Five Australian stylists on how they avoid trends, while keeping their work (and wardrobes) current
IMAGE VIA @jasmineknights_/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY DAISY HENRY
“If we’re responding to [trends], then we’re already behind.”
It feels like there’s a new trend almost daily at the moment. Whether it’s beauty-centric (like high contrast and low contrast makeup), or fashion-related (like midi-skirts or bows), there’s always something to keep up with.
It’s not all bad either – with so many trends comes room for interpretation and creativity. But at the same time, short-lived trends give rise to overconsumption. Your Solomons might be in right now, but will you still love them in a year’s time, or will you have bought the next ‘in’ silhouette?
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Stylists walk a fine line when it comes to trends. Whether they’re helping someone update their wardrobe or styling a model on a photoshoot, their work needs to feel fresh, relevant and current. But with the current speed of trend cycles, if they’re not careful, certain styles can become outdated by the time their work is released.
Avoiding the trend cycle means avoiding its inherent risks (it’s harder for pieces to feel outdated if they were never trending in the first place). But for stylists, this approach isn’t always plausible. Given the nature of their work, it’s often important they navigate trends with nuance and finesse.
This might mean taking a more sustainable approach, like only shopping secondhand on sites like eBay for ’90s vintage styles that are recirculating. Or it might mean using accessories as a way to experiment and try something new. Given it’s usually in a stylist’s job description to stay ahead of the curve, they offer a fairly valuable perspective when it comes to navigating trends.
Jana Bartolo, Sydney-based fashion stylist
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What do you think about the fast-paced nature of fashion trends?
It’s so easy to get caught up in trends—I’ve fallen into that trap myself. However, I’ve made a conscious effort to push away from that and focus on pieces that truly resonate with me. To avoid following trends, I prioritise pieces I genuinely love, regardless of when they were released. I’m naturally drawn to vibrant colours, impeccable craftsmanship, and high-quality materials.
How do you balance avoiding trends while ensuring your work feels fresh and current?
Blending vintage discoveries with modern touches allows me to create a unique aesthetic that speaks to my personal style. Thrift stores and swap-type shops are among my favourite places to explore, where I’ve found some amazing treasures like my recent beloved Gucci pumps, which are not only stylish but incredibly comfortable and always garner compliments.
Investing in timeless staples ensures my wardrobe remains versatile and enduring. These intentional purchases often become staples in my fashion week rotation, showcasing their longevity and versatility. By curating my collection based on personal affinity rather than fleeting trends, I cultivate a style that’s authentically mine, unaffected by the ups and downs of fashion. This deliberate, mindful approach celebrates individuality and lasting appeal, bringing excitement to every outfit I wear.
Lauren Di Bartolo, Melbourne-based stylist and founder of the Australian Style Institute
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What do you think about the fast-paced nature of fashion trends?
The current trend cycle absolutely impacts fashion stylists and our role. On one hand, it can encourage creativity because there’s always something new to explore. On the other hand, we can be creating or churning out looks that don’t have the same commercial longevity that our fashion and lifestyle partners rely on us for. The trend cycle isn’t helpful for the consumer or the brand when it’s occurring at this current, fast-paced rate.
Fashion has changed at a rapid pace in a relatively short period – from the seasons we were traditionally accustomed to, compared to the accelerated pace of online trends and manufacturing that we have today. While that can be satisfying to a consumer to always have the latest, it does require that we adapt with greater frequency as fashion stylists. That being said, we’re almost at a full-circle moment where the trend cycle is becoming a loop that is shorter than ever. Customers are now coming back to core wardrobe items to combat overconsumption.
How do you balance avoiding trends while ensuring your work feels fresh and current?
In editorial work, it’s more beneficial for us to be detached from trends, as a fashion stylist’s role is to help create a trend or move it forward. If we’re responding to them, then we’re already behind. Seeking inspiration outside of fashion is a great way to access inspiration whether that be film, music or subcultures that have not yet made it to the mainstream media.
If your inspiration comes from the same creators and the same social platforms, your style will very quickly become the same as who you follow. Spending a little time in your wardrobe before making new purchases also helps to not only clarify what you already have but also to identify the most essential gaps that you need to fill.
Which trends do you love and which ones do you hate?
It’s the ‘sameness’ and overexposure to rapid trends that have seen people’s confidence become impacted and make poor buying decisions. This leads to the worst trend of all – overconsumption simply for the sake of fitting in. But I love seeing people willing to try something outside of their comfort zone. Creating a look that blends texture, the new and old, and history and tells a story not only about fashion but about themselves.
Jasmine Knights, Melbourne-based fashion stylist
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What do you think about the fast-paced nature of fashion trends?
The fast-paced fashion trend cycle is a double-edged sword. New trends can be incredibly inspiring and help create new creative concepts and fresh ideas. At the same time, they put pressure on stylists to produce content quickly to stay relevant or ‘on-trend’. It can be a bit of a balancing act.
How do you balance avoiding trends while ensuring your work feels fresh and current?
I invest in capsule wardrobe pieces that are timeless. I really value quality over quantity and I believe it’s essential to find your own personal aesthetic! In a work setting, I apply the same set of principles, with an added emphasis on accessorising to make my work feel current. I don’t have any rules – but I’m definitely mindful of the longevity an item will have in my wardrobe. I try to invest in capsule wardrobe pieces such as good basics, jeans and tailored items.
Which trends do you love and which ones do you hate?
Currently, I’m obsessed with all the brown suede that’s around at the moment. I think Prada has capitalised on this trend perfectly with their gorgeous brown suede bags from the Spring/Summer ’24 runway. Another trend I’ve been enjoying is mixed metal jewellery. But a trend I’m definitely not a fan of the return of skinny jeans.
Sally Mackinnon, Melbourne-based personal stylist
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What do you think about the fast-paced nature of fashion trends?
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to view ‘trends’ through a different lens. I think it’s fair to say that very little is truly ‘new’ (in terms of fashion trends that we’ve never seen before). Perhaps with age comes a sense of ‘been there, done that’. I think the change of pace in today’s fashion landscape only makes things more confusing for consumers, and unfortunately, instead of fostering creativity and individuality, it can stifle people (particularly women) into feeling frustrated and anxious about fashion.
How do you balance avoiding trends while ensuring your work feels fresh and current?
My clients seek help to create modern, relevant wardrobes for their lifestyles and as a personal stylist, it’s a fine balance between achieving that and not being dictated by fleeting trends. Clients want wardrobes that are modern yet timeless and are generally more interested in investing in pieces that will last for years, not months. I view my own personal style in much the same way. While my style is always modern, there’s a classic element that remains timeless and relevant, that I can modernise by adding new bits and pieces here and there, every so often.
Which trends do you love and which ones do you hate?
The one ‘trend’ that I’m actually enjoying is the return of the ballet flat, including mesh and woven styles. But even as we talk about ballet flats, the style themselves has been around for decades, it’s just that they’re having a resurgence in popularity. What I love about the new iteration is the squared-off toe shape, with more coverage on the foot. I think they’re so chic. One trend I despise (sorry, harsh word, but I do) is Ugg Boots out in public. These should never leave the house.
Tegan Whittaker, Sydney-based freelance fashion stylist
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What do you think about the fast-paced nature of fashion trends?
I feel that if you follow the micro trend cycle through Pinterest and TikTok, your work is destined to age quickly. I tend to look at Tumblr and Vogue Runway for inspiration. I love looking at the trends from the previous cycle since trends are cyclical and often recurring. For example, instead of looking at the iterations of leopard print and burgundy from this year or last year, I would look at references from when they were last trending, which was about 12 years ago. Often I feel that using references from this age can make your work or style feel too pedestrian and not unique.
I try to avoid TikToks about what’s trendy or what’s the next big thing. I think it’s important to remember that ultimately, trends are made for overconsumption and sometimes you don’t need to buy whatever is popular. I try to stay true to my style and what’s comfortable for me, so I only buy items that I know I’ll wear over and over again. I only buy into a trend when I know that I’ll continue wearing the item when the trend is long ‘dead’. It also helps that fashion is a circle and everything comes back eventually.
Which trends do you love and which ones do you hate?
I’ve always loved burgundy, so I love that everyone is wearing it. I still love to wear slip skirts, cowboy boots, baggy pants and a good asymmetrical top.
For more on personal style and trends, try this.
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