What Sveta said, especially as compared to electronics.

Man's fashions changes too, but fewer man follow. The business suit, a straight skirt, a button down, a blazer isn't that much changed from 5 years ago. But the fun things do.
But some items are bit more versatile if well loved. I have 4 dresses and a couple of skirts from 3 /4 years ago that I still love and wear. A sheath, two shirt-dresses( black and orangey corral), a sun dress, a black pencil skirt and a pleated mini. Yeah, since then I bought a couple of flares, some tapered pencils, a zippered LBD. But I COULD have limited myself. I admit, I had moments where they were second fiddle, but now I re-discovered my love for them. Maybe my extensive clothes audit ( I have a spreadsheet with ALL my dresses, pants, jeans, shorts, skirts, tops, button-downs , outerwear and jackets, and shoes) has nudged me in using and remixing more.

Such great insights in this thread! I love it! We need to figure out a way to get off this crazy fashion carousel without automatically getting a one-way ticket to Frumpsville! Rae, you crack me up with the "lizard brain." That explains a lot! And Jayne, I agree, women dress for other women not for men! I think in general (not talking about our DH's specifically!) men care more about how women look (face, figure, weight) and not so much how they are dressed. Men usually don't remember what other women are wearing (unless they are dressed up to look either sexy or man-repelling!) whereas women often describe each other by what clothes they had on.

And OMG Sveta, you hit the nail on the head!!! DH is always talking about how the latest SLR or dive camera housing or dive camera light has the latest X Y or Z feature that his current equipment doesn't have and is brighter, better resolution, blah blah blah. He's always keeping tabs on what's new and each time something new comes out he's a little less happy with his current version and has the itch to upgrade. And I'm thinking, "Why does it matter? The one you have works fine!" I guess that's how he feels about me and fashion! Lightbulb moment!

Actually, you know, I feel fashion has kinda been in the doldrums since the turn of the millennium. People tweak little things, but overall I feel we've been looking at the same stuff for over 20 years. You could argue 60 years if you include all the retro revival borrowing, but I won't. Anyways, I don't think we've had a fashion spirit since grunge.

Good point, Rachylou! Has the Fashion Machine found out that they can change something as small as a lapel style and have us all scrambling to replace all our clothes?

Sigh, I do miss the spirit of grunge - the clothes as well as the music. Is it me, or do kids these days not know how to rebel?

ETA: For more on the lizard brain (not just comedy!):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizard_brain

I am old enough to have seen most trends come around at least 2 x if not 3 x.

I have also wear the same size... so I have either worn them to death at some point or passed on them before....nothing new to me out there so I am not compelled to embrace and sport every new trend because I missed out at some point...they just aren't new to me.
I figure this pattern mixing and bright floral scene will be short lived, seen it before and mildly participated 20 yrs. ago...I am so over it

But I get the enthusiasm if some trend is new to someone and they are enjoying it for the first time..

IDK-- in one way it is a blessing. I think unless you are shopping brands that really cater to women that want to buy the same thing for 30 years at a time, it is hard to buy pieces that look OL. Men tend to make the same fashion mistakes over and over again because they think they can get away with wearing the same clothes (whether they buy a ton at one point in time and never stop wearing them, or they buy the same styles in the same sizes) in the same sizes for 30 years. I think the only men that can get away with the never changing their style and buying the same clothes are those that have the same bodies they did as young men, had impeccable taste for classics without any risks or on the other hand were very into the avant-garte, and have always had an eye for a very tailored fit. Even then there comes a time when the leather jacket just looks dated.

So, at least women who chose not to opt out of fashion by not buying retail have less chance of looking dated.

I agree with the points made about fashion change as marketing strategy.

Personally I have always been pretty unfashionable. As a child it was forced on me, as an adult it's my true inclination. I still get new things and purge old things but for a lot of reasons other than whether they are current or not.

Rae - kids today think they are rebeling! But in my eye they are recycling the 80's (way to make me feel old) and thinking they invented it. Grunge was a combo of recycled 60's and 50's (the plaid shirts - total fifties - I stole tons from my dad's closet) so nothing is ever really new.
Besides, kids are born practically knowing how to program computers and do things with technology that my generation will never do.

I just had this conversation yesterday with my mom (72 and aunt - 84) and we were really shaking our heads. All of my grandparents were born near turn of last century - they must have been blown away by all the changes in societal norms, technology, culture and even fashion.

Actually! this is true, women was very beautiful. So she is want any time change the dresses.

This is an interesting subject to me. I don't usually follow fashions when I buy although I look at what is coming out in the shops for the next season. I have lots of classic clothes in my wardrobe and I just add unusual items to make them look different. I get rid of any clothes that are worn, damaged or just not ''me'' any more at the end and start of each season. I buy lots of clothes when they are on sale, usually out of season and I also buy vintage clothes and accessories. I go for an unusual look to outfits and do not follow trends.