How to Be Trendy

Co-authored by Paul Julch, MA

Being trendy means following popular fads and trends. You can follow fashion trends as well as trends regarding digital media. Try to stay up-to-date on what's in and what's out in order to be a trendy person. There are a variety of fun ways to follow the latest styles and look super cool!

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Following Fashion Trends

1
Talk to a fashionable friend. If you want to be more fashion forward, reach out to a friend whose style you admire. Being trendy and fashionable takes a certain amount of work. You can learn a lot from someone who knows how to follow the latest styles.
- Ask your friend how he or she stays up to date with the latest fashions.
- Get recommendations on which blogs or social media accounts you should follow for style inspiration.
- Talk to your fashionable friend about the latest trends. It's cheaper and easier than subscribing to a trend forecasting site!
- While you can ask your friend for advice, try not to become a copy of that person.
2
Follow trends appropriately. Not every trend works for every person. People can often be guilty of overdoing it when it comes to trends as well, resulting in unflattering fashion choices.
- Pick what works for you and what makes you feel comfortable.
- Follow trends that flatter your body type.
- For example, if a certain style of dress looks bulky on you, ditch that trend!
- There's no reason to wear certain clothes simply because they're trendy.
- Don't overdo a trend. Simplify the trend or adjust your style for different occasions.
- For instance, leggings may be in, but leggings paired with a more formal top may look tacky.
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3
Subscribe to fashion magazines. Subscribing to fashion magazines, both print and online, can help you be more fashionable. Fashion on the Street blogs, such as the Sartorialist, can be a fun, cheap way to keep up with trends. You could also buy a subscription for a magazine like Vogue, Seventeen, or Marie Claire to keep up on seasonal fashion trends.
4
Follow fashion bloggers on Instagram. Instagram is a great tool for those wanting a trendy style. Look up lists of fashion bloggers to follow on Instagram and search hashtags like #ootd (outfit of the day) to get a sense of what people are wearing. Follow people whose style closely matches your personality. If you like minimalist outfits, for example, look for Instagram users who dress in this style.^{[1]
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5
Mix and match with what you already have. If you're on a budget, or just want to spend more practically, try reviewing your current wardrobe. See how you could pair current, trendy items with your current clothing and accessories.
- Make a quick list of what you have, including outfits you wear to work, school, hanging out with friends, and so on. Then, look at what's currently fashionable.
- Incorporating a couple trendy items into your current wardrobe means you only have to purchase a few new items each fashion season.^{[2]
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- Pay special attention to items you own that are neutral shades.
- A black pair of jeans, for example, can go with many different colors, allowing you to keep up on fall and winter shades without investing in new pants.
- A grey or ivory knit sweater is also a classic piece you can match with different trendy items.
- Pick trendy accessories if you don't want to revamp your wardrobe entirely. What kind of sunglasses are in? What kind of jewelry?

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Keeping Up With Online Trends

1
Encourage discussion of current events. More and more people use social media to discuss news and current events. Campaign news especially has been filtered through these mediums. Take advantage of your personal Facebook or Twitter page to foster discussion. Post links to articles about issues you care about and engage with others who comment. Encourage a healthy, productive dialogue online. ^{[3]
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2
Watch the app store. The app store, which can be found through your smart phone, showcases the various apps available for purchase or free download. As apps are frequently a key part of the latest trends, click on tabs like "Top Rated Apps" and "Most Downloaded" or "Most Purchased." This will give you a sense of what is and is not currently popular. Try to make a habit of downloading the most popular apps. You want to make sure you're up-to-date with the latest in smart phone accessories.
3
Get a smart phone. A variety of trendy applications, such as SnapChat and Instagram, are now solely available through smart phones. If you want to be a trendy online user, you need to be on such sites. If you do not already have a mobile phone, it's vital to get one to follow online trends. Having a variety of mobile phone specific social media accounts will keep you fresh and trendy.^{[4]
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4
Keep track of new social media outlets. While Facebook and Twitter remain among the most popular social media outlets, keep your eye out for new outlets. Being trendy means keeping ahead of the game and you'll want to hop on new social media platforms as they come. Ello is a new social media platform that promises never to sell user data to advertisers.^{[5]
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5
Ditch old accounts. If a certain social media outlet is no longer in style, it's not necessary to keep updating. Social media outlets such as Myspace and Google Plus, which have fallen out of fashion, should be discarded. Put your energy into maintaining accounts that currently reach out to many users.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Following Other Trends

1
Stay up-to-date with music. If you want to be trendy, you should also strive to follow trends in popular music. Stay up-to-date to what's in and what's out when it comes to musical taste.
- Spotify, Pandora, and iTunes can help you stay up-to-date on popular music.
- Browse lists such as "Most downloaded" and "Most played" to see what's currently popular.
- Watch music awards shows, like the Grammy's and the MTV Video Music Awards to get a sense of music that's already acclaimed.
- Get acquainted with the classics as well. Spend some time reading blogs, articles, and magazines about music and music history.
- Read and then listen to the Rolling Stone's list of best albums of all time. Subscribe to a few popular blogs about music and music history.
- Talk to friends who love music and ask them for suggestions.
- Attend local concerts when possible. This can help you get acquainted with trendy local music as well as more popular bands.
2
Watch trendy TV shows and moves. When it comes to media, movies and television are also an important aspect of being trendy. Spend some time watching the trendiest TV shows and movies.
- Get a Netflix subscription. You can see what shows and movies are currently being watched or "trending" on social media.
- Try to give the more popular shows and movies a chance and see if you like them.
- Pay attention to the Emmys and the Oscars. Try to watch movies and shows that are nominated or that win awards.
3
Use social media to your advantage. As you're watching the trendiest movies and TV shows, make use of social media. It's often popular to live tweet responses to award shows or the season finale to popular TV shows. You can also share responses on Facebook and talk to other fans of the show. Using social media allows you to convey that you're well informed and up-to-date on pop culture. It also allows you to actively engage with the media you consume.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Cutting Costs

1
Shop around. If you're shopping for clothes, electronics, or other trendy items always shop around. Browse a variety a variety of local stores when looking for a new outfit. Keep an eye out for online sales. Compare prices online before hitting the shops so you'll know where to get the best deals.
- Create an e-mail specifically to get coupons so you can collect all your coupons and discounts in one place.
2
Look for simple trends. Pick and choose which trends you choose to follow when it comes to fashion. Stick to simple trends if you're on a budget. See how certain accessories or outfit options fit into what you already have. Would the latest style of scarf look good with a top you already have? Great. Follow that trend. Would the trendiest new style of dress work great with a pair of heels you own? That might be a good trend to look into.^{[6]
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3
Go cheap for trendy fashion choices. When it comes to clothing, it usually makes financial sense to pay more for high quality items as they'll last longer. However, trends tend to come and go quickly. It makes sense then to buy cheaper quality items when selecting trendy clothing as you'll likely not be wearing a lot of it next season. ^{[7]
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Expert Q&A

Question

How can you make inexpensive clothes look less cheap?

Paul Julch, MA
Personal Wardrobe Stylist & Speaker
Paul Julch is a Personal Wardrobe Stylist, Speaker, and the founder of Urbanite | Suburbanite, a wardrobe styling business in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 25 years in the fashion industry, Paul works with clients to make getting dressed easier, less time consuming, and more enjoyable. Paul has years of experience in retail visual merchandising - styling windows, displays, and floor sets for Banana Republic, Gap, and Express. He also has experience styling fashion photo shoots and corporate videos. Paul holds a BS Degree in Management from State University of New York at Binghamton, an MA in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University. He also studied Interior Design at the University of California, Berkeley.

Paul Julch, MA

Personal Wardrobe Stylist & Speaker

Expert Answer

If you want to look more expensive, simpler is always better, so focus on classic pieces. Focus on your accessories—they should be clean, simple, and well-made. Also, a good pair of shoes can make a simple outfit look great, but they need to be well taken care of. A pair of expensive shoes that are dirty, scuffed, and worn down will make a nice outfit look bad, but a pair of cheaper shoes that are in great shape can look expensive.
Question

Do I have to buy the big name brands in order to be trendy?

Community Answer

No. If you really want a big name brand, then of course you can save up and get it. However, there are probably numerous knock-offs on the internet for a much cheaper price.
Question

What if I have no friends?

Community Answer

Make some! Go out of your way to talk to new people and get to know them. If you want to be trendy, try to gravitate towards the popular people. Find things you have in common and use those things to make conversation.