My ‘In’ and ‘Out’ style principles for 2024
2024 has kicked off and if your TikTok feed is anything like mine, you'll have seen the latest 'ins' and 'outs' trend in the run up to the new year. This comprises of reels of videos where people state their new mantras for 2024, focusing on the things they well and truly want to discard from their life in contrast to the lifestyle choices that that are here to stay in advance of the new year.
As I briskly endeavored to 'declutter' my life and present my most stylish self, I've opted to adopt this method to establish a definitive set of 'in' and 'out' style principles that will shape my wardrobe choices in 2024
The good stuff: The In's
Hopping off the trend conveyor belt
I proclaim that I will well and truly be hopping off of the trend conveyor belt in 2024.
It amazes me at the sheer number of us who decide to go on a prolonged ride on the trend conveyor belt; at the alarming rate at which clothing items are churned out in today's current fashion scene, chasing for the latest look will only lead to a constant spell of dissatisfaction paired with a potentially unhealthy looking bank balance.
Video-sharing app TikTok has manifested itself into a microcosm for this insatiable appetite for consumerism and crucially, the desire to stay ‘relevant.’ There is no worse combination than a) hating the clothes you own and b) not having the funds to overhaul your wardrobe.
This doesn't mean that you shouldn't partake in trends at all (I also hasten to add I think this is somewhat impossible) but simply engage with the small elements of an overarching trend that truly resonates with your personal style. Probably slightly influenced by my years of prancing in ballet tutus as a kid, paired with Miu Miu's launch of the dainty ballet flat aesthetic, I have slowly begun to curate a healthy collection of flats knowing that this item for me is one that will transcend seasons across my personal style journey.
In reality, the greatest style accomplishment is not winning the race in capitalising on what's new, but rather, still wearing something from seasons ago because you truly love that item. Heather Hurst of Pigmami's mantra to treat 'trends like a sushi conveyor belt' aka taking only what you need and leaving the rest, is the kind of mantra I'll be adopting for 2024.
Renting 'outrageous' items rather than purchasing them!
If you are looking to dazzle at a particular event, take to renting rather than purchasing. Whilst it is always key to have a suit/ black dress as a staple backup at home, renting items means that when you do have an event that requires a more sophisticated ensemble, the party look you can opt for can be even more daring than what you would initially consider if you were buying the garment/ accessory/ shoe outright.
I've started to rent with the likes of HURR to further minimise the amount of party wear I have sitting in the back of my wardrobe that will likely only make a grand appearance over a handful of evenings in the calendar year.
The benefits of this approach are that your wardrobe is stocked for your real life and you can focus on making mindful purchase decisions that cater to your everyday needs. If you're hustling a corporate 9-5, this means that you can channel your energies into finding those day-to-day style items that leave you feeling your best self at your desk rather than slumped & stressed.
Check your labels
Quality is everything when it comes to owning items in your wardrobe that you want to last the test of time. If you're looking at care labels of garments and spot 'acrylic' or 'polyester' splurged across them, it might be best to hang the item back on the rail. Fast fashion houses are the prime culprits for deploying this tactic, opting to dilute fabrics like wool and cotton with less desirable synthetics.
The reason I recommend checking this out is that in many cases, the likes of Zara will have 100% wool alternatives which typically tend to even only be a fraction more expensive that their synthetic alternatives. Shopping for fabrics of higher quality will inevitably serve you best in the long run and mean that you're not left having to make repeat purchases for similar garments each season.
Curation > Consumption
I truly believe that the best part of owning a closet is seeing you slowly curate a wardrobe you love over time. Part of this mantra is letting go of the instant gratification tied to impulse purchases, and rather seeing the development of your closet as a journey! Adopting this mindset means ditching those 'back to school' style days where you attempt to write a list of essential items that must be purchased in one day, but instead mindfully buying on an ad-hoc basis. When it comes to the new year in particular, don't be fooled by the January sales!! Buying a bunch of Row Dupes/ Wales Bonner Tracksuit sale sets/ pieces from the infamous Matches sale will inevitably lead you down the same existential style hole if you haven't had your heart set on buying such items pre-sale!
Accessorising
Accessorising totally shifted my style game in 2023 and it’s a trick I'll be continuing to use in the new year. Whether it’s a gold hair clip, a bag chain, a belt or a set of studs, mastering your accessory game can open a wave of opportunities to elevate wardrobe items that you already own.
The belt has been my personal pick of 2023 and an item I've grown to love over the past 12 months. Inspired by the likes of Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen's brand, the Row, I picked up one black belt with a gold buckle and a deep green belt with a croc pattern in a bid to mix up the staples in my closet.
The not-so-good stuff: The Outs
Impulse Buying
Need I say more? In the fashion world, impulse buying is the root cause of all evil. It leads to a wave of dissatisfaction a week after you realise that a sweater splurged with shades of pink/orange swirly tones is actually pretty difficult to wear and rather visually unappealing (a slight niche example but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't drawing from a real-life experience here).
In an attempt to combat the urge to impulse buy I swear by the '7 day rule.' The premise is simple. When considering a purchase, give yourself a week to mull it over to weigh up if it's worth the investment. If the item is NAGGING on your brain, by the end of the week, hit purchase. If not, leave it and wait for the next item to catch your eye. I now only buy because I truly love the item, not under the false pretence that I will grow to like it over time - in simple terms, if it's not a hell yes, give it a pass.
Depop
Depop in 2024 is out in my eyes to give space for its cooler, cheaper, more creative Aunt, Vinted. I am continually amazed at the sheer level of insane pieces that are available on Vinted. I'm on the hunt for a Bella Freud knit to replace the one that was devastatingly ruined by moths at University, and the app hasn't failed to disappoint. Yes, the photo of the item may be carelessly flung on someone's bed and its quality resembles that of the 2014 iPhone, but as the app seems to be keeping price inflation at bay, you can actually get your hands on quality garments for a fraction of their initial first-hand purchase price.
Cheers to a chic and clutter-free 2024….
