subtle way to add interest to any outfit–is a must-have in every woman’s closet.
Booties
This last trend is a newer trend, but there is no doubt that it has solidified its place in any and every woman’s closet. As women became more comfortable with the idea of the ankle boot over the last few seasons, we also got to see fun and interesting ways to style the shoe. For example, a black dress bootie with tights in place of a classic black pump gives an edgy lift to a classic skirt/dress outfit.
Designers also offer a variety of ankle boots now, which makes them more versatile and accessible as a staple. Some ankle boots come up higher on the leg, some lower on the foot. The introduction of the taupe-color ankle boot has made the footwear wearable during multiple seasons, rather than just fall or winter (think that bare leg-bootie-flowy dress look in spring).
- About the company
DC Style Factory is a personal shopping and styling service for men and women looking to add polish and individuality to their wardrobes. We believe personal style is for anyone who wants it — regardless of age, size or budget.
