How to Wear Fashion Trends Without Showing Too Much Skin

Fashion trends tend to push the limits of what is sexy, what is feminine, and what is appropriate in our society. It certainly is good to question and examine our values on any subject, including fashion, and find a happy medium that is fun and trendy without exposing too much skin or being inappropriate for work or school. The best way to tame down those sexy looks and make them more wearable is to pair them up with more conservative, skin-covering pieces of clothing. With a little creativity, a pair of leggings, a camisole, and a cardigan, you can make most over-the-top clothes appear a lot more conservative - and appropriate to wear in public. You can have fun and enjoy the trends without showing too much skin.

For example, www.glamour.com is featuring some very adorable skirts with sequins and shiny fabrics. The Pink Tartan Rouched Cardigan and Sequin Skirt for $195 at Bloomingdale's is super cute and trendy and appears pretty tame - albeit pricey - compared to the ASOS sequin mini skirt in purple. Certainly the Pink Tartan skirt is a little longer of the two, but it is also paired with a conservative top, leggings, and boots, while the other is paired with a small, tight sequined top and tall, strappy sandals and bare legs. The first look is a bit conservative, the second is just the opposite. So if you are just dying to wear a mini-skirt, a good way to keep it tame is to team it up with some leggings, heavy boots, and a conservative top that doesn't expose any décolletage. A mini-dress can be tamed down in a similar fashion- wearing it over leggings, heavy tights, or even a pair of cool skinny jeans can make that trend more wearable and acceptable for work and school.

Skinny jeans are another article of clothing that can a bit over the edge. Www.gap.com shows a hip pair of low-rise skinny jeans in a medium blue wash. Their perfectly-shaped model is pictured in a short-ish t-shirt and high patent leather heels, showing off just how tight the jeans are on her bum and her hips. That may be just fine for the model to wear, but not really so fine for the average person to wear on a regular basis. It's a simple fix though. Just add a long, loose shirt, oversize cardigan, or flowy dress long enough to cover the derrière, and replace the patent leather stiletto's with a tamer heel or better yet, ballet flats and the look goes from overly sexy to sweet and stylish. The key is balancing out the extreme article of clothing with more conservative items.

Many folks aren't bothered by low cut shirts, but they can be a problem if they are extremely low. V neck tops can be found pretty much everywhere. Tame this item down by adding a simple, yet elegant camisole. New York and Company and Kohl's often have great sales on camisoles so you can buy one for each and every outfit! Layering a camisole under a low-cut top certainly makes it more conservative, and many come with built in shelf-bras and body shaping styles to make you look even better than before. Layer several lightweight cami's for a fun and funky effect. In cold weather, a long sleeve T looks great under a low cut, frilly blouse.

For a small investment - just a few specific items of clothing - you can really expand your wardrobe. Leggings, camisoles, and cardigans can go a long way towards making your wardrobe fun, funky, and a little more conservative when needed.