If two decades working in fashion has taught me anything, it's to always trust my own instincts.

Trends come and go and relevance fades — but the internal compass that tells you what really looks good, what is or isn't worth buying, and who to actually listen to? That comes down to you.

Watch: Stylist Grace Lam wants you to stop apologising for your fashion choices. Post continues below.

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Don't Apologise for Your Bold Choices | Nothing To Wear

At the beginning of my career I was more easily persuaded. Caving to the pressure of my magazine colleagues (and my own ego), I once saved up several paychecks for an Alexander Wang handbag covered in hardware and studs.

It was the ultimate It-bag of the time, and I was convinced it would make me an instant cool girl — but when it arrived the bloody bag was so heavy I could barely lift it.

So this expensive thing sat unused in my wardrobe (and does to this day.)

I should've bought something more practical, and honestly, something more me. But that's a lesson I've learnt over time.

Now, in the age of internet micro-trends and algorithm-driven purchasing, it's my opinion that we're all too easily persuaded.

I know, I know — kind of ironic coming from someone whose literal job it is to inform you about what to buy and how to wear it.

With my years of experience, I now hold on to five steadfast opinions about style and trends… and they might not make me very popular.

These are the fashion hills I will die on.

Opinion 1: Not everyone can (or should) be a Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.

Thanks to the hit show Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, the latter's fashion influence has found a renewed relevance.

Sales of black turtlenecks and headbands are through the roof, and everyone wants to be a minimal '90s girlie right now. Cue countless TikToks on how to get CBK's inimitable look.

John F Kennedy Jr. and Carolynne Bessette Kennedy. Image: Getty.

While this moment might be all about her brand of chic minimalism, you can sub Carolyn in for any It-girl, or stylish person that's taken hold of the fashion zeitgeist.

It's fun to take inspiration from cool peoples' wardrobes, but when an entire sub-set of young women seek to dress the same based on a trending TV show, you have to ask how much they really know about their own taste.

The beauty of personal style is finding what works for you. It comes down to experimentation, discernment and cultivating a unique aesthetic. Not copying what you see on the internet.

Opinion 2: "Classic" pieces don't last forever.

Time and time again, we're fed the same tired cliché: if you invest in a classic piece, you'll wear it forever. But I'm here to tell you it's just not true.

Granted, certain items have more longevity — a well-cut blazer, a sturdy blue straight-leg jean, or an iconic designer bag in a heritage shape. But there is no such thing as a "timeless" style.

Personal stylist and Mamamia contributor FiFi Milne has a mantra: "classics date". As she says, silhouettes change over time and the eye adapts to different ways of wearing things. The perfect black blazer of 2026 is a far-cry from the one we were wearing in 2016.

So when you're making big financial wardrobe investments, don't buy something because you think it exists outside of the trend cycle and therefore makes it immune to looking dated.

Buy it because you love the style and will wear and enjoy it, in your own way, for years to come.

Opinion 3: A capsule wardrobe won't fix all your problems.

Every wardrobe needs basics. They're the foundations of your style, the framework you build from.

In theory, a capsule wardrobe is a concise edit of basic pieces that work back with each other, creating countless outfit options.

It's a really compelling concept — and it definitely has its merits when it comes to streamlining the process of getting dressed.

But that specific panic you feel when you're staring at your wardrobe with nothing to wear? A capsule won't fix that.

Because often the so-called ideal edit is a mix of "classic" pieces that don't actually suit your vibe at all.

Your personal style can't thrive if you place such strict limitations on your look.

My advice? Rather than aiming for a capsule, find your version of a uniform instead. Which leads me to my next point…

Opinion 4: Everyone needs a uniform.

I don't mean this strictly in the sense of a specific outfit you wear every day, but rather a looser take on what a 'uniform' could look like for you.

If capsule dressing is about having a rotation of basic pieces to build your look, uniform dressing is about leaning into outfit repetition.

If you keep coming back to the same style of shirt, that's a style you should collect multiples of. I love comfortable knit pants, so I have them in lots of styles, weights and colours, including casual ones and dressy ones.

A version of my uniform. Image: Supplied.

I like to compliment my pants with oversized tops, so I've got a range of shirts, roomy tees and jackets that help me repeat the same look in different ways.

Your uniform could be jeans and tees — you find flexibility in your look by gathering different t-shirt and jean styles that work for lots of occasions and outfit briefs, and varying how you accessorise them.

Trust me when I say this will actually simplify and clarify your style. Because you're building on what you like wearing.

Opinion 5: Just because it's expensive doesn't mean it's fashionable.

This might be controversial, but I don't believe owning designer pieces makes you any more stylish than the next person.

By contrast, I actually think it's more of a flex to look fashionable on a budget — by thrifting, finding affordable pieces or styling what you already own in new ways.

Someone carrying a vintage bag can look infinitely cooler than someone carrying a Birkin; it all comes down to how they wear it.

As they say, money can't buy style. It can buy access to high-end labels and covetable items, but it doesn't guarantee taste.

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Feature image: Supplied.