8 Fashion Tips I Learned This Week

Maybe it’s because spring is in the air. Maybe it’s because we got our tax refund back, or because I cleaned out my closet. It could be because my mom suggested I make an appointment with a style and wardrobe consultant. 

Whatever the reason, I’ve been drawn to blog posts, articles, and live chats about fashion this week, and I’ve learned A LOT. It all started with an email from The Frugal Living Community on Blog Frog, announcing their Twitter party and a live chat. For those of you who are not social media moguls, Twitter parties are when we all tweet back and forth discussing questions from the host of the party, and every tweet contains a hashtag (#) with the subject of the party. A live chat on Blog Frog works just like MSN instant messenger. Both are fun, and they give out fabulous prizes. In fact, I won the grand prize of this crossover bag!

PB and J Boutique, $49.99

I think they picked me because I said this bag is a great improvement on the fanny pack. Or because I mentioned I only own two purses, one for spring and summer, and one for fall and winter.

At both of these virtual parties, we discussed current trends, how we were incorporating them (or not), and shared tips and ideas on how we made fashion frugal.

Now, I’m not the most up to speed fashionwise. Some of these may be old news to you, but I have a feeling I’m not the only fashionably challenged out there! So without further ado, here’s what I learned last week:

1. Flared Jeans Are Back (but skinnies are still in)

Some of you may be cheering, but when I found this out, I was crestfallen. I just embraced the skinny jean trend. Here in AZ, and from what I’ve seen of California, everyone wears skinny jeans, regardless of size or shape. So I finally decided to try on a pair, and loved them! And now I find out I’m just a little behind. The experts and designers agree, 70’s flared high waisted jeans are already on the market. The good news is that flares flatter everyone, and skinny jeans aren’t going anywhere…yet.

2. The 70’s Have Returned (in a 2011 sort of way)
I had an inkling that this was happening, and now it’s been confirmed. Good news for you if you liked them the first time around, and still have some wide legged pants and floppy hats hanging around.

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3. You Can Mix Brown and Black
And brown and grey, as it turns out. Check out this post from Already Pretty on how to mix neutrals.

4. Pink is Hot
Honeysuckle pink, actually. It’s been named “Color of the Year” by Pantone, replacing the turquoise of last year. It’s a bright pink, “Courageous. Confident. Vital. A brave new color, for a brave new world. Let the bold spirit of Honeysuckle infuse you, lift you and carry you through the year. It’s a color for every day with nothing “everyday” about it,” they say. 

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5. Wedges and Chunky Jewelry Are In
Unfortunate for me, because I don’t really like either. I have a strong aversion to heels, although I’ve been told wedges are much easier to walk in.

Forever 21. I actually don’t mind this pair so much!

I don’t know if a ring like this is very practical for me, but it is pretty.

Forever 21 $4.80

6. Always Buy What Fits Now, Not What You Hope Will Fit Later
I’m all for being optimistic, but when shopping, that’s dangerous. If you don’t want to be potentially wasting your time and money, buy what fits you now. After all, if you do loose those extra pounds, many times you can get it taken in.

7. Envision Three Outfits With it Before Buying It
This little tip will revolutionalize the way I shop, helping me make the most of my purchases and stay away from impulsive and repeat buys. I don’t know about you, but I tend to buy items I like, and get home to discover I don’t have anything to wear with it. Then I have to buy more so that I can wear the first item. If I stopped to assess what I already have, I can build off of it instead of around a new piece. I learned this from an article on Already Pretty about Shopping Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them. There’s several more good tips in that article too.

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8. We All Learn By Imitating 
I learned this from one of my textbooks actually. Aristotle says:

“Imitation is natural to man from childhood…he is the most imitative creature in the world, and learns at first by imitation. And it is also natural for all to delight in works of imitation.”

– Poetics

 When you think about it, we learn to speak by imitating what we hear, we learned to write by tracing letters. Fashion, at it’s core, is imitation. That’s why the same styles are cycled and re-cycled over and over.


Fashion sense isn’t something you’re born with, it’s something learned – through imitation.

This brings hope and a challenge. Hope in that I, and you too,  can dress in an attractive and confident manner even if it’s not natural to us. Challenge, because we have to choose who to imitate.

As believers, we need to take every thought captive, so that we don’t fall prey to the world’s lies that we have to look a certain way, or we’ll be unloved. We must remember that the world values outward appearances only, but God looks on the heart, where true beauty lies.

What’s your philosophy on fashion? What have you learned about fashion lately? Do you have any tips to share with us?