Time to unearth from your closet those trendy pieces that were all the rage from last season. Here are ways to update them.Fashion seasons come and go, often faster than we can keep up. We’ve all bought trendy pieces we thought would be an investment to last through the seasons, only to find ourselves throwing them out three months later.
Truth is, style isn’t about copying the trends, but about discovering a philosophy of dressing that is uniquely ours, and investing in pieces (sometimes seasonal) that truly resonate with us. It’s also about getting creative, and seeing how different pieces can work differently even when the season has passed.
Tops with Peter Pan collars
Over the past season, we’ve probably acquired a top or two with a Peter Pan collar. It seemed pretty fresh when we first saw them on the runway. And for once, we were given the fashionable license to be sweet and proud of it. But now that every other Singaporean girl seems to have jumped on that bandwagon, it’s time we changed it up so our style remains uniquely ours.
All the help you need lies in the accessories department. A choker, or preferably a gold/silver-coloured metal neck cuff worn just under the Peter Pan collar should do the trick, such that you only see a little hint of the choker details or flash of shiny metal beneath. Now, instead of simply looking saccharine, the message you’re sending out is that you’ve got edge. The devil lies in the details.
Cosy sweaters
We love the ease of throwing a sweater on—whether knitted, wool, cashmere, fitted or chunky—and seeing it work with every other wardrobe of ours; the problem we’re now facing is how do we still make it work with the rising temperature?
First, let’s reserve the thicker sweaters just for the arctic temperatures in the office. The thinner ones we can rely on without suffering the accompanying heatstroke. It’s all a matter of balance. Since your upper body is retaining most of the heat, keep the rest of your body cool with light and gauzy skirts. Same goes with the footwear; open toes work best to keep your outfit (and yourself) casual and breezy.
Camel, sand-coloured wide legged pants
Where the wide legged (sometimes high-waisted) pants left the office to be seen on runways and at the tents at fashion week for some time last season, it seems like they’re fast returning to where they belong. Sartorially, they’re pretty staid and blah, but since it’s an office wardrobe staple for most of us, there are ways to make it less boring.
A trick that works for us is to wear the pants in a way that it draws the least attention in our entire wardrobe. Pair them with a simple, fitted cotton T-shirt, so that the casualness of it balances out a little of the stuffiness of the pants. Accessorize the T-shirt with a strong statement necklace or choker, so that it becomes the focal point of your outfit. Next, stilettos! We’re talking about spindly heels here—the higher the better, to add height and to streamline your silhouette. To top it off, throw on a blazer in dusty pink or blush.
Transparent maxi dresses and maxi skirts
You know you’ve seen it before, girls in transparent peek-a-boo skirts you see right through to the lycra-like shorts they wear inside. I’ve seen enough of this trend on the streets of Orchard to last me a lifetime.
It looked great on the Gucci runway, complete with models in slicked-back ponytails and crimson lips. It looked sexy and powerful. But turn it into a casual, everyday trend and it falls flat on its face, looking awkward and out of place at best.
It works best on the red carpet or for formal functions, so the key to make this trend work for you is to remember that it’s all about high-octane glamour and polish; hold nothing back. To look stylish with a skirt that still creates that visual interest, opt for the mullet skirt (short in front, long at the back) or a classy pleated, knee-length skirt in a pastel shade.
Peplum tops and skirts
Thankfully, even though its season has passed, the peplum top and skirt still remains very much relevant. Much can be attributed to its ability to transform its wearer to look both modern and feminine at the same time. There are still a few things to take note of when wearing peplum pieces though, and if you pay attention to them, you won’t go wrong.
While what we saw on the runways were mostly tops-and-skirts peplum combos in the same shade worn together to look like a one-piece dress, this style tactic is pretty formal for everyday wear; I’d suggest keeping this combination to formal, dressy functions.
The peplum top can very easily be paired with jeans, or a tulip skirt in a floral print or another colour to look both chic and casual. Peplum skirts can be casually paired with a simple, fitted cotton T-shirt or a tank top. The important thing is to keep the top simple, since the peplum already provides the flair.
Amanda Mok of Fashionide has one foot in the swirly, glitzy universe that is fashion, the other firmly planted in reality. She has been nicknamed the barefoot fashionista because while she always has an eye out for that perfect pair of killer stilettos, she would much rather pad around barefoot.
