Here’s the thing: I’ve worn the same style of clothing for most of my life, and in many cases, the same exact clothes. I know what I like: classic pieces you can’t quite peg to a particular season or collection, but things that still feel like me. My wardrobe staples are often items that have been made in the exact same way for literal decades (these are a prime example).

So, what’s the “trend creep”?

Similar to “lifestyle creep,” the “trend creep,” well, creeps. First you’re drawn to a piece that’s “in” but similar enough to your style that you might be tempted to purchase. Next, you might see a friend wearing a piece that looks so divinely comfortable you think you should invest in one too. Then you do invest in that piece, and potentially another one, and a third one, and then one day your husband takes a picture of you and you realize you’ve dressed “on trend.” The final step is a complete nervous breakdown because your entire identity crumbles.

Well, maybe not. Maybe you just sit and reflect.

Part of this “trend creep” was prompted by writing this Substack. What started as an exercise in sorting through my closet and paring down what I actually wear has morphed into a more general “style” column. Because of that, I’ve been lucky enough to have some great opportunities to try out a bunch of different pieces I’ve been curious about. Many I’ve turned down: I’m never going to be the sort of person who spends a ton of time on their skincare routine, no matter how impressive some of the results might be, and I don’t want to try to promote something I’m not genuinely interested in. Some, however, I’ve accepted because they are still “on brand,” even if, on occasion, they’re a little further from the most narrowly-defined version of “my brand.”

And now I’ve realized that I’ve enjoyed switching up my wardrobe a bit—that I’ve actually enjoyed adding new pieces I’d often looked at, but never seriously considered as part of my personal wardrobe (a slightly-cropped sweater, raw hem jeans, both gifted).

Is this “trend creep” going to continue? Am I going to scurry back to my collection of well-loved, “forever” pieces? Or am I going to carefully consider each piece as it’s presented to me and make my decision based on that?

Tune in next time for Part Two of The Trend Creep!