Are you wondering what’s out and what to wear instead this year? I’ve been poring through countless fashion blogs, social media accounts and my favorite magazines, and there seems to be quite a bit of agreement about the fashion forecast for 2024. Of course, if you really love something, go ahead and wear what makes you happy! These are just a few suggestions and ideas to help you create a more current look that looks a bit less dated. And yes, there are a few things on this list that I’ll be pushing to the back of my rotation in the hopes they’ll make a comeback! Let’s get started!
Deciding What’s Out and What to Wear Instead
Let’s take a minute and talk about that pesky trendy cycle, which is more pronounced these days by social media. From fashion aesthetics like “Quiet Luxury” to “Coastal Grandmother” (two trends I absolutely love) and now “Eclectic Grandpa” and the newly trending “Mob Wife” these looks have their moment and seem to move on in an endless deluge of fashion opinions. It’s kind of hard to keep up with it all! But here’s the good news. If you focused on buying basics last year, you’ll be pleasantly surprised that there aren’t really that many changes going into 2024. Which is why I say to wear what makes you happy. A few tips to help you keep up with it all:
- Follow influencers whose style feels most like your own.
- Utilize Pinterest to see current looks, and to create a mood board of things you like.
- Use your favorite catalogs and shopping sites as inspiration, even if you don’t order from them, or find them too pricey for your budget, they’re great sources of current fashion inspiration.
- Be an intentional shopper, focusing on adding basics to your wardrobe with a sprinkling of trendy items just for fun.
- Don’t feel the need to embrace every trend or any trend for that matter! You do you!
What’s Out and What to Wear Instead
Out: Cold Shoulder Tops
These have slowly faded away, and I’m afraid they’re fully in the “what not to wear” category now.I used to LOVE those cold shoulder tops y’all. I thought it was a fun way to show a little skin, while keeping my arms somewhat covered. I wore the mess out of the one pictured below! I’ve seen a few cut-out style tops that are very similar to them, so maybe they’ll make a comeback!
In: Cut-Outs and Off-the-Shoulder Tops
I’m showing a couple of versions of this style, which can be difficult to pull off when you’re a narrow-shouldered pear-shaped gal. I’ve never had much luck with off-the-shoulder or boat neck styles, but if these suit your figure I saw go for it! Remember, just like cold-shouldered tops, this look is very trendy, so don’t invest too heavily in this style. I do like this teal-colored sweater though. I think the casual shrug off the shoulder would work well for me. Will you try something like this?
Out: Overly Distressed Skinny Jeans
Who remembers distressed denim like the ones below? This trend was huge several years ago! I’ve tossed most of those overly distressed jeans, but I’m hanging on to my favorite pair of skinnies that I tuck into my tall boots. They’re not overly distressed and fit me well and I still enjoy wearing them! I love the streamlined look and feel that works well for my pear shape. This overly distressed style was so trendy a few years ago, but the look is dated and feels a bit tacky now. If you’re pear-shaped and on the struggle bus about pants check out THIS POST.
In: Flares, Boot-Cuts, Wide Legs, and Basic Straight Leg Jeans
Okay. the takeaway here is anything is on the table! Love flares? Go for it! Wide leg denim your thing? Yay you! Rock them in style. Straight-leg jeans your jam? You’re in luck! I’ve been wearing flares and bootcut jeans for years now, because they work best with my pear shape, adding balance to my figure. Ten ten, highly recommend! The wide-leg trend is going strong into 2024, so have fun with it. I struggle with pants that are pleated and am always on the lookout for non-pleated styles. I have a pair of straight-leg Catherine boyfriend jeans from Kut from the Kloth that I’ve worn for years now. They’re perfectly broken in and right on style. You can’t beat the basics!
Out: Waterfall Cardigans and Kimonos
This one is a hard one for me y’all! I was the queen of the kimono and drapey cardigan. I’ve purged quite a few, but full disclosure here, I’m holding on to a few of them, just in case. Waterfall cardigans are looking dated now, so I’m replacing them with different styles for my third piece, like the classic cardigan shown below, or a longer-length cardigan, which I’m going to continue to wear. Long over lean is one of my go-to tactics for styling a pear-shaped figure.
In: Classic Cardigans
The classic cardigan came back with a vengeance last year in chunky boyfriend styles and the cleaner, leaner silhouette that looks a bit more elevated. I’m not 100% into this trend, because most of them hit my hips at the widest part, which is NOT good, but I have a few that feel right, so I’m hanging on to those. I’m keeping my favorite waterfall cardigan for bumming around the house, I like to wear it with my yoga pants!
What to Wear Now
Here are a few trends that still going strong this year:
Wide-leg pants and jeans
Striped tops and tees
Gold and Silver chunky jewelry and chains – mixed metals are huge right now!
Loafers and ballet flats
Chelsea boots (not a fan, but wear them if you love them!)
Long denim skirts (slowly fading away, so glad I didn’t hop on this trend!)
Looking Forward to 2024!
I’m hopeful that my guide will help you prep for the new year. Biggest takeaway? As you shop, focus on good basic pieces you can wear for years to come and sprinkle in a few trendy pieces just for fun. Continue to find your own personal style, and enjoy wearing what you want. If it doesn’t bring you joy when you look in the mirror, get rid of it, and find something that does! Clean out those closets and have fun with your fashion! And always, always wear what makes you happy! Let me know what you’re leaving behind! Cheers!
