A new year always signifies a new beginning– ‘new year, new me!’ But does that mean tossing everything from 2025?
It’s quite the opposite, says Laura Walters, founder of Style Riot, an Indianapolis-based luxury styling house dedicated to delivering refined, highly personalized wardrobe services. Walters does not describe herself as a trend forecaster–she is far more interested in how real people get dressed on real days and maximizing what they have, with small edits to feel comfortable, confident, and most importantly– like themselves.
Being stylish without following trends is entirely possible by focusing on personal expression, fit, and timeless pieces rather than fleeting, mass-marketed fads. True style involves understanding your own body shape, skin tone, and color preferences, then curating a wardrobe of versatile, high-quality staples that make you feel confident and comfortable.
The goal is not a brand new closet, but a wardrobe that actually works– think relief when it comes to getting dressed; not reinvention. Fashion moves fast, but personal style evolves more subtly– smaller shifts making a bigger impact versus dramatic overhauls.
“It’s really about guiding people toward pieces that work for them as individuals,” she says. “Not forcing trends, not asking them to overhaul everything, but helping them invest in things they’ll actually wear.”
That guidance often begins with letting go of the idea that being stylish means being trendy. Walters says the most confident clients she works with are not chasing every new look. They understand what silhouettes flatter them, what colors make them feel good, and how to build outfits that feel intentional without feeling forced.
“I don’t want people to overbuy,” she says. “My job is to help you invest in pieces that last and that make getting dressed easier. If you want to have fun with trends, that’s great. They just shouldn’t be the guide.”
Walters is clear that trends are not meaningless. She pays attention to what is happening on runways and in street style, but she filters it through a practical lens. What she notices now is not about one must-have item, but about mood.
For 2026, prints are back in a joyful way, with mixing and matching feeling fresh rather than chaotic. Bold color is showing up again, whether through color blocking or head-to-toe monochromatic looks in rich shades like red. Gold is returning as a playful accent rather than a formal statement. Sport-inspired pieces are being worn with polish, like sweatpants paired with tailored layers and proper shoes.
“All of these moods and ideas can work beautifully when they’re adapted to someone’s personal style,” Walters says. “They’re flexible. They’re not restrictive.”
“I really try to stay away from pigeonholing people into trends,” Walters says. “Trends can make people feel like they have to try something that doesn’t work for their body, their skin tone, or their life. That’s never the point.”
When she talks about foundation pieces. Walters believes a well-built wardrobe relies on a small group of dependable items that can be worn across seasons and situations– withstand the trends of each season. At the top of her list is a black blazer tailored properly, followed by:
- A white button-down blouse
- A black trouser with a flattering rise
- A black leather moto jacket
- Simple black heels or a pair of black slingbacks and flats
- A neutral sneaker that is not a running shoe
- Thin, high-quality T-shirts for layering in black, white, and navy
- A cashmere sweater
- A silk button-down
- A wool coat
- A dark denim jacket
- A pointed-toe Chelsea boot
- One great black or navy dress that fits well.
Walters says these are just the foundations for a well-worn closet that gives you options– easy to mix with color, with print, with trend pieces– they make everything else easier.
She is especially passionate about the idea that clothes should adapt as bodies change. Weight fluctuations, aging, and life transitions are realities most people face, and Walters says styling should acknowledge that instead of ignoring it.
“Some clients are in a phase where their body is changing, and that can be really emotional,” she says. “I want to help them find pieces that carry them through that time and not make them feel like they need a whole new identity.”
That empathy extends to how people live and work now. With more people working from home and dressing more casually, Walters says it is still worth getting dressed with intention, even if no one else sees you. Walters works from home and gets dressed every morning– something she admits she really tries hard to do. It doesn’t have to be fancy, says– jeans, a cashmere sweater, boots. That five or 10 minutes spent getting dressed can change how your day feels.
She is careful not to frame that as a rule or a judgment, though– the idea is to dress for your day and what makes you feel your best, paying attention to what works for you. Being stylish without following trends is entirely possible by focusing on personal expression, fit, and timeless pieces and realizing that true style involves understanding your own body shape, skin tone, and color preferences, then curating a wardrobe of versatile, high-quality staples that make you feel confident and comfortable.
“There’s power in feeling good in what you wear,” Walters says. “It doesn’t fix everything, but it helps.”
Walters’s monthly newsletter, The Riot Revue, dives into what is inspiring her at the moment– part fashion, part culture guide, it pulls together what she is seeing at the moment, from street style and books to art, design, food, and small perks from local partners. The newsletter is $80/annually or $8/month.
“The Riot Review is all about things I’m loving, things that are inspiring me, things that feel interesting right now,” Walters told me.
For the stylist, style has never been about perfection. It’s about adapting and leaning into what makes you feel like you on any given day.
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