Fashion and beauty trends come and go at the speed of light and often don’t translate to real life and real women. To inject a little fun into your wardrobe it’s good to stay across the latest trends and embrace those that suit your style and shape. Most importantly, always wear age-appropriate trends or your style can make you look tacky and older. Then there are those looks and fads you should always steer clear of as they aren’t flattering or attractive and can ruin your personal style and appearance. Ahead: 12 common fashion offenders.
1. Very Wide Leg Pants
Wide-leg pants and 70s flared jeans are back in fashion and can look flattering provided the width is not ridiculous. A subtle flare is chic but anything more than that can look clownish and like you’re trying too hard. It’s also best to embrace a wide-leg pant in soft neutral shades and avoid bold colors or heavy prints.
2. Dark Vampy Lipstick
Dark lipstick shades and heavy matte textures like black, vampy purple, and chocolate brown can be aging on the skin, highlight fine lines and wrinkles, and make your teeth look yellow. Stick to softer shades in hydrating satin finishes. And if you do go for bold lipstick, always keep the rest of your makeup minimal of you can look like a trainwreck.
3. Shapeless Print Kaftans
Long shapeless kaftans with loud garish prints are not flattering and can make you look larger than you. As far as trends go they have had their day and should be worn on vacation by the beach or the pool, otherwise you can look like a fashion victim. You should also never wear a kaftan with heels, they are best paired with casual slides or low sandals.
4. Fantasy Fingernails
Fantasy fingernails and excessively long, fake talons that are embellished, beaded, or feature crazy colors and patterns are not chic and take you into witch territory. Maintain well-manicured nails in a shorter squoval shape (square/oval) and stick to classic shades like red, nude, soft pink, or black if you like a little edge.
5. Boxy Oversized Jackets
Long oversized, shapeless, boxy blazers, especially with sharp or exaggerated shoulder pads, can overwhelm your outfit and make you look larger especially if you’re shorter. A fitted slimline more classic style that sits on the hips timeless and chic blazer in black or navy belongs in every wardrobe.
6. Strawberry Girl Blush
The strawberry girl blush trend favored by Hailey Bieber is best left to the supermodels. Wearing too much blush, especially heavy matte powder formulations can settle into fine lines and wrinkles making them more obvious and you older and less attractive. It’s better to create natural dewy skin and here are some great hacks for creating a perfect dewy younger-looking complexion.
7. Low Rise Jeans and Tricky Denim Styles
Low-rise jeans are never a good idea, especially when you’re older or larger as they instantly create a muffin top. It’s better to go for a classic mid-rise in a mid-wash denim. High-waisted jeans are on trend but they don’t flatter every body shape especially if you’re on the shorter side or top-heavy as they can make you look bigger. The denim maxi skirt is also having a moment but this can look shapeless and frumpy. Also avoid distressed, slashed, or overly embroidered denim as it’s totally tacky.
8. Unnatural Streaks and Hair Shades
Discover the top hairstyles and shades that make you look older and less attractive here. A great haircut can take years off your age provided it suits your face shape and hair texture. When it comes to dyeing your hair, keep it natural looking with a shade close to your hair color otherwise you can appear harsh and aged. As for highlights avoid crazy colors or too many streaks, especially in shades that have a sharp contrast to your hair color as it can look tacky and unnatural. It’s better to go for soft highlights or lowlights.
9. Ugly Chunky Shoes
The chunky ugly sneaker trend also needs to be retired pronto. Not only do they overwhelm your outfit and body these clunkers can make your personal style look tacky and outdated. Ditto stripper-style platform heels and platform flip-flips which should never see the light of day.
10. Brushed Up Brows
A well-groomed brow opens up your eye area and makes your facial features pop but it should always look natural. Brushing up your lashes as a fashion statement looks harsh, and unnatural and can put you into try-hard territory. Also avoid heavily tattooed brows, harsh dark brows, and the bleached brow look.
11. Logo T-shirts
When it comes to personal style there’s a fine line between embracing designer fashion looks and trying too hard according to the fashion experts at Huff Post. Wearing t-shirts and accessories emblazoned with brand logos (especially from head to toe) looks tacky and indicates a lack of personal style. It’s better to invest in a classic designer bag or shoe and only wear one logo at a time.
12. Military Cargo Shorts
Short utilitarian cargo shorts can look bulky, unflattering, and masculine. Tight mini and micro shorts are also not a good idea past a certain age. It’s better to go for a classic denim cut-off that falls just above the knee or a longer more sophisticated Bermuda short.
13. Beware Bike Shorts
Bike shorts are workout wear that should be worn on a bike or at the gym, never as a style statement. They aren’t cool or attractive, are their tight spandex will cut your legs off at an unflattering point, making you look larger.
14. Tricky Tops
Off-the-shoulder tops can be tricky on the wrong body shape as they show too much neck and skin and can balloon to make you and your bust look bigger. Crop tops are also not a good idea as they cut you off an unflattering point and create a muffin top. And beware of v-necks, cap sleeves, and horizontal stripes as they can make you look larger and highlight aging and body flaws. A chic button-up or a classic crew neck tee or sweater is always more sophisticated and flattering.