Fashion lovers will be quick to tell you that fashion is about taking risks. Well, not to burst their bubble, but risks are, well, risky. Yes, risks are thrilling, but they can also be terrifying. Maybe it is a trend, a new shape or a color you were once afraid of. Challenging yourself to take on a new fashion trend is a conscious decision. Imagine yourself walking into a store—you are naturally drawn to things you like, things you are used to, your normal. What if you walked into the store in search of something completely not your usual style? What do you think would happen if you went out of the box and tried something new?
A few weeks ago, I was between meetings and ended up killing time at Urban Outfitters. I was browsing and spotted these pants. My initial reaction were that they were not my norm, and they reminded me a little of frog legs. At that realization I had to try them on, naturally. Pleasantly surprised at how weird they looked, but absolutely loving them anyway, they ended up in my closet. These pants reminded me of a shot of a cool Japanese man during fashion week. Square-cut harem pants, draped tee, sandals, and a topknot. That image is seared in my brain and is on my list of “The Epitome of Cool Dudes.” While I cannot carry off the tight topknot hairstyle, I can experiment with cool loose pants and risk the weird stares around town.
Because, to me, these pants are so unusual, I kept the rest of the look simple. That’s the deal with risks—pick one item to be your showpiece, and then use basics to tone it down. It keeps it interesting, and still relevant.
