3 Tips for Millennials Getting Dressed in a Gen Z World
I love people watching. When I was in NYC in the beginning of 2022 I kept seeing twenty-something women that I knew were inherently cool and on trend. But I had a strong reaction to the way they were dressed - I knew I did not want to emulate them.
I know many other women my age feel this way too. We want to be “on-trend,” but many of the newest trends championed by Gen Z do not speak to us.
Here are the reasons why the street style I was seeing in NYC didn’t resonate with me and maybe this is why you feel this way too:
It felt too undone for the stage of life I am in now. Oversized everything and the mix of wide legs and sneakers felt too untidy. I knew I would not feel my best or put together with such unstructured elements. I felt totally OK and cool with being casual and more “effortless” in my teens and twenties, but that vibe doesn’t feel right to me for the stage I’m in right now.
Trends right now can feel complicated and difficult to keep up with. With the demise of skinny jeans we’re left with a lot of questions that we may have not answered yet. What shoes to pair with what pants? How to wear oversized cargos? Do we WANT to be wearing cargos? Add that to the fact that trends on TikTok can be notoriously short lived and it’s a recipe for confusion about what trends to buy and how to actually wear them.
It reminds us too much of what we wore when we were younger. Seeing jeans dragging on the ground gives me flashbacks of my tattered up Abercrombie flares of the early 00s - remember what happened when it rained?! We’ve been there, done that with the lowest of low rise and have already obsessed over halters and headscarves. As we get older we have the urge to evolve to feel like the best versions of ourselves in the present versus wanting to go back in time and relive the ghosts of closets past.
But we still have to get dressed every day. So what do we do? Here are my 3 best tips for Millenials getting dressed in a Gen Z World:
Diversify the age of your Instagram Feed:
Following women in their mid 30s, 40s, and 50s, whose style I admire is incredibly inspiring. They look current, on-trend, pulled together, but never look like they are trying to convince anyone they are younger than they are (even though they do in the best way possible!) and always look authentic to themselves. This is how I aspire to show up in the world and I’m guessing this will resonate with you as well.
Here are a few of my favorites to get you started: scoutthecity, jenniferfisherkitchen, ringconcierge, jaceyduprie, mariannahewitt, hillarykerr, katjamieson, stephanietrotta
Be Selective about Trends You Buy & Put Your Own Spin on Them:
This is where it becomes really important to understand your own personal style and examine what current trends resonate with you and why. This helps to ensure you aren’t buying something only because it’s a trend.
Maybe you love wider leg bottoms, but instead of a frayed denim style, you could choose a more tailored wide leg pant that you can pair with a heeled boot for the office and white sneakers for the weekend. Or maybe you love the oversized blazer look, but always feel like you’re being swallowed up. You could try a blazer that’s still fitted in the shoulders, but a longer length to get a similar oversized effect. There are lots of ways to subtly update to your wardrobe to make it feel more current without betraying your personal style.
Determine if you’re shopping in the right stores & if you have the right foundation:
If you’re still shopping in the same places since your early 20s and don’t feel like you’re finding anything that suits you… it might be time for an upgrade! If you find someone whose style you resonate with online or in real life - pay attention and do a little investigating! What are they wearing? Where are they shopping? Most people would be flattered to tell you more about themselves and the Internet is a wealth of knowledge!
If you haven’t yet, now is the time to invest in quality basics. And when I say quality I don’t mean expensive - these do not have to break the bank. Brands like Madewell, Mango, & Everlane have reasonably priced basic styles that can be the foundation of your wardrobe for years to come. These can be your fall back on those days when you feel like you have “nothing to wear!”
Feeling good about your outfit and feeling confident about how you look is not exclusively reserved for twenty-somethings. If you are looking for a more personalized update to your closet or struggling with what to wear every day, I would love to work together! Contact me here to get started.