How to wear an old trend in a fresh way

I don’t care how many girls in the same restaurant are wearing a peplum top—if you can find a different way to weave it into an outfit, you’ll look fresh. So for that and other recent majorly trendy pieces (varsity jackets, collar necklaces), we’d suggest these updated combos. They’ll send those pieces from predictable outfit territory to something double-take worthy.

The peplum top

Instead of making it the main focus of your outfit, let it peek out from underneath a crewneck in a sneaky cool way.

Peplum Stripe Top, $58, Jcrew; Body Mapped Melange Sweater, $554, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Matchesfashion.com

©Lucky

1 of 6 Courtesy of Jcrew, and Matchesfashion.com

The leather dress

Slip a turtleneck underneath to spin it in a way that's more studious than sleek and Tomb Raider-y.

Leather With Merino Tankdress, $650, Alexanderwang; Babysoft Solid Turtleneck Sweater, $78, French Connection, Amazon.com

2 of 6 Courtesy of Alexanderwang and Amazon.com

The colored jean

Instead of using them to brighten up neutral shirts and jackets, pair them with a top in the exact same shade for a striking monochromatic look.

The Skinny Coated Gummy Jeans, $189, 7 For All Mankind, Shopbop.com; Oversize Merino Pocket Sweater, $118, Jcrew.com

3 of 6 Courtesy of Shopbop.com and Jcrew.com

The varsity jacket

Wedge sneakers are great, but we like these sporty jackets best when paired with a fancy pencil skirt.

Varsity Jacket, $259.99, J.W. Anderson for Topshop, Topshop.com; Quilted Silk Paisley Skirt, $80, J.W. Anderson for Topshop, Topshop.com

4 of 6 Courtesy of Topshop.com

The collar necklace

Use it to close a deep v-neck, not to top a crewneck like it's an all-in-one thing.

Gold & Enamel Collar, $55, Adia Kibur, Shopbop.com; V-neck Long Sleeve Tee, $39.99, Blue Life, Piperlime.com

5 of 6 Courtesy of Shopbop.com and Piperlime.com