EVERYTHING IS THE NEW BLACK

​Cole Porter wasn’t talking about fashion when he came up with the title of his 1934 Broadway musical, but he might as well have been because now-a-days, it seems like Anything Goes.
 
I was talking to my twin sister the other day and we came to the conclusion that today’s fashion trends seem to be “there are no fashion trends." Have you noticed this too?  Everywhere I look, everyone seems to wear whatever the heck they want.  As long as they feel comfortable in it and it reflects who they are, it’s IN.
 
So if there are NO fashion trends and anything really does go, then I guess the only accessory you really need is confidence--confidence to trust your true personal style and to wear the clothes that make you happy.
 
If you think I might be wrong in this conclusion just look around you.  At the office, at school, on TV--eclectic personal style has become the norm.  You and I might not care for what someone else is wearing (because it doesn’t suit our own personal style) but that doesn’t matter.  What they have on is THEIR style and that’s all that counts.
 
America has always been an individualistic society, which means we are a culture that is oriented around the self, independent instead of identifying with a group mentality (thanks Wikipedia). Don’t take that as an insult, because it’s not, and we’re not the only country to be labeled this way.  Most of Western Europe is also classified as an individualist culture.
 
So what does that have to do with style, fashion, and not buying new clothes?
 
It means that we don’t have to be driven by TV, fashion magazines, and department stores to buy new clothing every month just to define WHO we are and to “fit in."  We’re Americans-- we don’t want to fit in!  And that’s how they try to sell clothing to us--be unique and stand out by buying this t-shirt that 100,000 other people are going to buy too!
 
That’s not individualism. That’s what is known as a herd mentality.
 
You’re an individual, your style is your own.  You don’t have to buy into trends and seasonal fashion to feel and look good.  You already have what you need buried in your closet.  Pull out your oldies but goodies and the items you tend to wear over and over.  There’s a reason they are still in there and why you go for them so often. 
 
It’s because they represent you and YOUR individual style.
 
So here’s what I want you do to this week--go to your closet and put together one Anything Goes outfit, something a bit different but that makes you smile and represents YOU.  Don’t go look at your Pinterest clothing board for inspiration and don’t pay attention to a certain fashion blogger who said red is the “it” color right now, or that chucky accessories are a “must have." What do they know of your individualistic style?
 
Isn’t that what this year is all about anyways?  Not adding to the chaos of our existing wardrobes and learning to use what we already have in new and fun ways?
 
Can’t wait to hear how it goes and, please, feel free to post a photo comment of your Anything Goes outfit!