← Her Style Podcast | Shopping, Color Palettes, Fashion, Wardrobe, Outfits, Clothing
Her Style Podcast | Shopping, Color Palettes, Fashion, Wardrobe, Outfits, Clothing
323 | Spring Outfit Updates That Feel Fresh (Without Chasing Trends)
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Have you ever scrolled through what's in for spring and felt like none of it makes sense? Like one minute it's all wide, like everything. The next minute capri pants are back and suddenly you're wondering if your entire closet is outdated or if you somehow missed a memo. If that's how you've been feeling lately, it's because we're looking at a fashion landscape that is honestly a little all over the place. And I think this is important to talk about because I see so many women start to question themselves in moments like this. They assume they need to catch up or overhaul their wardrobe or figure out what the right thing is to wear this season. But the truth is, there isn't just one clear direction at the moment. And that's exactly why it feels confusing. So in today's episode, I want to simplify this for you. We're going to talk about what's going on in fashion right now, why it feels so inconsistent, and most importantly, how you can make a few small, thoughtful updates so your outfits feel fresh this spring without chasing every trend that pops up. Because I promise you, you do not need to keep up with everything you're seeing. We just need to figure out what's going to work best for you. Welcome to her Style podcast where we're all about empowering you to show up and get dressed every day with confidence. I'm your host, Heather Riggs, a 15 year and counting certified image consultant and color specialist, ready to build a wardrobe and a personal style you love. Let's get. In My late teens and early 20s, I cared a lot about looking trendy. I wanted to have all the latest styles and buy new outfits for every occasion. And at that time in my life, that typically meant every weekend. I'm much more of a homebody these days. I don't have quite as much packed into my calendar other than sports activities and things with the family. So it's no surprise that I did a bit more shopping for myself back then. But these days in my 40s, that's not the most important thing to me. Yes, I love following trends. I love being well versed in what's happening in the fashion industry. But I've also noticed a similar shift in the way that my clients and community tell me that they want to feel too. It's very rare for someone to bring up the desire to look more trendy. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I think. Again, like I said, we all want to have a pulse on what's happening in fashion and understand what we're seeing when we go shopping, but the words have really up leveled to things like current stylish. I want to feel effortless. I want to look put together. And I don't know if it's just something that naturally happens. As we mature, we care a little bit less about what we're supposed to wear and more about what just looks and feels good to wear. So if you're kind of standing on the precipice of spring and you're feeling unsure about where to start updating your wardrobe, I want you to rest assured that it's okay. If chasing trends is not on your list, I want you to feel empowered to make shifts that feel simple, strategic, and even a little bit slow. It really does take some time and intention to build a wardrobe that you love. And I think every season introduces the same question at the start of it, which is, do I work with what I have or do I update and start over? But I think there's a third, maybe less obvious option that lies somewhere in the middle, and I hope that that's good news for you. You don't need to either buy a whole new wardrobe this spring. Spring or feel stuck with what you have. I do think it might be time for you to consider making a few intentional updates, both in how you style your existing pieces and in how and what you shop for. So you might be feeling really bored with what you have right now, or you might be feeling worried that things aren't working the same way anymore. And if you are wearing the same things in the exact same way that you did last year, or defaulting to what feels easy and just kind of rinse and repeating the same outfits. Or if you're holding on to pieces, that might be. It could be time to explore some fresh ways to update your outfits for the spring. Now, the first thing that I want to talk about in this episode today is looking at what's really going on in fashion right now. I think the biggest thing to understand is that there isn't one dominant silhouette or one correct way to get dressed. We are in a phase where multiple styles are existing all at the same time. We're still seeing wide leg pants, we're seeing straight leg jeans, relaxed tailoring. And then suddenly something like capri pants or pedal pushers comes back into the conversation, and it's like, wait, what are we doing? What are we wearing right now? And I think this is where a lot of the confusion comes from. In the past, there was usually something simpler, like one or two very Clear directions that everyone was kind of following together. We knew skinny jeans were out a few years ago, and you could look around and say, okay, this is what's current. This is what feels dated. And it was a little easier to make those distinctions. Right now, it's much more mixed. And that means the pressure shifts from figuring out what's right to figuring out what's right for you. This is my favorite conversation to be in, and I hope that by the end of this episode, you're going to feel a lot more empowered to make aligned decisions for yourself by thinking about what is going to work best for you, what lights you up, what you're most excited to reach for in the spring and summer months ahead. Now, the second thing that's happening is that trends are moving faster and faster and getting much more specific. You'll see one very particular item suddenly everywhere, and it can feel like you need to jump on it quickly or you're gonna miss your moment. Balloon pants are a perfect example of this, and I actually really love that trend for this season. I think that they're fun, effortless, just very cool. But they're gonna show up and everyone's talking about them, and it creates this sense of urgency, like, okay, I need to drop everything and buy this now. But a couple of things to realize are that not every trend has. I don't know that we're going to see balloon pants far beyond this season. And not every trend is meant for everyone. So instead of trying to keep up with all of that and exhausting yourself and buying so many random things just to desperately want to feel in and trendy and ultra current, what I want you to focus on is something much more stable, which is how your outfits are actually being put together right now. Because you. Even in a messy trend cycle, there are still patterns in how things are styled. And that is what will make the biggest difference in how your outfits look and feel. So let's just talk about a few simple updates that really do matter this season and how you can use them in a way that works for your life and your personal style. The first thing I want you to pay attention to is balance. We are seeing a shift away from head to toe, oversized pieces and ultra slim cuts from top to bottom. And we're coming into a moment where it's helpful to embrace a little bit both in your looks. There are a couple words that I'm probably going to use over and over in this episode. One of them is effortless and the other is intentional. It might sound contradictory, but Outfits in general are looking more effortless, less overly styled, and at the same time, they're being done very intentionally. So I'm going to talk you through what this looks like. But as far as balance goes, even though there isn't one quote unquote correct silhouette, getting the balance is still what is going to make your outfit feel really current. So if you've been wearing a lot of fitted combinations, like a slim cut pant with a fitted top and a shorter crop to fitted jacket, you might find that it's just not hitting the same way that it used to. And it's not because it's wrong. It's not because it doesn't look great on you. It might just be because the overall feel has shifted toward a bit more balance and ease. So instead of everything being tight or everything being oversized, what you're seeing of more is contrast. Maybe it's a slightly looser pant with a more fitted top or a relaxed layer paired with something a little more structured underneath. And this is because we kind of want those elements of effortlessness and intentionality. So it's not all oversized and completely carefree, but it's also not too tight and buttoned up. Right. We're kind of striking that perfect balance this season. And this is something that you can start experimenting with using what you already own. You don't have to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe. You can start by looking at your outfits and asking, does everything fit the exact same way? And if it does, what happens if I change one element? Maybe you reach for the jeans that are a little straighter instead of your most fitted pair, and then you're going to add a looser, boxy top with it. Or maybe you're going to try a different combination that creates a more dynamic feel. Something that's fitted and something that's flowy or a bit less structured. Little shifts like that can make your outfit feel a lot more current without changing your style at all. The next update is around how much is actually happening in your outfit. This is along a similar vein, but if your outfits have been feeling a little off lately, there's a good chance it's because they're slightly overworked. Again, this is the effortlessness that we're talking about. And there was definitely a stretch where layering more, adding more, and really building an outfit was the key goal. And right now, things are feeling a bit more relaxed in that sense. Not boring or basic or even minimalist in nature, just more edited and thoughtful. So if you find yourself Adding a jacket, adding a necklace, throwing on the belts, doing the matching handbag, and then you're still feeling like something isn't quite right. It might not be that you need more things, it could be that you actually need less. Sometimes the more current version of your outfit is the one where you're going to stop one step earlier. You just let it breathe a little bit and let one or two elements stand out instead of trying to make everything do something. And you know, I'm all about the finishing details. I do think that's important to consider. But again, this is something that you can test very easily and just play around with. See what feels like the right combination for you the next time you're getting dressed. Just pause before you add that one last thing and see how the outfit feels without it. Or as Coco Chanel famously said, before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off. You might be surprised at how much more modern it actually looks. To take this a step further, outfits are starting to feel a lot more grounded in real life as well, rather than styled for a moment or a photograph. And you may have already noticed this even if you haven't put words to it. A few years ago, a lot of outfits felt just very done or almost overdone, a little too styled, almost like they were built for a photo shoot or a specific moment. You'd see a full look with multiple layers and statement pieces and very intentional combinations. And now, even when you look at what's current, a lot of outfits feel simpler and more wearable. You're seeing things like a relaxed pair of trousers with a tank and a sandal, or a simple dress with minimal styling, or denim with a clean top and one really good accessory. And it's not that outfits are boring or even minimalistic. Like I said, they just feel more like something you would actually wear on a regular day. So instead of forcing yourself into a cute or a Pinterest worthy or a picture perfect outfit, I want you to start flipping that and start with what you already wear all the time. Think about your go to jeans, an easy dress that you feel good in, a top that you reach for on repeat. And then ask yourself, how can I make this piece feel a little bit more intentionally styled in an outfit? Maybe it's swapping the shoes that you would normally default to for something a bit more current, or maybe it's choosing a layer that feels a little bit more updated. It could just be simplifying how everything comes together so that it feels clean and cohesive. But that's really the direction that things are moving. Outfits that feel realistic, repeatable, and still put together without looking like you tried to create an outfit. I know this might sound really abstract, but less is more. I just want to drive home the point that this is one of the easiest shifts to make, because you're not starting from scratch. You're just refining and almost simplifying what you already wear. The last thing that I want to touch on is color, because this is another area where things can feel a little bit confusing right now. If you've been paying attention to what's trending this season, you've probably noticed two very different things happening. On one hand, there are a lot more tonal blended outfits. We're seeing the cream and white color combinations, the dark wash, denim on denim. And on the other hand, you're seeing a lot of bold color, like the saturated jewel tones, and even some pretty strong color blocking. On the runways, there was a lot of the primary colors paired together. So if you're kind of feeling like, okay, wait, which one am I supposed to be wearing this season? Both are showing up. Neither one is right or wrong. And this is where it helps to understand that not everything you're seeing is meant to translate directly into your everyday wardrobe. A lot of those bold color moments come from Runway or editorial styling. Personally, I love that look. You know, I will always encourage you to experiment with more color. That's one way to make your outfits feel a lot more dynamic, even if they're more minimal in terms of accessories or styling. But the goal is to make an impact on the Runway. It's not necessarily to create something that you're going to wear on your average after school pickup run. So what tends to show up more in real life is the more wearable version of that, which right now leans a little more cohesive and intentional in how color is put together. So instead of thinking that you have to follow a specific color trend, I want you to think about the overall feel of your outfit. If you want something that feels a little more calm, elevated, and easy to wear, you might lean into those softer, more tonal combinations, the colors that sit closer together on the color wheel. That could be as simple as pairing pieces that feel a little bit more blended instead of high contrast or super bold. Now, if you love bolder color or if you look best in high contrast outfits, you don't need to pull back from that at all. This is a great time to wear it. And the difference is just in how intentional it feels. So instead of Throwing together a lot of competing colors, you might want to choose one bold color and let that be the focus, or pair it with something more grounded so that the outfit still feels well balanced. So it's not that one approach is right and the other is wrong. It's just that color right now tends to feel a little bit more deliberate either way. So hopefully you can start to see some of the patterns here. Again, we're really focusing on balance and intentionality this season. And it's not necessarily about figuring out what's quote in and out or trying to replicate the trends exactly. It's more about understanding what's shifting and then deciding what actually makes sense for you within that sphere of things. Because when everything feels a little bit chaotic, the goal is not to keep up with that. The goal is to simplify it. Maybe just choose one or two trends that really resonate for you this season. Choose a couple of styling shifts that really feel good for you, that flatter your figure, that bring out your best. And then before we wrap up, I do wanna give you a really simple way that you can filter anything new that you're considering for this season, whether it's something that you already own or something that you're thinking about buying. I want you to ask yourself a few questions first. So, number one, does this actually fit my life? Going back to the practicality piece, we need to make sure that we're wearing things that aren't just styled for our dream life or a dream vision of how we're gonna show up, but that will actually work for. For your day to day needs. The second question is, does this work with what I already have? That's if you're bringing something new in or how could I rework this with other pieces that I already have? If you're just looking to update those things or style them in some new and fresh ways. And the third piece, whether you're shopping for a new piece or before you happen to be leaving the house once you're in your outfit, is, do I feel like myself in it? Do I feel like myself in this individual item I'm considering or in my outfit as a whole? Both are equally important. If the answer is no to any of those questions, it's probably not worth forcing. And this is especially important right now because with trends moving so quickly, it's very easy to get pulled into things that look good in theory or maybe sound good in theory, but don't actually make sense for you. If you do want to add something new this season, I would suggest Keeping it very focused. You do not need to overhaul everything. You don't need a completely new look. Usually one or two thoughtful updates are more than enough. I spoke about this a bit in last week's episode too, so if you missed that one, I highly recommend recommend going back to episode number 322 where I talked about how to update your wardrobe without starting over some key themes that you might want to look for in your existing wardrobe so that you can pinpoint what the gaps are, what needs to be updated or upgraded, and I talk about the differences between those and the areas that tend to make the biggest difference in your outfit overall are going to be those finishing touches. Things like shoes, handbags and small accessories. Those can transform the entire feel of your outfit and your existing pieces without requiring you to change everything else. Those are often some things that you can experiment with a little bit, that you can swap in and out more easily, especially if you're not making massive investments there. So if you've been wanting to refresh your wardrobe a little bit, that is where I would recommend starting. Think about those finishing details, especially as we are seeing that intentionality happening and you probably want to do a little bit less but better. Now if you are interested in hearing more about what is trending right now, I did recap all of the top Spring 2026 fashion trends in episode number 318. I will also link that one up for you in the show notes if you want to give it a listen and see what might be clicking for you. But at the end of the day, it's less important to focus on what's in this spring and more important to decide what actually works for you. Your goal is not to look trendy, it's to feel current, confident and like your best self in whatever you're wearing. When you approach it in that way, I think getting dressed is going to become so much easier, honestly, a lot more freeing for you and hopefully a lot more fun. So that's what I have for you today, my friend. I hope this gave you a fresh perspective, just some little styling updates that you could experiment with. I hope that it helped you feel a little bit more grounded heading into the season and thinking about not only what's going to work for you aesthetically, but with your day to day life. And as always, if you want more personalized support with your style and your wardrobe, that is exactly what we do together inside Her Style Collective. I'd love to help you take this even further and make it really specific to exactly what you need in the months ahead so you can head to herstylellc.com collective to learn more about working together. And that's it for today. So go have fun putting together some new looks for the spring. I'll meet you right back here for another episode next week. Thank you for listening to today's episode. If you want to stop, stop copying everyone else's style and start dialing in your own spoon worthy signature look. Head over to take my free 5 minute personal style quiz which you can find at the link in the show notes. If you've enjoyed our time together, please be sure to rate, review and subscribe to her style podcast so you never miss an episode. Finally, I invite you to make this a two way conversation and send me a DM over on Instagram @HeatherRigg style to let me know how I can best support you on your style journey. I'm always here for you in style and service. Until next.