2019 Trends

Sam
Feb 21, 2019
4 min read

Every new year brings a slew of new trends and the death of old trends. Still early in 2019 but also far enough along to have footing, February is a good month to start looking at new trends as January’s grip on the old begins to loosen on the fashion world.

Personally I am not big on trendy clothes and looks. I rarely participate in trends unless I find them to be good enough to be worn a year or more from now without feeling out of place. Some trends are so specific that they can be traced to exact seasons of a year, which are certainly what I advise you avoid, but others have staying power or are guaranteed to be back in style within a year or two.

For 2019 it’s time to get wild. One huge trend that is carrying over from last year is animal print everything. From shoes to hats wild prints are taking hold. My favorites are snake and leopard print but you’ll be able to find zebra, cheetah, and even cow inspired looks just about everywhere. This is a trend that comes and goes with fervor every few seasons or sometimes even years. Luckily leopard and snake prints are very easy to wear after the hype dies down, whereas zebra is a bit harder to incorporate after the trend dies down but is nonetheless still stylish if you can pull it off without risking looking tacky. Don’t be afraid to mix and match these prints, I would recommend a leopard or cheetah top with snake print shoes. Try to keep the color family similar for a more subtle look or grab a zebra print top and leopard pants for a bold statement making look. I think animal prints have major longevity in your closet because they don’t ever truly go out of style, just sometimes get pushed aside for other prints, and can really add a fun twist to an otherwise boring outfit. They liven up jeans and give your work wardrobe a wild side. My favorite way to do pattern is using it as the focus of an outfit, so like black skinny jeans with a leopard cardigan or a denim jacket with a snake print midi skirt. You never want to pile too many bold accessories along with such loud prints for fear of looking over-done or gaudy and I’d definitely stay away from pairing neon (another trend this year) with animal print because that is too close to 1980’s style horror.

Another trend to check out is chunky soled shoes. While I am not really a fan of big chunky sneakers I do appreciate a lug soled boot, especially in winter. Big sneakers are still hanging on strong from 2018 and show no signs of slowing down. My advice for wearing these, if you actually enjoy their look, is to go full street style. Add mom jeans or wear utility pants and a graphic sweater or sweatshirt with these sneakers. Look to celebs like Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid for all the sneaker inspo. If you’re feeling girly try wearing chunky sneakers with floral dresses and skirts for a really fashiony juxtaposition. With lug soled boots (like iconic Doc Martins) my favorite is pairing them with girly dresses or skinny jeans, to balance out the chunkiness and edginess. Currently my favorite boots are heeled lug soled combat boots that I scored at Kohl’s, although they don’t look like they came from Kohl’s. Not only are they super cute but they actually give me traction when walking in snow and slush!

Another exciting trend this year is neon colors. Think highlighter green and safety vest yellow. Yes, really. As someone who tends to incorporate small pops of colors like red and blue into her wardrobe I’m surprisingly pleased to see these colors. As they trickle down from the runway to major retailers across the country I’m seeing them translated into easier to wear brights rather than being another unachievable runway trend. In fact I’ve been eyeing this Gap Sweater since it came in, I adore the citrusy color of it paired with a feminine boat neckline.Celebrities are already hooked on neons, like Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner, choosing to wear them head-to-toe. For normal people like you and me neon colors liven up otherwise neutral ensembles. Try light wash denim with a neon sweater for something more casual or up the contrast with dark wash jeans. For something a little less statement making, dip your toes into the world of super bright colors with subtle accents on sneakers. Or you could try a cute neon manicure, something that is so refreshing in the current wintery world we’re living in.

These three trends are just a few of the major ones I’ve seen so far. Many more are sure to pop up throughout the year but I think these ones in particular are going to stay around for a good time and are easy to incorporate into your wardrobe. And remember that trends shouldn’t be expensive, invest your money into classic clothes and have fun with trends at a budgeted price.

Shop some of my picks below!