32 Trendy Items That Are Giving Me Serious Main Character Energy

maximalist-fashion-items-289648-1602869380135-main

(Image credit: Courtesy of Lisa Says Gah, Shopbop, and Net-a-Porter)

Over the past few months, I, like many others, have not had the motivation to dress up. My go-to outfits have consisted mainly of loungewear, pajamas, and on the occasion, a house dress to lift my spirits. While a majority of my fashion purchases as of late have been basics, I’ve had a sudden urge to spice things up, and after a quick scroll through on Instagram (okay, and TikTok) it seems like I’m not the only one. More than ever, I’m seeing girls style funky accessories, loud prints, AND opposing colorways simply for no one else other than themselves (and maybe their Instagram feed.) Instead of waiting for an occasion to pull out my best pieces, I’m deciding that the only right occasion is right now. Plus, it only takes one feel-good outfit to rekindle your love of fashion—something I think we could all benefit from right now. 

"Main character energy" is a definition I’m giving to clothing that when worn, causes people to turn to look at you as soon as you walk in the room. When I find a piece that emits that kind of aesthetic, I imagine myself as the new girl in a coming of age movie—the one that moves to a small town from a big city and immediately stands out. (Think Lindsay Lohan in Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen—those fits were unmatched.)

I love a good basic, but there’s nothing like a unique fashion item to give you a confidence-booster. If you’re in the market to add a little fun to your wardrobe, then you’ve come to the right place. From tie-dyed sneakers to fuzzy tops, any of the items below are guaranteed to get you out of your style rut and into the role you were always born to play—the main character.

maximalist-fashion-items-289648-1602873509076-main

(Image credit: @mfass)

A pop of slime green is always warranted in my opinion. 

maximalist-fashion-items-289648-1602873495766-main

(Image credit: @alyssainthecity)

A fun top is an easy way to liven up any pair of jeans.

maximalist-fashion-items-289648-1602873500179-main

(Image credit: @champagnemani)

Keep cozy with a furry bucket hat.

maximalist-fashion-items-289648-1602873505522-main

(Image credit: @himichelleli)

Holiday the Label always makes the best checkered sets.

maximalist-fashion-items-289648-1602873517071-main

(Image credit: @annawinck)

Pink and fur? Sign me up. 

Shop more items that will give you main character energy:

Next, shop 27 of this week's best new arrivals

Associate Fashion Editor
Yusra Siddiqui is an editor who resides in New Jersey but bounces between the suburbs and NYC. (She's a Jersey girl at heart.) After interning at Who What Wear in 2019, she found her way to the team after graduating from LIM College in 2022 with a fashion media degree. She's also spent time writing and working for publications such as Fashionista, Coveteur, and Nylon, but she always knew that Who What Wear was where she was meant to be. When she's on the job, she's perusing runway shows, analyzing the latest thing fellow Gen Zers are up to on the internet, and sharing what she can about the modest-fashion market. You can also catch her dabbling in entertainment, talking about the costume choices of the latest Netflix series or diving deeper into how the plotline affects the viewers in a myriad of ways. Lastly, she likes to create content for Who What Wear's TikTok. Her personal time is spent doing similar but also different things—deep diving into almost every new TV show (Bridgerton, Gilmore Girls, and Stranger Things are favorites), planning her next local getaway (whenever that may be), and reading the latest Emily Henry or Sally Rooney novel in one sitting.