Well, it's that time of year again. A time of reflection of all the crazy things we tried in 2012. I think it's exciting and nostalgic to look back in time and see how far we've come. Almost like going through old photographs; you can get swept up in memories. We must sift through our pasts to get a glimpse of our futures.
That being said, this past year was fun! There were a lot of styles and trends that I simply did not understand. On the flip side, there were a handful that I absolutely loved. There are trends from 2012 that I see continuously growing for myself and the style community. Others, I hope fizzle away like week-old soda pop.
Let's start with the ugly.
NEON FABRICS
I cannot express how much I loathe this trend. I've seen perfectly wonderful vintage outfits ruined by the addition of a hot pink clutch, or lime green tights. There is no combination of neon that will make a good outfit great. In my opinion, it's all about visual psychology. The human eye is drawn to bright colors. Say you have a great cut of dress. It fits in all the right places, hugs every curve. Then you hold a traffic-cone-colored purse. Viewer will ultimately notice the handbag. And it's up in the air whether or not they'll take note of your great dress. The eye prioritizes. And unless you are trying to draw attention away from the outfit you put thought and creativity into, ditch the neon.
LEATHER PANTS
I've seen this trend coming for some time. Although leggings are trending (and in fact, a staple in my wardrobe), I've been dreading the comeback of this biker look. Well, it came in right at the end of 2012. Recently on Forever 21's website they asked fashionistas, "Have you got your leather?" No, no I have not. And you know why? Because only 0.5% of women can legitimately pull off leather pants.
One: It requires great, lean legs. Because leather can look shiny in some lighting, fit legs is a must.
Two: They look slimy to me. Remember that scene from Friends where Ross bought leather pants? He got so hot that the pants stuck to his legs and he couldn't get them off. He tried lotion, then powder, which ultimately formed a goopy paste. I'm not saying that will happen to you leather panters, but I personally don't want to walk around with that summery-hot-leather-car-seat feeling all day.
But, now with the pretties: Let's get those nasty tastes out of our mouths.
BRAIDS
Oh wonderful braids! This trend single-handedly made me want to grow my hair out. Back in December 2010, I had a pixie cut. In the early days of Pinterest, I came across a thick, long side fishtail braid photo. Instantly, I regretted my hair cut and vowed to have that look. Braids ooze femininity. And if your hair is quite long, they also suggest dedication and patience.
Braids are so versatile, too. You can wear braids in an updo. You can border your half-up/half-down look with thin braids on both sides. You can create a braided headband, braids with ribbons, a side braid, a braided bun, braided pigtails! Braids bonanza!
OK, I may be slightly obsessed with braids. But, c'mon. They're lovely.
VINTAGE TREASURES
One of my favorite hobbies is fashion blogging. Although I personally haven't posted in a long time, I love rifling through other blogs. One thing that I found the most exciting in 2012 was vintage-wear. It's almost like treasure hunting. While there are vintage-inspired styles popping up on websites like Modcloth and Urban Outfitters, I find it more appealing to have a wardrobe piece that is actually from that era.
I love seeing original Peter Pan collars. I adore spotting lace pieces and floral designs. Or, a rarity these days, actual distressed leather handbags. Handbags that have been used. In my opinion, these styles have a story. They recite history. And, it is fascinating that your style is a blurb fashion's novel.
By pairing vintage clothing with updated looks, you give old styles new life. To me, that is very exciting! It's something that I try to achieve in my own closet, changing my wardrobe into a collection. Anything that gives your style a new facet is so precious to me.
What were your likes and disses of 2012?
Megan Colwell is a Yahoo! Shine Beauty Guru. She has been blogging with Yahoo since 2009. Megan enjoys fashion blogging, vintage wares and beauty experiments.
