Looking Contemporary vs. Trendy

Bespoke Style is a personal style newsletter. I (mostly) wear custom and vintage pieces. My mom’s a tailor and thanks to her, I grew up with the art of fashion and style in my DNA. I’m bringing that to you with this newsletter.

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Enjoy! - Johanna.

Spring is around the corner! I can tell in my inbox, because I’ve been bombarded with FINAL SALE!!! & First Look at Spring emails.

After the dread of a grey European winter, what’s nicer than a pop of color, some fresh garments, and a new lease on life?

The Seasonal Song of the Sartorial Sirens

With the change of the season comes, like clockwork, almost like a biological impulse, the need to shed the old and embrace the new. Just like the tulips that are so abundant in the supermarket’s flower buckets now, sweaters in colors that pop off are ringing in spring.

I’ve been craving newness!

If you want to consume intentionally and build or – depending on where you are in the process – stay true to your personal style, these are trying times, though.

The sparkle of the new tugs at your heart- and pursestrings. You and I know that a new outfit, some fashionable freshness can go a long way in how you feel. (As long as you don’t use it as a band-aid. Then the effect works the other way around. The more you buy, the more meh you feel.)

I’m mindful of my consumption and dislike following trend cycles.

And still, we’re making a new coat for spring and I made a mental list of all the things that need alterations and what to get to complete some half-there outfits in my wardrobe. And those sparkly leopard print boots I’ve been drooling over? Well…I still want them.

So, how do you navigate the seasonal song of the sartorial sirens? How can you have a little fun without falling into the trap of buying a lot of crap that will make you look like version 1234b of the seasonal style cookie cutter?*

Aim For Contemporary Instead of Trendy

I realized this a while ago: The goal with personal style is to dress for yourself, always. The objective is to never be trendy. Instead, aim for contemporary.

What it looks like for me is that I check for three things, when we make something or when I buy a piece, vintage or new.

1. Color. I have my color season locked down and never buy outside of it. Simply, because no matter how trendy that neon spring pink is I’ve been seeing, it just won’t look good on me. My clothes have to make me shine.

2. Style & Cut. Can I incorporate it into my existing wardrobe and does the cut work with my overall aesthetic? Mine is sharp and tailored. It’s unlikely I’ll look good in barrel leg jeans. It’s just too much fabric on me. A pair of jeans with a wider cut, though, in case I’m inspired by the aesthetic? Why not. As long as I can make it mine.

3. Longevity. Will I like this even if fashion has moved on? Is it made in a way so I can have it for five, ten, or even more years? With tailoring, the answer is an obvious yes. With vintage and store-bought pieces, it’s a more nuanced matter.

Shoes, pants, and accessories are great ways to add a contemporary influence to your outfits, if you feel like it. I find myself wanting to do it less and less, because I’m fortunately very clear in my style vision for myself.

And yet, a little pizzazz that’s of the era can be a sprinkling of style spice in your life.

Have a lovely day,

Johanna

*Sidenote: My greatest pet peeve with Instagram and TikTok fashion trends is that they just don’t look good on most people. Oversized blazers? Gee, unless you’re the type for it and your body’s structure - how the clothes fit on your body from a tailoring point of view - supports it, the clothes wear you, not the other way around.

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