New Years Resolutions: 3 Fashion Habits to Learn and 3 to Drop
As 2026 closes in, here are some fashion resolutions to adopt for the coming year
“New year, new me” is a familiar phrase associated with people’s resolutions, often reflecting the desire to improve their appearance. As a resolution that covers a broad range of looks, such as hairstyles and skin health, one important aspect to pay attention to is knowing how to dress.
Should a person be fortunate enough to maintain a good physical appearance, their look is incomplete if they don’t know how to present themselves properly. Styling choices play an important role in a person’s overall appearance, and with the new year ahead, reassessing these choices is a smart investment in carrying better looks going forward.
Learn
Invest in a good top layer
When it comes to expanding the outfits a person can carry, they are often limited by simple two-piece combinations. With this type of style, the options leave them with one specific top and bottom, making their look too memorable and repetitive, even if they switch up either one.
By finding a good top as a second layer, it can branch out into multiple outfit combinations. Taking a black leather jacket for example, the possibilities become a vast exploration, like wearing it over plain t-shirts, graphic shirts, or formal button-downs.
With this, coming out with a different look becomes less troubling when you’re able to make new combinations from a variety of layering options.
Explore colors
For many people, neutral colors are the go-to for styling: black jacket, white shoes, gray jeans. Many wardrobes are dominated by these colors because they are easy and safe. This palette naturally coordinates well in an outfit and is generally preferred by many.
While this may be a wise choice, constantly sticking to this habit boxes you into limited appearances. There’s a diverse set of colors to explore, and each offers its own unique charm to a person’s ensemble.
It can be difficult to familiarize yourself with the appeal of a larger range of colors, but understanding what shade or combination looks good will open up a vast selection of new looks.
Learn from those who dress well
Like every other skill, one of the best ways to learn how to dress up is by observing those who know how to.
Be it family, friends, or coworkers, there is always someone in your circle who knows what they’re doing when it comes to appearance, and it would be ideal to ask them for advice. If this option isn’t on the table, there are countless sources on the internet to pick up important notes from.
Hearing different opinions is almost unavoidable when doing this, and that’s no problem. In this learning process, you will eventually discover which advice or styling choices resonate with you and whether you can carry them well. All you need to do is trust the process and yourself. Developing sound judgment on these choices will come as you learn.
Drop
Disregarding the sale rack
While it is true that this section is known as the rack of unwanted clothes, it doesn’t necessarily mean that every item found here isn’t worth buying.
Exploring the clothes here can also be annoying since it’s mainly a messy gathering of uncategorized pieces. However, with the right amount of patience and a bit of luck, you might find an article of clothing you can call a favorite or one that earns you plenty of compliments.
Just putting something on
It happens more often than we like to admit, but it’s common for people to stop trying on certain days. During times like running a quick errand around the area, the usual mindset is “no one important is going to see me.” Ironically, these are the instances where you run into friends or bosses while wearing uncoordinated clothes with bed hair, at worst, pajamas.
This coming year, a change in mentality is ideally in order. Even a simple look can make a good impression as long as the outfit feels intentional. By adopting this habit, you can experience the relief of running into people you know while looking presentable.
Investing too much in trends
There’s no denying that trends continuously come and go. When one trend is in and you find yourself resonating with it, there is a tendency to invest heavily in this style.
Take the e-boy trend for example. In the early 2020s, many boys began embracing the modern take on alternative rock style. From TikTok to Pinterest, this look influenced many young men to adopt it. Today, even the word “e-boy” is barely mentioned.
If you find yourself caught up in such trends, you likely have items in your wardrobe that have been waiting a long time to be worn again. By acknowledging the impermanence of trends, you not only save money but also free up closet space for clothes you might actually appreciate for a longer period of time.
