“People care more about trends now than they do about style. They get so wrapped up in what’s happening that they forget how to dress, and they never learn who they are because they never learn how to take care of anything. So much of what my generation was taught regarding clothes was how to make them last. How to wash and care for them.” Fran Lebowitz
I saw this quote in Elle, it’s from an interview with Fran Lebowitz called:‘Yoga Pants are Ruining Women’ and Other Style Advice From Fran Lebowitz.
Fran Lebowitz is an American author and public speaker, known for her “sardonic social commentary on American life as filtered through her New York City sensibilities.” Basically, she is a hilarious New Yorker and knows how to make fun of people!
This interview truly inspired me to hash out a few self doubting issues I have been facing with my own personal style lately. It’s like, the closer I get to the representing the fashion industry, the more I question my own style. Is this trendy? Am I trendy? Will my followers relate? What do my readers like to see? What is my style? Do I have style? What is style?
Time and time again, the fashion icons of the world like Diane Von Furstenberg and Jenna Lyons, confirm the statement “be stylish, not trendy”. And most important of all “be yourself”.
In my article “The Woes of a Fashion Chameleon” I confess about wanting to wear it all and learning to juggle different looks. I can’t help it, I hate being predictable and I love so many different styles: simplistic lines, feminine and flirty, preppy and sometimes edgy. I think true talent is getting inspired by all your favourite looks and making it work as your own style. Maybe that’s what finding your style is all about. Style, what I am learning, is an individual thing, and trends are for the masses. Don’t get me wrong, I love updating my wardrobe with a few new trendy pieces every season. I think my problem is that I can get out of hand though, as-in, I can never seem to complete my “wish list” of clothing items for my closet.
Trend is fashion today, while style is timeless.
Presently, the cycle of fashion is growing at an exponential rate. New clothes are coming out so quickly, that the life expectancy of a trend is so short. Not just that, our society is craving for new content everyday that we don’t take the time to relish what is new. Fashion A.D.D. We want more, and we want it now.
I think this is why it’s even more important to stay true to who you are and not to get distracted by all the shiny objects. Stick with classic pieces and invest in accessories that are timeless (like Chanel maybe? haha). There is a reason why these top fashion houses have managed to stay relevent. They have earned their place in fashion history and have contributed to what we call style today.
In the article, Fran also talks about how beautiful people can pull off any look, but those looks are not for everyone. I couldn’t agree more. That’s why I always focus on wearing clothes that suits your body. And when your clothes fit you, you feel good, you look good and exude confidence!
I love how the article ends… “Not all of us are beautiful. But we can appear fine looking. So we should. Feeling good about an outfit is the point at which that outfit finally becomes good.”
