Ask anyone who sits near me in the Who What Wear office if I’m a safe person to ask whether or not you should buy into a trend or not, and they’ll give you a hard no without hesitation. I haven’t an ounce of self control when it comes to gorgeous clothes, shoes, and accessories, therefore, I want others around me to act accordingly. But even I, a certified maniac when it comes to trends, grows tired of them sometimes. And when that happens, I always know I can count on chic, anti-trend staples to get me through.
First things first, I want to clarify that just because something’s anti-trend doesn’t mean that it’s boring. In fact, I’d argue that for a piece to be considered anti-trend, it has to be good enough to have outlived the trend cycle and entered into the very exclusive “timeless” category. Think cat-eye sunglasses, trenches, button-down shirts, and a stellar pair of black, strappy sandals. They’ll be cool forever, no matter what’s trending, and therefore make the best investments of all.
Below, see which summer trends I’m passing on in favor of some more classic, anti-trend items that I can count on no matter what.
Though bra tops can be a fun option for certain events, I find myself wanting to invest only in pieces that I can wear anywhere and with anything rather than ones that only work for a few occasions. That’s why I’m mostly skipping the trend and opting instead to spend my money on high-neck tank tops that are beyond easy and look good no matter what they’re paired with.
There was a time not too long ago that I exclusively wore sporty sunglasses. For proof, read this. But when you only wear highly trendy items, you grow tired of them quickly, which is exactly what happened with those shield-like shades. One style of eyewear that I never grow tired of and always fall back on when whatever trend I’m following stales is the cat-eye shape. Retro and always chic, it’s by far the best style to invest your $$$ in.
I can’t be the only one seeing asymmetric, sheer dresses à la ones from the early ’00s by designers like Jean Paul Gaultier all over my feeds. And while I’m not mad about their resurgence, I’m also not jumping at the chance to buy a ton of the styles for summer. Instead, I’m choosing a forever silhouette that’s flattering and gorgeous every time: halternecks.
I’ve owned my fair share of miniskirts during my 27 years, however, I likely won’t be adding another to my collection in 2023. Instead, I’m focusing that portion of my shopping budget on white, cotton skirts with just the right amount of volume, a classic silhouette that feels too perfect for summer to resist.
I’ve been telling my friends to skip over platform flip flops and prioritize more classic sandals ever since the ’00s style repopularized a few years back, but many didn’t listen. And yet, here I am again, trying to convince them of the staying power of timeless, strappy styles.
Though one puff-sleeve blouse will absolutely come in handy when your outfit otherwise appears lifeless, your wardrobe doesn’t need dozens of them. It would, however, benefit from a few new poplin, button-down shirts, which can be styled in dozens of different ways, from tucked-in to unbuttoned and loose.
Quilted jackets like the ones that appear made from your grandma’s actual quilts had a moment in the sun a few summers ago but have since lost momentum as so many buzzy trends do. A lightweight outerwear item that never loses steam? Trench coats.
In my humble opinion, denim is sacred and shouldn’t be messed with very often. I don’t want purposely distressed jeans, colored jeans, or ones so skinny that they cut off your circulation. Instead, I’m a fan of the classics: relaxed, comfortable denim that’s existed for decades.
We’ve talked a lot about the rise of low-rise maxi skirts on Who What Wear and for good reason: they’re very much trending on runways and social media alike. However, if I had to pick between them and my favorite, high-class pencil skirts, I’d go with the latter every time.
I feel very strongly that handbags should be able to fit your necessities (and then some), rather than hinder you from being able to carry things as simple as your cell phone and lipstick. Such is why I’ve completely given up on mini bags and will forever favor top-handle totes with plenty of storage space for my long list of must-have items.
