✨The Trend Trap: How to Avoid Fashion Regrets and Embrace Timeless Style
We’ve all been there. Scrolling late at night. Seeing that influencer wear the dress. Feeling that jolt of excitement. Maybe you order it. Maybe you even wear it once or twice.
Thank you for being a subscriber. I’m so glad you’re reading this timeless content and I hope you get a lot out of it whether you enjoy the free or paid version. I’m a busy mom of 4, full-time caregiver to a disabled family member, college instructor, and writer. Together with my husband, I try to keep up with all the responsibilities, while maintaining great relationships and happy vibes. I heart you!
The Trend Trap: How to Avoid Fashion Regrets and Embrace Timeless Style
By Tatyana Wilson, MA, EdS, SHRM-CP
We’ve all been there.
With each changing season, new swarms of “what’s in and what’s out” fashion videos buzz our way. We toss aside and donate our “wrong cut” jeans, start to tuck or not tuck our shirts a certain way (because if you do it wrong, you’re seen as “dated”), and we try to keep up with the fashion gods. Or maybe we’re scrolling late at night and we see an influencer wear the new fashion trend. Feeling that jolt of excitement, we order it. Maybe we even wear it once or twice. But eventually… it sits. Quiet in our closet. Like a souvenir from someone else’s story.
Let’s talk about that feeling—fashion regret.
Because it’s more common than we admit.
And more importantly? It’s avoidable.
Why We Fall Into the Trend Trap
Trends aren’t inherently bad. They can be fun, expressive, and even energizing. But the fashion industry profits from us feeling unsure. They thrive on making us believe that whatever we own is already outdated.
It’s no accident. The system is built to keep us chasing.
A recent piece in The Sun cited celebrity stylists warning against the constant cycle of viral buys:
“The more your wardrobe relies on fast trends, the less likely you are to have lasting style.”
(The Sun)
But what if we don’t want a new wardrobe every season?
What if we want clarity—not chaos?
The Real Cost of Chasing Trends
Every time we buy something that doesn't reflect who we are, we chip away at our self-trust. We start doubting what we like. What suits us. What even feels like us anymore.
Here’s how to know you’re stuck in the trend trap:
You have a full closet and “nothing to wear.”
You’ve bought clothes because they looked good on someone else, not on you.
You feel exhausted, not inspired, by shopping.
Let me offer you something different:
The Light Loves Color Way: Strategic, Personal, Empowered
Instead of asking, “What’s trending?”
Start asking:
“What works for me?”
“What do I want to say without saying a word?”
“What colors make me glow in natural light?”
“What shapes honor the real architecture of my body—not the idealized one?”
These are the questions that build a timeless wardrobe.
Not curated by the algorithm. Curated by you.
Three Principles of a Regret-Proof Wardrobe
Dress for Your Energy, Not the Aisle Endcap
A 90s chartreuse micro-miniskirt may be everywhere—but if it doesn’t align with your values, your lifestyle, or your self-expression, it’s just clutter. Look for pieces that feel rooted in your reality and your goals.Color Is Not Optional—It’s Foundational
Black is not a personality. And beige is not your friend if it makes your skin look tired. Your wardrobe should be built on biologically correct colors that light up your face and support your presence. That’s science—not trend.Silhouette = Subconscious Messaging
Shapeless cuts and oversized everything are having a moment, but what they often signal is invisibility. Structure in your clothes creates structure in your presence. You don’t have to go corporate. Just be intentional.
3 Summer 2025 Trends That Prove My Point
90s Twinning Revival
The 90s are back in a major way, with celebrities and fashion enthusiasts embracing iconic styles from the glorious decade. This “twinning” trend involves recreating a memorable outfit from the era. Are people this bored? This seems like such a waste of time and money. I can’t imagine this type of fashion planning being anything but a costume. Not practical at all.
Scarf Skirts
They say these are chic and adaptable trends for the summer and fashion icons are already sporting them either alone or over trousers. They say it’s a sustainable and budget-friendly way to refresh our wardrobes. However, here’s the problem I find with these trends: they’re so temporary. People aren’t just going to use their unused scarves for these. They’re going to go out and buy skirt-sized scarves and they will wear them for exactly 2.5 occasions. Then those scarves will sit and collect dust like every previous trend.
Lace and Bohemian Elements
Lace is making a comeback (again). This time it’s infused into bohemian motifs. Ok. Lace is back. It’s still the same exact vibe for me. Lace is undies. Lace is delicate. Lace is not serious. Bohemian is sensual/casual/feminine. Neither of these elements has staying power.
Final Thought
Trends will come and go.
Your body will evolve.
So will your roles, your pace, and your dreams.
But what won’t change is this:
You deserve to show up like someone who matters.
Not because fashion said so.
Because you said so.
Your wardrobe is your whisper to the world.
Let it say:
I am here. I am free. I am myself.
Until next time,
Tatyana
Light Loves Color
Want glow tips to implement this right away?
Your ✨Glow Tips are below!
✨ Glow Tips: Break the Trend Cycle and Find Your Style Home
These 3 quick shifts will help you stop chasing fashion fads and start curating a wardrobe that reflects your presence, purpose, and power.
🧭 1. Create a “Personal Style North Star”
Before the next scroll or sale tempts you, get grounded.
Glow Tip: Write down 3 words that describe the person you’re becoming. Is she/he calm? Commanding? Joyful? Then, look at your next purchase and ask: Does this support her or distract from the vision?
🎨 2. Build a Color Code You Can Trust
Your biologically best colors do more for you than any trend ever could.
Glow Tip: Choose 3–5 power colors (based on what lights up your face in daylight). Make those the base of your wardrobe. If a trendy item doesn’t come in one of these? Pass on it.
✂️ 3. Choose Structure Over Spectacle
A garment’s cut communicates more than its print. Trends love volume and drama, but timeless style shows intention.
Glow Tip: Try on one item this week that actually honors your silhouette—like a soft blazer, pencil skirt, or crisp blouse. Notice how your posture changes. That’s presence.
Until next time, dress well, my friend!
Tatyana Wilson, MA, EdS, SHRM-CP
Founder, Light Loves Color