Early adopter? or late? (of fashion that is)

I'm not the one standing in line to buy the latest version of the iPhone on the day it's released. After all, there may be bugs in it! If I take the plunge at all, I wait till it's a road-tested item. And some versions will pass me by entirely.

Similarly, I tend to look askance at new fashion trends. They usually look unflattering to me. Years may pass until I'm accustomed to a look. It's happened to me more than once that I finally get used to a trend, invest in it, and then discover that the rest of the world has moved on.

I haven't been active on the forum that long, but I sense that I'm going to be adopting trends somewhat earlier than I used to. But I doubt my fundamental fashion conservatism will be significantly altered.

What about you? Do you like to dive into new trends as soon as you see them? Or do you hang on to your favorite clothes, desperately hoping that when they wear out, the manufacturer hasn't discontinued them? Are you somewhere in between? And has participation in this forum changed where you are on the spectrum?

Let's adopt a 5-point scale:

1--On the lookout for new trends; acquire trendy items soon after seeing trend.
2--Very aware of trends; seasonally refresh wardrobe with many on-trend items.
3--Will buy a trendy item if it fits your personal style.
4--Tend to adopt trends when they're going out of style.
5--Dislike changes in fashion; miss out on many trends entirely.

I would say I have moved from a lifelong 4 to about a 3.2!

Where are you on the scale? Have you always been there?

13 years ago

Anonymous

I am a 4. Late bloomer

Just started to wear skinny jeans, if that gives you an idea

Adelfa

Veteran

A, me too! Only mine aren't even really skinny! Which I hope means I'm catching the trend on the way back to slouchy!

annagybe

(website)

I'm probably a 0.5.

Lol @ Adelfa. Mine r skinny but I'm not so a challenge to cover the posterior HA

bj1111

i tend to be a 1 in acquision but a 3-4 in terms of wear. i buy lots of stuff at the end of the first season it's available in the sales. but imdon't get around to wearing until later.

Suz

I used to be a 5. Since YLF I have become a 2 who is also a 3, and I can see myself becoming a 1 over time -- but I'll always be a 3 as well. In other words, I love refreshing with new trends, but will only do so if they fit my style. There are lots of trends I won't adopt.

DonnaF

Before YLF, I was probably a 6: "Trend? What trend?" Now, I'm probably approaching a 3 since Angie is making me more aware of trends. To get a fit vertically, I need to shop Petites which mostly eliminates affordable (to me) stores such as H&M and Zara. And I don't think of Nordstrom as exactly cutting edge. . . I also try to get items on sale, so that contributes to a bit of lag time.

I really need to study Anna's WIWs to see what I will be wearing in a couple of years because I will affirm that she is .5!

Anna, you were my poster child for rating 1 but I have to admit you're actually a .5!

Donna and Suz, the trends start to seem fun, don't they? Plus they can be an *opportunity* (she tells her 4 self) to wear even *more* flattering clothes!

BJ, that's interesting--hmm--didn't think of acquisition and wear as separate scalable items! How long do you keep things before wearing?

Thistle

I was a 5 Pre YLF, i would like to get to a 3.

Deborah

Great discussion.

I would say I sit somewhere between 2 and 3.

I really like to know what's going to be 'in' each season but I do only wear items that I feel reflect my personal style and will play well with what I already have.

Echo

I would put myself between a 2 and a 3. For example, I loved skinny jeans when they came back, but was sure I couldn't wear them. It took forever for me to even try them, and after I did it took forever for me to find some that fit well. I was a 4 on that. Colour blocking? Cobalt? I started purchasing those items as soon as they appeared in stores because I loved them. I am a harder sell on changing silhouettes (bootcut to skinny, sheath to fit and flare, pencil to flirty, etc.), but much easier when it comes to colours and upper body styles.

I'm a 3.

Jaime

I would say I am 3, although can be a 2 when opportunity strikes.

i"ve been known to save things for 2 years before wearing. but i also keep lots of stuff including shoes so i"m set for the pointy toed trend. will break out a pair tomorrow.

anne

About a 3.5. YLF has speeded me up a bit because, being in Australia, it gives me a season's notice of trends and my eye a bit of time to adjust.

Caro in Oz

I'm a 3 for sure but maybe I'll become more of a 2/3 thanks to Angie & YLF. I realise the modern part of fashion/style is more important to me than I realised. In the past I'd see something I liked but I didn't buy it because I wasn't sure how to make it work - now I have lots of advice.

qfbrenda

I'm a 3 who doesn't mind if a trend passes her by completely if it doesn't fit her style.

Kalli

Active Member

I used to be a 1 in my 20s and now the financially aware me on a budget is a 3. Though at times I fall back into 1 category if I think I already own it.... Like extreme pointy shoes. Seems like I default to 1 if that is the case :).

I'm a 3 by default. I find I tend to buy what I really like, and if it's trendy I'm doubly happy. I will stay aware of trends, but not buy something solely because it's trendy if it's not really in line with my personal style and goals (hello floral pants).

deb

I am a 3 and always have been. But it MUST fit into my wardrobe.

If I had a bigger budget, I would at least aspire to #2. There's a lot of trends I would like at least to seek out and try on. However, I feel pressure in my social group not to be style conscious, much less fashionable, so probably spending more money on my appearance is not a good idea.

lyn*

Probably a 3. I try to be a 2 but look like a doofus.

rachylou

I want to be more controlled and thoughtful, and have a wardrobe with staying power. So I'm trying to be a 2, but I suspect I'm more in the .5 to 1 range.

E.g., Refinery said today (or well, I read the newsletter today) that blingy white Birkenstock-type sandals will be in. Um, that's 2-3 yrs old already, yes?

Although I don't entirely understand how come I have a pair of blingy white Birks that are so old. They're not supposed to be in stores until the trend hits, right? And anyways, I got them on sale, and they were on sale because they were a fashion flop - no one would buy them. I certainly didn't bedazzle my own pair of white ones. You see the problem, yes?

Aziraphale

Hmmm....well, if it's a sliding scale and I'm allowed decimal points, I think I'd be about a 2.75. I'm aware (not "very aware") of the trends (especially in the past couple of years, since I joined YLF), and I do refresh my wardrobe seasonally, but only with items that fit my personal style.

I'm probably a 3-4, although, a while back I think I was a 2. I've cut back on my blog reading and feel out of the loop as far as trends go right now.

Aida

Would like to be in the 2 range, and sometimes am, but due to lack of being able to _find_ some of the trends in my price range I slip down to 3 sometimes. I'm probably closer to 2.5, and would like to be more at 1.5-2

greenglove

2.75, how is that for precision?
Great question!

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