How to Develop a Style that Transcends Time
When I look at pieces in my closet from almost a year ago, I find myself perplexed. Why was it so important at the time for me to get a pair of side stripe jeans? Why did I ever think purchasing a cropped, black FILA sweatshirt (that is now pretty dingy) wouldn’t be out of trend within the next six months?
All of these feelings are just consequences of fast fashion and constantly changing trends that leave us as consumers spending too much money on disposable clothing. Fast fashion brands feed into our human need to belong, ultimately creating a homogenous style and inhibiting people’s creative edges from shining through in their fashion.
In addition, the industry itself, as we know, does absolutely disgusting things to our environment.
“More than 60 percent of fabric fibers are now synthetics, derived from fossil fuels, so if and when our clothing ends up in a landfill (about 85 percent of textile waste in the United States goes to landfills or is incinerated), it will not decay,” says Tatiana Schlossberg in her New York Times article. “Future archaeologists may look at landfills taken over by nature and discover evidence of Zara.”
To my fellow fast fashion consumers, something’s gotta change.
Yves Saint Laurent once said “Fashion fades, style is eternal.” Although Schlossberg deems this iconic saying something that “‘actually may no longer be true” due to fast fashion, in my opinion, the investment and careful selection of pieces that truly reflect your taste can help break down fast fashion and its homogenizing effect.
Make it a goal of yours to invest in pieces that can transcend time, so that you don’t have to look at your closet with dissatisfaction and unfulfillment. Don’t get me wrong, I am the first one at the door at Zara’s semi-annual sales. However, a little practice in choosing timeless pieces over a span of time will challenge and test you to be careful about your stylistic choices.
Here’s a guide on how and where to start.
1. Invest in a long wool or trench coat. Recently, my mom shared with me her disgust for the trend of big, puffer winter coats. To her, the bulkiness of it is unattractive and simply boring. Before she mentioned this to me, I never really thought of it – I’ve seen puffer winter coats around me my whole life. I thought it was a necessity. As I looked around campus, it began to make sense to me that trendy, puffer winter coats are homogenizing – that is, unless you get a bright colored or metallic one. I live for those. So, I decided to invest in a long wool coat that I now wear more than my winter puffer. This piece embodies class, and it’s also incredibly warm. It’s almost floor-length. The best part is that you can either dress it up with a nice sweater, trousers and boots, or dress it down with a sweatshirt, sweatpants and sneakers. Fun fact: I thrifted this coat and it was a bargain I could not resist. I plan to keep this coat forever.
Image via Sierra Turner
Image via Sierra Turner
2. Blazers. I believe that recently investing in nice blazers has transformed my style. Adding a few sophisticated pieces to your wardrobe adds to your closet’s range. However, blazers do not always have to be so stiff. They can easily be dressed down with a pair of jeans and cool sneakers. It’s not even always necessary to wear a top under your blazer – unless you have a job interview of course. In my opinion, the low neckline of a blazer can add a sexy edge to the look. (Fun fact: I thrifted this blazer, too.)
Image via Sierra Turner
3. A few black dresses that possess an edge. My mom’s black 29th birthday dress is a piece I’ve worn since I was 15. It’s a quintessential ‘90s, tastefully tight, midi dress that has a very low back and a major slit. I wear it out once a year, and I always have the best time in it, knowing that I can stand out at a formal, graduation party or a classy birthday celebration. Pieces like that, kept and handed down, are the epitome of what it means to transcend time. Although gems like these are not always kept, I challenge you to find a piece that you are absolutely infatuated with like I am with this dress.
Image via Sierra Turner
4. A funky shoe. I feel like I’m always trying to level up my shoe game, and I’ve been waiting to find the perfect pair of mules that have some spice – like these – for a while. For me, it’s important that I can purchase a pair of shoes that I can easily dress up or down. With these timeless mules, I can definitely do that.
Image via Sierra Turner
5. Don’t be afraid to splurge a little on accessories. A wise person (i.e. my roommate) once told me that purses are never a necessity, but always a good investment. Although I haven’t splurged on mine just yet, I do plan to make a wise investment in the near future. However, make sure to do your research before you spend so that the company you buy from is environmentally cautious and committed to sustainability. Also, don’t be afraid to invest in an up-and-coming designer – buying one of their pieces is a statement, and can categorize you as a trendsetter.