Fashion trends change faster than I change my outfit right before I walk out the door of my house. The rapid cycle of what’s “in style” is fueled by fast fashion, overconsumption and our favorite social media influencers sponsored by products they don’t even use.
It’s difficult to stay on top of trends, end of story.
Especially when you’re like me – living on a college budget, trying to afford rent and groceries. I don’t have money to spend $80 on an in-style skirt one week but then the next, I find out this type of skirt is deemed “cheugy” by TikTok.
That’s why I’ve compiled a friendly neighborhood guide to winter and spring 2024 fashion trends that won’t cost your entire paycheck or get you caught in the hamster wheel of overconsumption.
Dresses, trousers and loafers, oh my: clothing trends of the season
Channel your inner nine-to-five business professional with corporate wear made fashionable. Blazers are a trendy staple, but elevate your look with classic pinstripe-patterned dresses or skirts, pleated wide-leg trousers to dress up or down or a vest or waistcoat to show some shoulder. If you’re the bold type, loop a tie over a button down shirt for a casual Tuesday outfit.
Like Burl Ives’ nostalgic holiday song, “Silver and Gold,” metallics are all the rage this winter. Find a sequin dress so you can shine as bright as the Times Square Ball, faux leather pants that glisten as you walk or a pair of metallic ballet flats to hit two trends at once.
Remember when your mom would make you wear scratchy tights under a fur-collared dress and snap a bow into your hair for the Christmas Eve church service? Or put your arms through stiff, plaid shirts under an itchy sweater vest while your feet are shoved into too-small dress shoes? The worst parts of childhood fashion that we hated as kids — tights, bows, plaid and stiff shoes — are back. I apologize. But you can make the style your own rather than your parents. Find a large silk bow to tie in braids, slide on sheer burgundy tights under a slip dress, wear a plaid button up or a pair of plaid slacks and as far as the stiff shoes goes, mules, clogs or a loafer are quite comfortable.
Wearing the rainbow: color trends of the season
Butter yellow: The color of the season is the color of the butter that sits on your dining table at room temperature, has become slightly melted, but isn’t too white or too yellow — a perfect in-between soft yellow shade. Find a blouse, collared shirt, ascot or skirt in this shade of yellow to bring some brightness into the bleak midwinter.
Cherry red: This isn’t the typical bright, firetruck red but a darker, smokier, more serious red. Instead of wearing cherry red as the main color for an outfit, use it as a pop of color with a leather jacket, shoes with red details or even a lipstick.
Neutrals: These colors are always in style, no matter what, no matter when, but what changes depending on the fashion trends are specific shades of neutrals. This winter, look for anything black or dark gray for sleek, classy and mature looks. Black calf-length boots, black wool trench coats, dark denim baggy jeans or gray cable knit sweaters are perfect for winter.
Never fully dressed without a smile, and a purse: accessory trends of the season
Kill two birds with one stone with the help of an oversized scarf – stay warm in the Minnesota winters while also staying fashionable. Pick a fleece or wool scarf in either a solid color block or some pattern, like plaid or buffalo check, and you’ll be the coolest – or warmest – on the block. You don’t want to put on a stocking cap because you just gelled your hair into perfection? Wrap a scarf around your ears. You want to stay warm but don’t want to wear your heavy winter coat? Wear an oversized scarf.
Is that tinsel on the Christmas tree shining so bright? No, it’s just your statement earring shimmering! You can be sustainable and bust out your old statement earrings from middle school that I know we all obsessed over for a bit, or you can elevate and bring a sophisticated edge with large teardrop studs, abstract shaped hoops or dangling charm earrings with hearts.
Whether you actually need glasses to see or want to be a poser and wear non-prescription spectacles, find a pair of chunky rimmed glasses so when you stare down your enemies, they cower in fear. Or, in my personal experience, they’ll call you Edna Mode – but Edna still looks oh-so-chic, and you can too.
There are several more trend predictions for winter and spring 2024, but this list can be a starting point for you if you want to be one with the runway models and personal stylists. And remember that hamster wheel cycle of fashion trends I mentioned earlier? What that really means is that trends almost always come back every few years, so finding things in style today in a thrift or vintage store is possible. Myself – and Anna Wintour at Vogue, probably – wish you nothing but good fashion endeavors, whether you’re on trend or not.