I know when my obsession with trends started.  I was senior year of high school, and I wanted to learn how to wear makeup.  Every month, I would peruse the magazine aisle at the nearby superstore, but every month I bought a copy of the latest issue of TeenVogue.  Once home, I was a total zombie.  I would read the magazine cover-to-cover, taking time to dog-ear the pages of looks I wanted to try and tearing out the fashionable advertisement pages which I then proceeded to Scotch-tape on my walls…all of my walls.

In the wake of this highly uncurated fashion obsession, I tried it all.  Low-waist jeans, high-waist jeans, and ultra-low-waist jeans (à la Jennifer Lopez in the 90’s).  Bucket hats, cargo pants, and strappy heels (wait, that’s trendy again, no?).  Balloon dresses, sleek and tight dresses, mini dresses, and maxi dresses.  Blue eye shadow, thick eye liner, and pencil-thin brows.  Woah momma, did I try it all.

I wish I could say that was just my teenage years.  It wasn’t.  My closet throughout my twenties looked like a compendium of a Sex And The City wardrobe – all of the characters at all stages.  There was no rhyme or reason to why I would add something to my collection, as long as I liked it.  I frequently would sort through my burgeoning closet for half an hour only to declare, “I have nothing to wear.”

Now that I’m in my 30s, I’m trying to round a new corner.  In the last 5 years, I’ve gone from 100 pairs of shoes to only 100 pieces of clothing total in my closet.  I’ve learned what flatters me, what suits my lifestyle and climate, and what I actually wear on a regular basis.  Most importantly, I’ve decidedly found that not all good trends are good on me, and that isn’t a negative judgement on my body in any way, shape, or form.  My body is beautiful, whether or not the daily trends look good on me, and I hope you believe the same about your beautiful body.

With that in mind, here are five trends that are NOT universally flattering and should be experimented with BEFORE buying.  When you try on a piece that just isn’t great for you personally, look in the mirror and say:

“This isn’t flattering on me, but I’m still just as beautiful as ever.”

Then, take it off and never think of that thing again.  There are billions of clothing items in the world, and that’s enough to cast your net in the sea looking for pieces that wonderfully flatter YOU!

Trends to Try Before You Buy:

1. Skinny jeans

I’ve worn skinny jeans for a decade with no realization that this style isn’t that flattering for my body shape.  Only recently I learned that straight-leg jeans do more for my shape, and I now own a lovely pair that I plan to rock for the next several years.  Look out for me!

2. High -OR- low rise jeans

This is such a tricky thing, because some people look amazing in low-rise jeans (see Eva Longoria), while some look amazing in high-rise jeans (see Jennifer Lopez).  The trick I’ve learned is that low-waist jeans look better on narrow hips, while high-waist jeans look better on wide hips.  (I have a YouTube video coming out this winter with tips to measure your body for your most flattering pair of jeans…follow on IG to see when that drops!)  For now, just use that go-to rule for choosing the rise measurement for jeans:

• High-rise (10-12″ rise) for curvy gals
• Low-rise (7-8″ rise) for narrow hips
• Mid-rise (8-10″) if you’re in between

3. Neutral color palettes

I can’t… I really can’t figure out how to wear neutral color palettes and still feel like myself.  I have a spicy, excitable personality, and I’ve tried on a neutral sweatsuit look (ala Yeezy) only to look like a black-and-white photo from the depressing cottonbowl era.  However, I’ve seen other friends pull this look off in a vintage-y, well-curated way.  It compliments their vibe well.  My point is…try before you buy.

4. Square-toe shoes

These styles are trendy, yes, and look amazing on runway models who are north of 6’ tall.  However, I stand at an intimidating 5’5” (rounding up, obvs), and this style simple dwarfs my lower legs.  Not cute, girl.

5. Bermuda shorts suits

Very hot right now.  Especially in a linen material.  But trust me when I say Bermuda shorts can instantly turn my pretty legs into short, stubby sausages like a mean magic trick.  For me, Bermuda shorts are a no-go.

The key to trying out styles is to confidently know who you are and what you want from your closet, and being totally fine with saying, “No, thanks”.  Even better, as fierce, confident 30-somethings, we can look at a trendy piece and say, “Good for it, but it’s not good for me,” and carry on our days feeling just fine about it.

So try some things out, and then go on with your bad self, happy with who you are and what flatters your beautiful body.

What trendy style have you tried out & been surprised by the outcome? Leave a comment below!