Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Mi hija elige un abrigo según su estilo, no según la moda. - My daughter chooses a coat according to her style, not according to fashion.

de acuerdo con (per, in accordance with; a bit more formal)
conforme a (formal)
For a “depending on” nuance: en función de, dependiendo de, or basándose en

Do I have to repeat según in no según la moda?

It’s best to repeat it. Spanish often repeats the preposition for clarity: según su estilo, no según la moda. Without repeating (…según su estilo, no la moda) sounds off to many speakers. Another very natural option is to flip the order and use sino: Mi hija no elige un abrigo según la moda, sino según su estilo.

Why is it la moda and not just moda?

Spanish frequently uses the definite article with abstract nouns. La moda (fashion) is treated like a general concept, so the article feels natural. Omitting it (…según moda) usually sounds unnatural in standard speech.

Could I say por la moda instead of según la moda?

Not if you want the same meaning. según la moda = according to what fashion dictates. por la moda tends to mean because of fashion/as a result of fashion, which shifts the idea from a standard you follow to a cause or motive.

Why elige and not escoge or selecciona?

All three mean to choose, but:

elegir and escoger are near‑synonyms in Latin America; both are very common.
seleccionar is more formal/technical (like selecting options on a screen). Your sentence works fine with escoge too: Mi hija escoge un abrigo…

How do you conjugate elegir and what’s irregular about it?

Two things happen: stem change (e→i) and a spelling change (g→j before a or o).

Present indicative: yo elijo, tú eliges, él/ella elige, nosotros elegimos, ustedes/ellos eligen. (With vos: vos elegís.)
Preterite: yo elegí, tú elegiste, él/ella eligió, nosotros elegimos, ustedes/ellos eligieron.
Present subjunctive: (g→j) que yo elija, que tú elijas, que él/ella elija, etc.
Gerund: eligiendo
Past participle: elegido (as a participle). The adjective electo means elected (official), while elegido is the regular participle in compound tenses.

Why is it spelled elige and not elije?

The spelling change to j only happens before a or o (to keep the “Spanish j” sound): elijo, elija. Before e/i, the g already has that sound, so it stays g: elige, eliges. Writing elije is a common spelling mistake.

Is elige here present tense or a command?

Present tense. If it were a command addressing the daughter, you’d normally see a vocative comma: Mi hija, elige un abrigo… (imperative). Without the comma, Mi hija elige… states a habitual action.

Why un abrigo (singular and indefinite) if this is a general habit?

Spanish often uses a singular, indefinite noun to express habits: Compra pan todos los días (He buys bread every day). You could also use a plural for a more generic feel: Mi hija elige abrigos según su estilo… Both are fine.

What exactly is an abrigo, and are there regional alternatives?

Abrigo is typically a coat (outerwear for cold weather). Regional words vary:

Mexico/Central America: chamarra (jacket/coat), saco (blazer/suit jacket)
Southern Cone (Argentina/Uruguay/Paraguay): campera (jacket), tapado (long coat), saco (blazer)
Andes (Peru/Bolivia/Ecuador): casaca (jacket), chompa (sweater)
Chile/Colombia: chaqueta (jacket), abrigo (coat) Your sentence is broadly understood everywhere with abrigo.

Does su mean “her” here? Could it be “his,” “their,” or “your (formal)”?

Su is ambiguous in isolation; it can mean his/her/their/your (usted/ustedes). Here Mi hija makes “her” clear. If you ever need to disambiguate, you can say el estilo de ella: …según el estilo de ella.

Could I say Mi hija elige el abrigo?

That would point to a specific coat already identifiable in context (the coat). The original uses un abrigo to refer to whichever coat she’s picking at that moment (or as a habitual action).

Can I restructure with sino?

Yes, very idiomatic:

Mi hija no elige un abrigo según la moda, sino según su estilo. Use sino (not sino que) because what follows is not a conjugated verb but a prepositional phrase. This pattern (no X, sino Y) is great for clear contrast.

Does según ever mean “depending on”?

Yes. Besides “according to,” según can mean “depending on”: Elegimos el abrigo según el clima (We choose the coat depending on the weather). It can also introduce clauses: Según haga frío, nos abrigamos más o menos (Depending on how cold it is…).

Could I use con or por with estilo instead of según?

con su estilo = with her style (a bit unclear/odd here)
por su estilo = because of her style (cause) Neither expresses the idea of choosing in line with a standard as cleanly as según su estilo. Stick with según.

Is fronting the según phrase okay for emphasis?

Yes: Según su estilo, mi hija elige un abrigo, no según la moda. Fronting the adverbial phrase is natural and highlights the criterion.

Can I add emphasis with propio or personal?

Absolutely: según su propio estilo or según su estilo personal both emphasize that it’s her own style guiding the choice.

Any quick pronunciation tips (Latin America)?

Mi hija: mee EE-ha (the h is silent; j = harsh h like in Scottish “loch,” often softer [h] in many regions)
elige: eh-LEE-heh (the g before e sounds like Spanish j)
abrigo: ah-BREE-go (hard g as in “go”)
según: seh-GOON (stress on the second syllable; don’t forget the accent)
estilo: es-TEE-lo
moda: MOH-dah

Remember: the accent mark in según is mandatory.