In a world where can trends are born in an instant and can die just as quickly, it’s little wonder that the term “anti-trend” has become so appealing. As editors, we naturally thrive on keeping up to date with the latest looks and predicting what will make our wardrobes feel current for the season ahead, but there will always be something to be said for a timeless aesthetic that transcends the ebb and flow of passing fashion moments. That’s where anti-trend outfits come in.
Anti-trend outfits offer a refreshing departure from the constant cycle of “What’s next?”. What I find most interesting is how the classic pieces that come together in an anti-trend outfit also coexist quite harmoniously with any statement, personality-flaunting items you fall for along the way. In my opinion, a well-rounded wardrobe will boast pieces from each of these categories, and by incorporating these elements into your wardrobe, you’ll have the ability to create polished looks with ease and unlock a multitude of new outfit combinations.
Whilst they can provide the perfect backdrop to bolder clothing choices, anti-trend items also work beautifully when worn together, and the next seven outfits from some of my favourite influencers are a testament to this. These looks, which come via Instagram from London, Paris, Stockholm and New York, are outfits you can throw on at whim and know you’re still going to look stylish. They all utilise basics such as jeans, shirts and simple dresses in a mostly neutral colour palette for optimum versatility.
Continue on to see the anti-trend outfits we’re keeping on standby for the weeks and months ahead.
Style Notes: Skirts have enjoyed a surge in popularity this summer, but rest assured, styles like Michelle’s black circle skirt will never feel passé, especially when worn with a cream top and coordinating accessories.
This best-selling top comes in a slew of chic colours.
This skirt is high up on my wish list right now.
No one will believe these sandals came from the high street.
Style Notes: Knitted dresses aren’t just for the colder months—in cities like Stockholm where Lydia Tsegay (pictured) resides, the temperature is akin to what we experience in Britain, so a knitted dress is something you can throw on when there’s a slight bite in the air. Wear it with classic accessories.
The ribbed detailing stops this dress from looking too wintery.
I’m a sucker for a gold logo clasp.
The perfect heel height.
Style Notes: An anti-trend outfit doesn’t need to revolve solely around neutral colours, but it certainly does make an ensemble look more expensive if it does. Case in point: Lorna Humphrey’s chic cream and beige top-and-trousers pairing.
The ideal knit for the summer months.
The Frankie Shop is known for creating excellent trousers, and I’m sure its new Corrin silhouette will be no exception.
The slightly squared-off toe stops these ballet pumps from looking too cutesy.
Style Notes: Outfits don’t get more anti-trend than blue jeans and a simple jersey top. Far from boring, add details such as a thick leather belt or a sleek shoulder bag to personalise your attire, just as Sylvie Mus has done here.
I’m very tempted to snap this up in both black and white.
I don’t own a belt like this, but I’d like to.
I hear great things about Abercrombie & Fitch’s denim.
Style Notes: A white shirt and black trousers might be reminiscent of your school uniform, but layered with more directional pieces, such as a grey racer vest, statement sunglasses and loafers, there’s absolutely nothing juvenile about this elevated get-up.
The only white shirt I’d concern myself with.
This will pair just as well with slip skirts and denim shorts as it does classic trousers and jeans.
This silhouette? Perfection.
Style Notes: Monochrome dressing—wearing one colour top to toe—is a hack employed by fashion people when they want their outfits to look elegant but don’t have the time to try on different pairings. Harriett King this one chic step further by opting for a palette of classic white tones.
A dress you could wear almost anywhere (perhaps with the exception of a wedding).
White bags can sometimes look cheap, but Aspinal of London’s use of subtle gold accents ensures this style looks and feels the high-end part.
Interesting shapes make white shoes look all the more fashionable.
Style Notes: Blue shirts might be the chosen uniform of those who work in the city, but London fashion types have adopted the staple as their own. Of course, they’ll always wear well with wide-leg trousers or a pencil skirt, but Marilyn Nwawulor-Kazemaks’s tailored shorts outfit is just as elegant.
No need to size up, this shirt already has a relaxed fit.
I wear my gold hoop earrings every single day—perhaps it’s high time I broadened my horizons by investing in a silver pair, too.
