Are your clothes in style? How can you tell if your clothes, hair and make-up are up to date? This is a great question a blog reader asked when she was reading the latest blog post, 7 Style Mistakes Ruining Your Professional Look. 

She went on to add in her comment, “I am not usually trendy but want to be up to date for my age and circumstances…”

As I read her question and comment, I was kind of surprised I’d never tackled the subject before, but…

Here’s the thing…it’s kind of hard, and it’s even harder for me to make blanket statements or rules around it, especially since trends can go in and out of style quickly. 

If you’re interested in learning the trends each season, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter—I write a spring trend report and another in the fall. 

The reports are super popular! And the best part is, I mostly only feature styles for professional dress and ones I’m relatively sure won’t be out in a blink. Here’s the latest trend report for spring/summer 2022.

BUT TODAY…I thought I’d give you just a few tips on how you can figure out if your style is in or out of date. 

How to tell if your clothes are in style

Ask yourself these questions: 

When was the last time you made a change? 

If you have had the same hairstyle; used the exact same makeup colors; or have worn the exact same classic clothes for as long as you can remember, you may be out of date.

In general, keeping up to date is about making some changes to your appearance from time to time, possibly even taking a bit of a risk. 

For example, when was the last time you changed your hairstyle? If you can’t remember, maybe it’s time for a bit of an update. 

Not crazy about change? Your change can be subtle. 

One time I got a wild hair (literally) and decide to change my hair color to Rose Gold. It was a really subtle change from my blonde highlights. 

Did I love it? Not so much, but hair color fades and of course, hair grows. 

Changes to your clothing style can be subtle as well. Even tried and true preppy styles go through updates.

Is this style still in the stores? 

Am I suggesting you head to the mall every weekend to find out? No way!!! I know most of my clients can’t stand shopping. 

However…it’s valuable to take a reconnaissance mission to your local shopping center on occasion to visit some fashionable stores. 

(Psst…steer clear of stores like Macy’s or Kohl’s. There’s nothing wrong with them, but they do tend to sell clothing way past its expiration date.) 

You DON’T have to buy anything. Just take notice of what’s there.*

Are you wondering about a specific style that’s in your closet? Great! Do you see it in any stores? 

*You can do this online as well, but it can be mind boggling. Besides if you go shopping, you can reward yourself with tacos and margaritas afterwards!

 How is the fabric? 

Classic styles are in fashion for long periods of time, but silhouettes and especially fabrics will change…always for the better! 

For example, recently I met a woman at a networking event recently who had on a 3 button, microfiber navy blazer she told me she’d bought at Casual Corner.

It looked dated: 

• You won’t find 3 button blazers in any stores, 
• Fabrics are more natural looking and 
• Casual Corner has been gone a LONG time.

Beyond deciding if your fabric is current, check whether the fabric is pilled, stretched out, or faded. Tired looking clothes, even if they’re in style, can make you appear out of date. 

As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, there are tons of factors that play into whether your clothes, hair and makeup are in style or are out of date. 

These tips were super general, and aren’t meant as “rules.” (Ooh, I hate rules! I love to break rules!) 

I hope this post helped. Please feel free to ask any questions in the comments! Or if you think it might be time for a style update, schedule a time for us to talk. I can help! 

Here are a couple of posts you might like while we’re on the subject: 

How to Look 10 Years Younger

10 Ways to Reinvent Your Style