DIY Trendspotting

Predicting trends can sometimes be too easy. For instance, the last two-three years have been all about skinny jeans, right? Right! You want to be a trend setter? You want to predict the future and make your friends think you're a sartorial trailblazer? Enter the Easy Button: take any trend-de-la-creme and do the exact opposite.


The best example I can come up with is denim. Skinny jeans dominated women's fashion for three years. During this period shopper's saw the waist line shrink to lower and lower lengths, with leggings popping in all shapes and sizes and patterns and textures to usher in a new era of 1980's revival. In turn, the fashion elite respond to the corporate takeover of their beloved hipster trend by traveling back in time to relive the 1970's and live happily ever after, at least until the "it" thing. Wide leg pants are back (not to be confused with bell bottoms) and the waist lines soar above above and beyond the belly button to play peek-a-boo with consumers. Although the high waist trend in denim was not as successful as it was in the skirt (the quintessential work piece for women), we all began to notice stores carrying a brand or two, or bought a pair ourselves to toy with the fad.

So what's next? Think of all the possible opposites to what you've already seen this season, last season and the collections coming up. Think lengths (short to long), think texture (starchy linen to sexy lace and slinky leather), think color, think in terms of contrasts.

Vibrant summer florals fade into soft and sombre winter fauna, which morph into tartan prints, that meets Rockabilly sensibilities in the younger generations (or at least the young at heart. Denim seems to have to an identity crisis by attempting to capture ever trend and create a collage of various designs. The high waist meets the skinny jean; the wide leg welcomes it's sister, the bell bottom; raw denim favored by farmers makes way for an urban version of icy blue. And I swear if I have to read another story regarding Katie Holmes and her rolled up "boyfriend style" jeans, I swear I will barf. Siderant: It irks me when the media purposely confuse laziness and possibly even vacinity (as in they were the closest, cleanest thing I could pick up off the floor/closet) for style from celebrities. I love that stylists are starting to come out of the woodwork and cash in on their talents.

The best thing to do is to stick with what you know works well with your personal style and body type. Fashion is a perpetual tide of emotional, spiritual, and sadly, economic fads that some of us can't resist. It's good to be in the know, just don't pride yourself on the makings of someone else's desires.

(Source: Photo1, Photo2, Photo3)