New Year’s Resolutions for the Fashion Savvy                              Back to columns list

Ideas on how to keep up-to-date this year

Nicole Beckett

January 7, 2005

After months of family functions stemming from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, it is no wonder that we make resolutions this time of year.  I think the tradition has less to do with the start of a new year and more to do with seeing the best and worst of your kinfolk up-close and personal. 

Nothing can inspire a New Year’s resolution more than a visit to your older cousin Martha’s house and seeing her honeymoon pictures on the mantle.  Closer inspection reveals that she has been wearing the same feathered hair, Vince Neil makeup and neon clothing since she was 22. Stuck in a rut for the last 20 years, she looks like she stepped out of an episode of VH1’s I Love the 80’s. 

How did this happen? You wonder as you stand by the mantle.  Was she cryogenically frozen like Austin Powers only to resurface as an ‘80’s icon in the 2000’s?  No, its nothing as complicated as that, she is just suffering from a bad case of the Nostalgia.  She has deemed 1985 the best year of her life and refuses to let go.  She has vowed to ride her acid washed jeans and Van Halen t-shirts to the end!

So the question is, how can you avoid this potentially genetic defect?  By making some New Years resolutions, of course!  Here are some ideas to keep you fresh and up-to-date in 2005 and beyond:

 

1. Donate old clothes. Go through your clothes and donate to charity pieces that either don’t fit or are out of style. Good Will accepts donations daily. Or, if you want to donate to your own keg fund, try selling your old clothes to Buffalo Exchange or Savers.
2. Wear pants, not jeans.  Wearing denim everyday is boring.  Mix up your ensembles by donning corduroys or a light wool trouser with a jean-like cut. A must-have this year is pinstripe pants. These can go from preppy to punk with only a few accessory changes.
3. Get a tailor for tailored trends.  Ready-to-wear clothing is not always going to fit perfectly, so you will need a tailor this year.  If you find a piece of clothing you love but it doesn’t fit, have it altered.  Note:  It’s always easier to take in a larger size, so if you are debating between two sizes, get the larger.  Your tailor will thank you.
4. Wear color.  A wardrobe of all black, beige or brown is a cop-out.  Color has made a comeback in the last couple of years and it’s not going anywhere. Buy a coat in a light blue, pink or green, wear brightly colored shoes, and carry a funky tangerine handbag, but not all at the same time.
5. Read a different fashion magazine. If you already subscribe to Cosmo, pick up a magazine you wouldn’t normally read for new style ideas.  Paper will let you in on trends from the underground so you can stay ahead of the curve, while Twist will show you how to wear the clothing of right now. 
6. Change your hairstyle. If you’ve had the same style for more that five years you may be in the danger zone.  This situation calls for an immediate appointment with your hair stylist.  She’ll be thrilled you are finally making a change!