Tag: fast fashion

2019 in Review: The Top 10 Best & Worst Trends

And just like that, another year is behind us. For most of us, the start of a new year begins with reflecting on the past year: The good, the bad, and the ugly. I rounded up my favorite and least favorite fashion trends that have come about over the past year to do just that.

Here’s to a happy and healthy 2020!

Worst: 

Biker shorts

Popularized by the Kardashian family, the biker short trend is simply not one I can get behind. I am a firm believer that leggings cannot be worn as pants, and feel that biker shorts fall into a similar category and overall are not very flattering or chic.

Tiny sunglasses

But, like, they don’t actually ~block~ the sun.

Transparent hand bags/shoes

Aren’t we trying to reduce our use of plastic, anyway? Also as a self-proclaimed hot mess, I don’t think I have it together enough to make sure my outfit is cute and ALSO the inside of my bag is cute. This trend makes no sense to me. 

Dad sneakers 

No no no. I love a chunky heel or boot as much as the next girl, but these sneakers are anything but cute. Yeah they might be comfortable, but you can buy a pair of platform sneakers that are just as comfortable but a bit more stylish.

Belt bags 

To me, wearing a belt bag screams “mom at Disney world” but then make it fashion. While I definitely see the convenience factor of belt bags, I much prefer other styles.

Best:

Straight leg denim 

Long gone are the days of wearing skin tight denim. Retailers have been recently began selling straight leg and boot cut denim for the first time since 2006, probably, and I am a big fan. I find straight cut denim to be more flattering and classic than skinny pants.

Animal print 

2019 was the year of animal print. For a long time, I shied away from the loud prints, but fell in love with cheetah print and snakeskin and now view it is a staple neutral in my everyday wardrobe. Now we’re all taking outfit inspiration straight from Fran from ‘The Nanny’ and I’m not mad about it.

A more natural makeup look 

In 2019, we favored a more natural makeup look than the last few years, which were taken over by ‘Instagram makeup’. The days of blinding highlighter and warm-toned cut crease eyeshadow looks are over, finally, and we are embracing our natural beauty. Hallelujah!

 Hoop earrings

Earrings are a fun accessory that can easily spice up an outfit. I love hoop earrings because they come in so many sizes and designs so you can always find something that fits your taste.

Sustainable fashion

Recently, fast-fashion retailers, sellers of clothing with a short life cycle, like Zara and Forever 21 have come under fire for their clothings’ negative effects on the environment as well as the mal treatment of employees, from hazardous work conditions to low wages.

Consumers want to purchase from brands that they feel they can trust, so sustainable brands like Everlane and online consignment/thrift shop ThredUP have gotten a lot of traction over the past year. Sustainable clothing brands focus on variables such as avoiding the use of hazardous chemicals, cutting down on waste by using recycled materials and using high-quality fabrics that will stand the test of time which grants consumers a higher cost per wear.

Psst! For more information on sustainable fashion brands, I found this great read on Good Housekeeping.

Nasty Gal: My Brutally Honest First Impression

“You shopped where?” My mother inquired, eyebrows raised, as I opened up my huge mail-order package with “Nasty Gal” stamped on the front.

Whether or not most of us have actually shopped this popular retail site, most twenty-something females have heard the name “Nasty Gal” thrown around. Famous for its controversial CEO Sophia Amoruso (author of “#Girlboss”) and frequent flash sales, various popular fashion and lifestyle YouTubers like Danielle Carolan have posted Nasty Gal haul videos over the years that have piqued my interest.

As a recent college grad, I am most definitely ballin’ on a budget when it comes to shopping, so Nasty Gal definitely appealed to me because it offers fashionable clothing items at reasonable price points.

So what did I think? Would I shop there again? Let’s dive right in!

SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
As a whole, I did not find the shopping experience on Nasty Gal to be enjoyable. The site layout was kind of complicated and was not organized in a way that seemed efficient.


QUALITY
While I kept my standards low to match Nasty Gal’s low price points, this is not a place I would shop again for basics. The two bodysuits I ordered were not up to par with what I wanted in terms of quality. I like a bodysuit to be a thick material and these were just too thin that they weren’t flattering/showed every bump and lump. I also ordered a few blouses and chose to return them because they were just too thin.

However, I was pleasantly surprised upon opening a skirt and faux leather jacket I ordered. The skirt had a sturdy zipper and was also very flattering. The faux leather jacket was high quality but not overly expensive, perfect if you’re forgetful like me and see yourself losing it haha.


FIT/SIZING
My biggest tiff with Nasty Gal was how inconsistent their sizing was. I felt that many of their clothes did not run true to size…most fit too big and a few too small/short to be worn.


THE FINAL VERDICT

Because of these given variables, I believe Nasty Gal to be kind of hit or miss. With that in mind, they are similar to other fast fashion stores like Zara and Forever 21, in that you definitely get what you pay for.

However, I was very happy with two of the items that I purchased from Nasty Gal — these being a snakeskin skirt and faux leather jacket. Whenever I have worn either piece, I have recieved compliments and definitely felt very on trend and liked that either piece didn’t break the bank.

So, would I shop there again? Sure. But it definitely is not my new go-to spot for shopping, because of its inconsistency in sizing and quality.