In my job I see countless trends come and go. Some of them are very wearable and practical (shoutout to white tank tops), while others verge on comical (see: those giant Prada "bug" sunglasses).
Out of pure financial need, I've developed a vetting system which helps me decide whether I will or won't be dropping cash on any given trending item.
It's actually more of a mantra, and it goes like this:
If it weren't for social media, would I really choose to wear that?
The algorithm is so good at reinforcing trends to us, sometimes it's hard to see the wood from the trees and remember what we genuinely like.
And more importantly, to know whether something will work for our particular lifestyle.
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As an example, I love the look of those heeled ballet flats "all the cool girls" are wearing (hi, Zoe Kravitz and Kaia Gerber), but as a toddler mum who lives by the beach, I'd get very few opportunities to wear them. And thus, a very poor return on investment.
So in the name of transparency and personal accountability, here are four major trends I'm choosing to opt out of this year.
1. Pants that stop at the knee.
Influencer Mafalda Patricio wears capri pants her way. Image: Instagram/@mafaldapatricio.
When capri pants emerged as a key silhouette last year, I thought they'd be a flash in the pan — but it turns out this trend has staying power.
We're seeing lots of local brands come out with kick-flares that cut off at the knee, and cute pedal pushers in prints like gingham and polka dots. They give a distinctly retro vibe that looks so chic when executed well.
HOWEVER. There is a point of acceptance we must all reach, where we understand that certain shapes or styles are just not for us. I would put capri pants firmly in this category.
Instead, I'll embrace a similar look that works for my shape with cropped black flares that hit just above my ankle.
2. "Transformative Teal".
Hailey Bieber wears an archival teal Gucci blouse, styled by Dani Michelle. Image: Instagram/@danimichelle.
Pantone may have anointed "Cloud Dancer" as its colour of the year, but according to fashion sources, 2026 is really the year of "Transformative Teal".
That's the fancy name for a calming, green-blue shade that quite honestly reminds me of an early 2000s accent wall.
I've never gravitated towards blues and greens in this colour family, so I'm not about to start wearing them because a trend report tells me to — no matter how transformative.
While I loved the look of butter yellow on other people, I didn't buy anything in that hugely popular shade either.
You can appreciate trends from afar, while knowing they aren't for you.
3. Calf-length boots.
Leandra Cohen wears calf-length boots with tights in New York. Image: Instagram/@leandramedinecohen.
We're still in summer, but I'm way ahead and thinking about upcoming winter trends. And a huge one I'm seeing coming out of Europe and the US is minimal calf-length boots, of both the flat and heeled variety.
Fashion girlies are wearing them with tights or knee-length skirts, which are an equally tough sell (more on that trend below), and while together they make for a directional look I certainly admire, it's one I won't be copying. Because I simply can't pull it off.
I'll be sticking to my go-to ankle boots, paired with wide-leg jeans or smock dresses.
4. "Awkward-length" skirts.
Influencer Caetana Afonso wears a Miu Miu outfit. Image: Instagram/@cateanaba.
It's all in the name. The trend for skirts that hit at the knee, at that awkward length where they're not quite mini and not quite midi, but just the right spot to feel a little bit… well, wrong. Intentionally so.
You can blame brands like Miu Miu and Tory Burch for bringing this irregular shape into the mainstream — now styles are popping up in Zara, Mango and H&M.
They're quite literally meant to be challenging, both to wear and to look at. And that's why I'm avoiding them entirely.
Are there any trends you'll be avoiding this year? Let me know in the comments!
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Feature image: Supplied and Instagram/@caetanaba; @mafaldapatricio.
