How to Rock a Trend

Lil Mama at MTV’s TRL, a clear example of how NOT to rock a trend

Today while running some errands, I spotted an otherwise cute girl of about 18 or 19 years old who had on a Rihanna-style wig (the bob with the straight across bangs), very colorful Nike Dunks, a long pearl necklace, and a sleeveless ballerina dress that was a size too big as she had it pinned to her bra. While I have to at least give her 2 1.5 points for attempting innovation (seeing as how in my Queens neighborhood, the closest thing to fashion I see are teen girls matching their jewelry to their outfits *sigh*), her ensemble was all wrong. I could see where she was going, but she overdid it and her outfit wound up looking like a costume.

So how do you wear a trend without looking like a fashion victim? It’s easy if you follow these steps:

1. Take a good assessment of your flaws and your flaunt-worthy areas. You can also enlist a very honest friend to help you out. Any trends that bring more attention to your flaws should be avoided like the plague (i.e. If you have DD boobies, a blouse with tons of ruffles on the neckline is not your best friend)

2. If the trend you’re taking on is from decades past, consider this: take an element from the decade–I repeat–an element, not the entire ensemble–and you’ll be rocking a modern update on the trend. Check out how Kerry Washington (a woman who in my eyes can never do wrong…lol) is rocking this 80s style strapless dress. Now, she could have gone dreadfully wrong and paired the dress with sneakers and crimped hair, but she made the look modern with her bouncy curls and simple pumps.

3. If the trend is really tricky to pull off (like a color that no matter you slice it is not YOUR color) then consider taking on the trend small scale in tiny purse form. I keep seeing ladies walking the streets of Manhattan wearing shirts embellished with sequins. Now unless you are someone along the lines of Beyonce or Diana Ross, please 86 the sequins. If you must have your Dreamgirls moment, go with something like this (be sure to keep the rest of your outfit simple):

Large Harlequin Sequin Clutch at topshop.com

If you have a personal fashion or beauty question you’d like to have answered, email me at danielle@myurbanglamour.com. I’ll personally answer it for you and you can even be featured here on the blog!

P.S. Don’t forget to enter in this week’s Urban Glamour Summer Beauty SUPER Giveaway! One lucky reader will win Stila Smudge Pot in Cobalt! Entries must be in Friday, August 1st at 11:59 P.M. EST. The winner will be announced on Saturday, August 2nd right here on myurbanglamour.blogspot.com! Stay tuned!