Having a sense of style is somehow a mixture of looking both timeless and “of-the-moment”. While choosing to remain classic is stylish, you’ll need to incorporate a certain level of “right-now” into your look to keep it current and fab. So what do you do when you don’t like, or can’t afford, the new trends?

Here’s how to keep it in vogue when you bypass trends:

• Stick to tailored items. The watershed changes in fashion silhouettes over the last year are not for everyone (or at least, not until our eyes have adapted to the changes). Ignore the voluminous look and stick to clothing that skims the contour of your body because chic tailoring is universally flattering and always fashionable.
• Integrate the new fashion colour. If you love cobalt blue, but can’t see yourself wearing trapeze jackets, sack dresses and swing tops, try it as an accessory or in a classic clothing piece instead. Camisoles, button down shirts, layering knit tops and costume jewelry are safe and inexpensive ways of packing the right amount of punch per season.
• Add the “it” style of jeans. This boils down to either skinnies, straight-leg cuts or wide-leg cuts this season. Choose what’s best for your body type and modify your look.
• Invest in a great pair of shoes. You’ll always make a stylish statement with a wonderful pair of peds. Dressing well is about getting the details right and this detail is particularly important.
• Buy the bag of the season. You won’t go wrong with patent and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. You can get a perfectly great option for $50 at places like Aldo, Gap, Macy’s and the BP department at Nordstrom.
• Try a new hairstyle. Add an edge with a new cut or spot of colour.
• Change your specs. If you wear glasses, make sure that they are the best pair that you can afford. I can’t stress enough how important this is. The eye is drawn upwards when we speak and nothing is more effective than a pair of perfectly eye-catching specs. Leave the clothes and invest in the most important accessory that you own.
• Try a new shade of lipstick. If you normally go neutral, try a brick red, magenta or bronze instead.

Actress Jennifer Aniston epitomizes the stylish modern classic. While she’s probably never stuck for cash, she’s chosen to keep her look tailored, simple, current and neutral. She’ll update seasonally with the most current pair of jeans, white shirt, black pants, black shoes, new handbag, sunglasses and a variation on the hairstyle. She usually leaves it at that and always looks fab. Sometimes you won’t like the new trend, and sometimes it won’t like you. Either way, it’s possible to look hip by choosing the correct items in a given season.

Jewel toned sapphire patent tote, teal ballet flats and dark straight-leg jeans are an inexpensive and modern classic combo from the Gap that will have you looking hip straight way. These items are also offered in neutral shades if that’s your preference.

This entry was posted on Monday, August 27th, 2007 at 7:43 am and is filed under What to Wear, Autumn 2007, Frugal Style, Instant Style Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.