The noise is the problem 🛍

here are my 3 decision filters

From faux fur and leopard print to polos and slipper mules, the fall trends are rolling into stores right on time (heatwaves or not!).

Cue the listicles of seasonal must-buys filled with psychological triggers that leave us with clothes we're not even sure why we bought…

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A Quick Sampling of Psychological Buying Triggers

“8 Fall 2025 Fashion Trends to Add to Your Wardrobe Now”

→ The use of “now” plays on urgency

“8 Fall Trends Out of Style in 2025 and What to Wear Instead!”

→ “Out of style” plays with our desire to belong and fear of being left out

“The Top Trends Our Editors Are Wearing Now”

→ Inclusion of “our editors” plays on authority; we tend to be persuaded by the recommendations of experts we deem credible

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But here's the truth no one seems to mention:

Each and every trend you buy into that's not aligned with your style is only going to make getting dressed harder, not easier.

Following trends without discernment causes closet chaos and confusion.

And the more we listen to the noise, the easier it is to get off-track.

We're Odysseus at sea desperately trying to resist the Sirens. Sometimes it feels like we need to be tied to the masts to avoid the psychological trickery.

Because when we're not careful, following the allure of flashy must-buy lists will leave us with a wardrobe that feels disassociated from who we even are.

I'm not saying we need to ward off everything that happens to be trending. You might align with some of the trends, you might love the discovery of finding a trending aesthetic secondhand, you might already own some trending items.

Or you might even accidentally start wearing the trends because you're subconsciously influenced by seeing it everywhere. (That's me…)

When we buy into trends out of fear and false urgency, though, that's when our closets start to feel like a random collection of garments — not an intentional wardrobe that feels as if it was built for us.

I'll wear the heck out of my polka dot dress this summer and fall (love a feminine print) but you won't catch me in balloon pants (I like more structure). That's trend-style discernment.

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Focus Cultivates Style

Strategy in any arena is just as much about what we say “no” to as what we say “yes” to. Restraint is crucial to free up the time and energy to focus on what actually matters — in life or in work.

The most prestigious fashion brands focus on what they do well and say no to an infinite number of other options. Being clear about what their brand isn't is just as powerful as what their brand is. What items they don't make says as much about them as what they do make.

Shein, on the other hand, could be a hundred other fast fashion brands if we slapped a different logo on their website. It has everything and anything, but nothing all that special.

Cultivating style is quite similar.

While personal style is the aesthetics, shapes, words, and colors that we wear, it's also what we decide not to wear.

Style is knowing: that trend is aligned, that one definitely is not.

Chasing trends for the sake of it dilutes personal style. Focus helps you make intentional choices that align with your style.

But focus isn't about becoming a poster-child of a single aesthetic. Your style might have quirks and unexpected contrast! The point is that it's yours. You get to set the parameters.

While at first “focus” might sound restrictive, I've found it incredibly freeing — and a lot more fulfilling.

I don't need to scroll for hours to hunt down a deal on a sheer skirt I'll never wear. I can spend my time and energy on restyling the skirts I already have.

I don't need to stress about buying those jelly shoes. I can spend my money on the shoes I actually love.

Lace is trending? Well, let me bring out my lace trousers!

Gucci lace trousers for $2,000? I'll just wear the lace pants I already have :)

Keeping this tunnel vision is not about scarcity and sacrifice. I like to think of it more as my defense against falling into the artificial scarcity fleeting trends tend to evoke.

Plus, there's a reason for the saying “creativity comes from constraints” — it's difficult to create when you're overwhelmed by options.

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My 3 Decision Filters

When we copy and paste exactly what someone else is telling us to wear or buy, we end up with a rotation of our stock of clothing, not a closet that lasts.

So as we're receiving input on fashion and advice on style, our filters are what's going to help us ensure what goes into our closet meets our standards.

1. Why do I want to buy into this trend?

I like to get honest on if something genuinely reflects my style or if I'm participating in the trend out of FOMO. Perhaps some people will consider this overthinking, but I'm looking to invest in my closet ecosystem, not in clothes that will be on their way out in a few months’ time.

But this iteration of the question is what really gives me a reality check: Would I still want to wear this even if everybody else wasn't?

2. Is this something I could restyle after the trend cycle?

Part of the reason I genuinely try to avoid trends is that I like keeping my clothes for many years, and while I try not to care, if a trend really made a splash and then a big exit, it is tough!

There are also ways to participate in trends in a more versatile way, though. Especially if it's a color (mocha brown) or material (lace), trends can be repurposed fairly easily when they fit into your personal style.

Certain items also lend themselves to longevity more than others.

When sheer blouses are no longer everywhere, they become layering pieces.

But faux fur jackets? Those are going to be difficult to wear any other way, so I'd want to really make sure I'm comfortable wearing that one post-trend cycle.

3. Does this make sense with the rest of my closet?

It's not that all of your clothes have to be perfectly cohesive — your wardrobe might feel totally random from the outside but feel aligned to you.

But here are some quick checks:

• Can you think of a few ways to wear that piece with the clothes already in your closet?

• Will that piece help you build more aligned outfits?

• Do you already have a lot of items that suit a similar purpose? Or is it a gap that would help you maximize what you have?

If you're not sure, that's where the overwhelm starts.

Which is why I created brand new resource for you all! 👚

The Closet Confidence Audit: an assessment on what's going on in your wardrobe and actionable tool to help drown out the noise to create more aligned outfits.

I hope it can be helpful!

Warmly,

Elizabeth

P.S. I'd love to hear form you — what trends will you be filtering out this year? Are there any you already own or that do align well with your style?