Trust me, this list goes beyond clothes. Fashion, whether one acknowledges it or not, is embedded into the fibers of our everyday lives. They are in uniforms, such as the collared shirt of an office worker. They are in active wear, with the cut of biker shorts. They are in films, like the red scarf worn by Anora in Neon’s Anora (2024). From such ideas blossom movements for certain desires, a community, a love, a sense of stability, that soon (spearheaded by marketing and other factors) transform into trends.
So, with the new year (and the same eclectic Fresno weather), I share my personal ins and outs for 2025.
OUTS:
Those shoes: This is for the Nike Panda dunks that everyone wears, Adidas Sambas, hell, even those yellow Asics people wore for a weekend. They’re DONE. I could throw a book in any direction on campus and hit twelve people wearing Sambas. Dunks are expensive. They’re safe shoes, which is why I need them gone. It’s like the Samba’s ugly cousin. Those styles have been dragging on for so long they’re pleading for help, so let them rest.
Now, I understand shoes can be the hardest part of an outfit because of how permanent they are. Someone can choose to walk out without a shirt or a sweater in the freezing cold, but what we all want, and most definitely need, are shoes. That being said, I can still despise your Sambas. Shoes’ permanence should be the exact reason to search for a sensible (maybe even fun) shoe that can live beyond a single use.
Bows: They’re here and there, they’re everywhere. I’ll be honest, I loved bows in the beginning. They added some whimsy to the skirts some wore, and the loafers we slipped on. As time went on though, I felt like I was drowning in bows. They were in someone’s hair, they were the shape of someone’s hair clip and even printed onto shirts. The ends of the bows felt as if they were tying me down to the floor. Still, I find a soft spot for them when they’re enhanced in places they already exist in. For example, shoe laces. Everyone makes a bow when tying their shoes, why not play with that instead of a regular hair clip?
Fast Fashion/Obsessive Shopping: The biggest tragedy that needs to be left is overconsumption through fast fashion conglomerates like Temu and Shein. I understand— truly, I understand— the want for certain attractive pieces that come our way, but references only go so far. Obviously, no one can prevent the influence the world has on an individual’s style. However, when one bases their presentation on a replication of images, sourced through hours of consuming, the language and style of personality is lost. Ask yourself: what exactly do you love about the outfit? Is it a certain ruffle, or the material, or the fit on the body? Know that some of these may go against what others enjoy, but none of that matters if you are the one obsessed! Start sewing, I beg. If there is an issue with the soles of your shoes, find a cobbler and get them repaired. If there is a hole at the knee of your jeans, patch it with the scraps of unworn pants, even if they don’t match. Not only could you repair your own cherished clothes, but you could even repair the clothes of those you love. Thrift! Yet do it with the right intention. What are you trying to say about yourself to those who walk by?
INS:
Wired Earbuds: Listen, you need to hear me out. I understand the appeal of noise-cancelling headphones. They are comfortable, available and provide a blanket to the world. Wired earbuds though, they have a sense of romance. They can be worn in one ear, have the other dangle as you walk, and contemplate the work that needs to be done for the day. It adds dimension; it adds depth. Still, as you listen to music, the outside noise that seeps in lets you know you are not alone. Maybe you want to share a song with a friend, so you place one in their ear and the wire defines a new connection made.
Accessorizing: Charms come in varied shapes and sizes. Each holds a special connection to the wearer. Their adaptability lets them be worn anywhere. They can hang on the bag and create a small clanging as one walks. Someone can look over at you, then at the bag and say “Oh my god, I love Labubus too!” Let your style be the gateway for future connections, no matter what the brand may be or who was seen wearing it.
Fragrance: So much of what one wears is tied to how one wears it. With that comes the impression one leaves when they exit the room: smell. People may not remember the shoes you wore or the dress you bought, but they will always find nostalgia in the scent. This, much like my thoughts on clothes, can also be motivated by memory or personal taste.
Maison Margiela’s Replica defines itself through lived events. The aroma of “From the Garden” brings the instant spice of tomato leaves and mandarin oranges and transports the wearer to a grass field doused in sweet citrus. As I explain this, don’t believe that fragrance has to be extravagant or luxurious. It can be something as simple as Sol de Janeiro’s Crush Cheirosa ’40.
A dull plain rose scent I always come back to is this fragrance oil I find in artisanal Mexican shops. The bottle is a small glass cylinder, the label, “romance pheromones,” is held on with scotch tape, and its ingredients are the following: dye, fragrance and essential oil. It’s cheap, slightly suspicious and smells lovely.
Real talk though, if I (and hopefully you too) ever get a whiff of Dior Sauvage on anyone, RUN away.
Thoughts on the “Trend”
Clothes in themselves are just fibers woven together by patterns made to fit the human body. The only figure that provides them status is us. Why else would someone doom scroll on their phone trying to curate an outfit for a possible trip or date? Trends guide us to “communities” that help us feel less alone, but with that comes excessive spending, unneeded items and awful choices. To avoid this, try to find meaning for wearing pieces. How much memory do you have in your clothes? When you look at a necklace or a sweater, who, what and when, comes to mind?
Sometimes, I wrap blue yarn around my fingers and wear them as faux rings (this is inspired by jewelry done by Martin Margiela for his F/W 1998 collection). The yarn is cheap, and I use it for embroidery. The accessory is so small that many people don’t notice it. However, when someone comes close to me, sees the striking blue on my fingers, and asks, “Why do you wear that,” I tell them that each loop reminds me I need to love more.
No piece of clothing holds the same weight from the start of the year to the end. Find inspiration somewhere, anywhere, besides personal echo chambers like Pinterest, Instagram and TikTok. Colors, style and silhouette are more than algorithms pleasing your own tastes. Move past the Y2K, the “quiet luxury” and the “grandma core.” These concepts are simply placeholders for what you may truly love. Is it the comfort in textiles that “grandma-core” provides? Do you love the preppy attire in “quiet luxury?” What catches your eye?
Move beyond this. Watch movies; what are the characters wearing? Read books! How did this certain silhouette become what it is today? Find a painting you love. How can you make its colors bring life to an outfit? Because when, in this pursuit of style, do you come in?