Southern Girls Aren't Touching These 2018 Trends
Unlike most people who work in the fashion industry, I live in the South, which admittedly makes for a unique perspective and firsthand insight as to how Southern women dress. While I'm also originally from the South, I took a long hiatus to live in other parts of the country and feel like a bit of an outsider now that I'm back in this region. Because of that, I have a perspective to observe the distinctive style norms of the people who live there.
Generally speaking, people in the South stick to a fairly classic sartorial aesthetic. The new trends they usually choose to try aren't too far out of their comfort zones, and there's nothing wrong with that. There's something to be said for knowing what you like and sticking to it. That said, it always intrigues me to see which current trends Southern fashion girls are skipping and which they're trying. In this "extra" Hypebae world we're currently living in, there are actually quite a few trends that they're skipping in 2018. Find out what they are and what they're wearing instead below, according to an in-the-know fashion editor (me).
Aren't Touching: PVC
PVC shoes, belts, visors, jackets, and more are everywhere as of late, except the South. Alternatively, you'll find plenty of also-trending leopard print.
Shop Leopard-Print Pieces
Aren't Touching: Tiny Sunglasses
The futuristic shades that the Hadids and Kardashian-Jenners made a thing are a bit too directional for Southern girls, but classic cat eyes seem to be here to stay down South.
Shop Cat-Eye Sunglasses
Aren't Touching: Lavender
Surprisingly, the whole lavender trend doesn't seem to have hit the South as hard as it has the fashion world. That said, yellow is another It color that they've embraced.
Shop Yellow Pieces
Not Touching: Lucite Hoop Earrings
Celebs like Emrata and Bella Hadid are just two of the It girls who have spearheaded the lucite hoop trend, but Southern girls seem to be sticking to their tassel earrings for now.
Shop Tassel Earrings
Aren't Touching: Bike Shorts
The bike shorts movement that's quickly heating up is one that I've yet to notice any Southern girls wearing, but they're still obsessed with printed leggings.
Shop Printed Leggings
Available in sizes XXS to XL.
Aren't Touching: Bucket Hats
Bucket hats are a microtrend that Southern girls might wear fly-fishing, but that's it. Instead, they all have a straw hat or two in their closets.
Shop Straw Hats
Aren't Touching: Tie Tops
Those itty-bitty tie tops that are trending this summer are being passed over for an even bigger trend: smocking.
Shop Smocked Pieces:
Aren't Touching: Scrunchies
Everywhere I go this season, I'm the only one wearing a scrunchie for the sake of fashion. But I'm definitely not the only person wearing polka dots.
Shop Polka-Dot Pieces
Aren't Touching: Chunky Sneakers
The biggest sneaker trend of the year isn't one that fits in very well with a typical Southern girl's wardrobe, but something they'll never give up is their classic logo pieces.
Shop Logo Pieces
Not Touching: Netting
Netted bags and such have created quite the fashion-crowd frenzy this summer, but Southern girls are leaving it with the fisherman and donning pretty sequinned pieces instead.
Shop Sequins
Aren't Touching: Belt Bags
I've been patiently waiting for Southern girls to adopt the belt-bag trend, but no such luck. Another "touristy" piece that they are wearing is windbreakers.
Shop Windbreakers
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Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories for Who What Wear. Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.
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