A few months ago, I was scrolling & I saw an influencer share ‘how to update my green pants’. And I was intrigued - I wanted to see both the update & why she thought they needed to be updated (especially because the green pants in question were a style that I still show my clients). So, I was curious as to how she would restyle them.
To my surprise, she not only changed what she was wearing on top - she changed her pants! Instead of creating a new outfit with the same green pants, she changed into a completely different pair of pants. And besides being confused, I also felt like it was a style bait & switch. Because the post wasn’t about how to restyle anything - it was about pants that she could call ‘dated’ (and then share an affiliate link to other pants).
While I generally don’t comment negatively on style posts - I couldn’t be quiet on this one. Especially after I saw someone else comment, “I have those pants, so how would you actually restyle them?” & the influencer responded, “I would donate them.”
In the reel, the influencer said the first green pants were very ‘last year’ & the update was much more 2025. So, I commented, “if your pants feel very 2025, then what the heck are you going to do in 2026?” Literally moments later, she blocked me - along with other people who questioned her (as I found out later when I shared about this in my Instagram stories).
And this is what drives me absolutely crazy - everyone from influencers to brand advertisements to fashion publications calling certain styles ‘dated’. Because the general intent with calling things dated is to shame you into no longer wearing them - and then buying (what they determine is) the next big thing.
Of course, certain style trends signify a specific time - that’s the swinging pendulum of fashion. I’m sure you can name things that feel very 80’s & 90’s & early 2000’s (or the many years that skinny jeans were basically the only option). But when someone says a certain pant feels ‘very last year’ in an attempt to make you buy new pants - that really irks me. Because while you may want to look current, your entire wardrobe doesn’t need to look like you bought it within the last six months. And there may be trends & silhouettes from previous years (or decades) that you love - so there’s no reason to stop wearing them.
Especially if you’re trying to stop participating in blatant consumerism. Or you want to get more wear out of what you already own. Or if you’re tired of the buy & purge cycle. You can ignore other people’s opinions of what’s dated & decide it for yourself.
And if you’re thinking, “do I have anything in my closet that someone would call dated?” - check out how I suggest wearing a few ‘dated’ pieces right now.
The outfit on the left feels ‘dated’ because of the skintight jeans & figure hugging jacket (image from Pinterest, no source credited). While on the right, it feels more updated with a looser jacket & jeans that don’t fit like denim tights (image from WhoWhatWearUK)
When I’m working with clients, the ‘is this dated?’ conversation comes up all the time. Because a good portion of my clients want to feel like they’re partaking in current fashion. But enjoying what’s current doesn’t mean being a slave to trends - it can mean giving a nod to certain colors, shapes & details (while still maintaining your overall style). And if you don’t care about what’s current - that’s great, too. Because style is personal.
One big thing to point out - sometimes it’s not the specific item that may feel dated. It’s how you’re wearing it. So, let’s talk about the biggest ‘is this dated?’ question I get - skinny jeans…
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Cover photos (left to right): from my friend Kayla’s Instagram stories, vintage Jenna Lyon’s image, a denim shirt jacket from the Gap.