Great question, Manidipa! Thanks for posing it.

Quick answer: I come to YLF because it alerts me to what's current, and because I like the feel of the community here. I'm the type who gets bored slowly (except for with hair, for some reason -- I'm always changing my haircut) so I have a tendency to hang on to what I like. But it's fun to walk into shops and say, oh, look, there are all the draped tee shirts they've been talking about on YLF. Or when I look at the J. Crew website (they send me, like, four emails a day) I can say Aha! there is the Birkenstock trend Angie talked about.

As far as updating my own wardrobe, I pick up a few new pieces each season that suit my taste and my figure. When I feel like I have an idea of what the trends are, I can use fashion to my advantage. Does that make sense?

I'm new here at YLF. One of the reasons that I joined is that it takes me a while it warm up to a trend. When I see something on a mannequin or magazine I often think "oh that's not for me". But the more I see stylish ladies rocking trends in accessible ways, I start to warm up to them. So I'm a slow adopter. There are however still plenty of trends I skip because I know they are just not right for me.
To try and answer your questions- my shopping doesn't really line up with the seasons. I usually shop on a whim and just pick things that look nice. I don't turn over my wardrobe often. I'm hoping to be more thoughtful in my approach to shopping and building an awesome wardrobe. I'm pretty happy with the stuff I bought in the last year. I do have things from 3 or more years ago that I don't want to wear anymore.

I've only read Aziraphale's answer, but agree with what she said. I like most of what I have but like to experiment a bit with new trends, especially if something works for a casual lifestyle and on an older body. I only add a few pieces and hope to cut back even more and use what I have. I want to look current but not far out there, especially as I live in the suburbs in the Heartland...a late adapting area of trends, if they ever reach us at all.

deb, love your one-at-a-time strategy!
I wish I could do this but I so hate the actual act of shopping that I tend to buy in blocks... get the most out of my discomfort and not repeat the rising irritation too soon!

E, makes sense! you are a true eclectic after all! I think your thrifting challenge possibly also applies to those of us shopping new at the lower end of the budget especially. very dangerously easy to buy the easy likeables with which we have success when the HEWIs are being so frustrating, no?

Aubergine, yes! as a typically late adopter I always found I 'saw' the trend only once the streets were saturated. .. and then perversely did not care to wear it. YLF keeps it more current for me too. and funnily, the forum plus Angie's down-to-earth approach does not make me feel as mulish or slavish as fashion magazines tend to.

MaryK, you are the smartest Siamese copycat. you leave the original tabbies in the dust! I am in a similar situation with the relative newness of my wardrobe for the opposite reason so I can relate. and 30 pieces a year is pretty reasonable I think... I get there and beyond some years eve n with a smaller wardrobe (this possibly speaks to Suz's point on wear and tear).

Vicki, I know! once one has experienced the better quality in action and not just in the dressing room, it becomes easier to justify the price tag, doesn't it? though like you I still get a few inexpensive items to add affordable variety or experiment with a trend I am uncertain about.

MRL, nodding my head all the way to your comments. totally can relate to the getting sidetracked by trends and being strapped for time or budget.

Tracina, you are an accomplished intuitive dresser!

Gigi, I so know what you mean about finding too much 'freshness' unsettling

Denise, you make such great points! I have long suffered from reluctance to commit but as I feel more comfortable articulating and honing my style, more and more I am finding the early adoption/full.price strategy pays off dividends. and you just gave new meaning to 'investment pieces', a concept I am generally leery of.

IK, ha! isn't that how we all got here? I love how confident you are in your own style btw.

Janet, funny about how the 'hell, no!' can change, eh? Always amusing in hindsight when I remember my initial repudiation of skinnies/bright jeans/pointy toes/white bottoms/boyfriends...

Aziraphale, so hear you: 'When I feel like I have an idea of what the trends are, I can use fashion to my advantage.' And yes YLF makes me more conscious of emerging trends in shops or on the street too. Part of my late adoption was that I didn't necessarily 'see' them but now the choice to wait or grab is more conscious... more enjoyable this way.

Duchess, that is a great point you make. The forum and Angie's ensemble or how-to posts have changed my mind about trying things I am unsure of many a time now... so glad of it!

Joy, you always look current! I honestly hadn't realised you were a late-adopting team mate.

I buy items with the idea of wearing them for at least four years, so being on trend is not important to me and I would not buy something only for the sake of trendiness. But if Angie points out something that appeals to me and is trending, I know to look out for it and that it may not be available indefinitely. [Cue the music for those of us with magpie genes.] I generally need Petite size clothing for anything to hit me in the right place, so that cuts down on trendy possibilities at the get-go. My main goal is not to look like I'm a decade out of date. All that being said, I have a number of things from Topshop that I plan to order on Nordstrom's double points days, and Topshop is a trendy line. And my Tilden (another trendy line) skirt will be delivered Monday. This is fairly cheap stuff, mind you.

Love this thread and will read all the answers carefully later. YLF is my salve for a mid-life crisis that might have been. I love reading about trends and then applying that knowledge to second hand shopping (and Zara). I try to try as many trends as possible, at least in a store, but in the end stick to what I like. I love some avant garde and designer pieces and that is what puts the thrill of the hunt into my forays into the charity shops.

Mandipa: For me, fashion is like cross-training: It's exercising my creative muscles in a visual, instead of aural and verbal (music) way. The fact that it is like singing in its connection to self-expression is even better. I'm most interested in a personal style that expresses itself in a modern context, if that makes sense -- not dressing in a modern style for it's own sake.

I check out all trends -- particularly items recommended by Angie. I'll try anything once, but I'm picky about which ones work for my style, my body, and my life. I like variety, so I buy new items every season, but I also keep items for a long time if they still fit and aren't worn. Knitwear might only last a season or two, but I plan on wearing most items for a minimum of 3 years. Jackets, dress trousers and dresses are the longest lived. I expect them to last more like 5 years.

If money were no object, I might be tempted to churn half my wardrobe each year, not to follow trends, but to play with new textiles, prints, color palettes and subtle shifts in fit and silhouette. As it is, that would be unwise, and most of my style icons keep their wardrobe items longer than that. Also, I must balance my desire for the new with my ability to afford decent quality. My long term plan is to buy the best quality possible in coats, boots, jackets, dresses and dressy trousers and skirts. I'll budget shop for knitwear, summer sandals and jeans.

Donna, shopping petites is challenging, isn't it? I commiserate. Thanks for thay great reminder of the value of Angie's trend lists and forecasts... what to take advantage of that is a longstanding favourite but not always on retail. this year I am loving all the inky blues everywhere. not seeing enough pastels but still hopeful before the year is out.

Shevia, that strategy has stood you in great stead! Funny you mentioned Zara in the same breath as secondhand. In my part of the world, Zara ends up being at best mid-range or even upper level of mid-range!

Beth Ann: lovely metaphor! and you do diva in a contemporary context magnificently. I know a bigger budget would have me playing with textiles too. (I confess I have let this get out of hand in the past at least once--for years there were things emerging from forgotten bags and boxes.)

Such an interesting thread! Like shedev, I see myself as more alternative than mainstream or catwalk. Like TraceyLiz65 and Beth Ann I'm into clothes as creative expression and mood dressing, and like E more into personal style than fashion/trends.

I look at the trends posted and think about whether I find them interesting. If I do, I keep an eye out when shopping and at least try them on. I also respond to retail trends or things I see on the street that Angie doesn't highlight (they might be a year or two old for example or specific to a certain group).

Like Gigi I really recently refreshed my wardrobe from very minimalist by adding a bunch of new pieces. I'll have to see how the rate of change balances out over time. I'm also almost always shopping thrift or off-price retailers so more eras are mixed at one time.

The clothes that leave my closet are mostly either a past year retail mistake that just didn't fit right somehow or tee shirts, knit tops, sneakers and cardigans that got burned through with constant wear. Most of my other clothes last quite a long time.

I was just noticing today that one of my favorite pairs of non-leather booties is starting to have the surface chip a little bit and I was bummed out, reminding myself to really try to buy leather when I can. Then I thought back to when I'd bought the booties and realized it was the Christmas the first Lord of the Rings movie came out, so they are actually 13 years old.

When I first joined YLF I was pretty good about what colors and shapes suited me but I wasn't that great about fit and sizing. That was the first thing to improve, and then overall styling, adding accessories etc. In the last year or so, I've become a lot more engaged with trends - I was always aware of them but I'm more interested in them personally, at least the ones that aren't an instant "ew, no" from me. Sometimes I wonder if this is serving me - especially the other day when I tried on yet another attempt at boyfriend jeans that didn't work. Sigh.

As far as churn goes it's hard for me to tell, as when I lost weight last year I had to replace the majority of my wardrobe.

Sorry I took so long getting back to this, but better late than never!

So, lets think... I would say that I do like to follow trends and I will pick up on a few each season, but I'm pretty good at not going overboard with buying new stuff. I will cherry pick trends that I like and just add a few pieces as refresher items. I have a good idea of my colours so something like cobalt with has been so trendy lately will not see the inside of my wardrobe as it does me no favours not even in small doses.

I don't jump on trends immediately, no. Some trends take a while for me to get used to, for instance BF jeans. I felt convinced that I wouldn't be able to feel like 'me' and get the feminine vibe which I like, but I've had to eat my words as I've managed to do it. I found the ladies posting photos of themselves in BF's to be very inspirational, so I think I need to be shown more examples of how to make something work for me before I can be convinced to try it if I feel unsure.

Buying-wise, I do see many things online and on YLF that tempt me every day but I have to be realistic and know that with my work from home lifestyle I just don't need to keep adding. I have to say though, that after joining YLF I did do a fair bit of buying and purging. I have never had a particularly big wardrobe though.

This is an interesting thread, thanks for starting Mani!

-Do you need to check off every trend Angie announces for the season? Or do you choose just a few to try each year?
Not every trend, but as many as possible Some I just can't see it in my heart to do. As a side note, I do rely on Angie now to show me the trends. When couture was fashion and the U.S. was more class stratified (as opposed to tribalised), I read all the magazines from Vogue to 17, plus watched *the street* with a certain intensity. But I don't feel confidence in their translations anymore. Angie, on the other hand, makes total sense. Anyways, to continue with my story of trend watching, I eventually winnowed to Style.com, to see the clothes and just the clothes. However - how to put this? - Angie beats the pants off Style.com. I think... I think Style.com uses the same web programmers as the U.S. government.

-Do you turnover or refresh more than half your seasonal wardrobe each year? Or just swap out five pieces or less?
Sadly, my problem has been I just add and add and add... I'm working on this. The Great Purge.

-Are you bored by most of last summer's things this year? Or do you have
swathes of stuff you have worn for several summers already?
I've swathes of stuff. I'm now purging stuff from decades ago. Like terry tube tops. Haha. And all the smocked tops that I shrunk in the wash (but which were lovely to wear in the heat). From last year, I bought several sleeveless dresses, which I'm not tired of, but I'm afraid they're tired of me. I haven't gained weight, but all of a sudden I've developed a giant stomach that starts right below my neck...

-Do you go above and beyond the mainstream trends to really cutting
edge/catwalk stuff... Or do you wait for mainstream adoption or retail
trickledown?
Ahh. Well, I must confess I don't equate the catwalk with cutting edge. I think it's one step behind. Historically, it takes quite a long time even to get to the catwalk stage of production. On the flipside, fast fashion has gone to light speed. So the time between model and store entails little waiting. But to answer the question, I do trends as they're percolating, when they come online, and when they *finally* hit the stores. And I do my own thing: I like to contribute to the percolation stage, to try to make the trickle into the torrent.

I started working at 27 as the youngest ever executive at my company. I always loved fashion and payed attention to dressing well but then I have had only older than me esp male coleagues and higher up directors to deal with, so I was probably pleased how I presented myself for a long time(almost 1,5 decades).

After turning 40 (6 yrs ago) I have experienced a great shift on many fields. My hearing loss was threathening to be obviously undenayable anymore and the persons who I had to deal with at my international company suddenly changed to younger than me so I really started feeling old, weared out, fat and lacking so needed confidence (even in my job).

I wasn't prepared to gave it all up, so I better started to search where I could hold the pace, and do it better. One of these seemed to be careing better of my wardrobe. It was the time I was also joyning YLF-and seeing other fab over 40 forum members dressing for the busy life they had was an enpowering experience and such a great inspiration, I started trusting life will not have to end at 40, or with any problem we may have to experience during our life!:-)

I believe I am a classic dresser and if possible aim for a modern/curent and polished version of it with the strong need to be age appropiate but as much figure flattery as it can be, so too many points for achieving an early adoption. In fact I am a very late and picky adopter of any trends, but I also have a 16,5yrs old daughter:-) and so I love to be informed and inspired by Angie's so well thought out posts, round ups, ensembles, and her own brilliant outfits as of the other fab forum members'(yours included). Sometimes(rarely) I would really jump on the trend vagoon but still no chance, as in my neck of woods trends are showing up a bit (at least 1 season later) in affordable to me shops than to the date Angie posts them:-(.

During my yrs at YLF I can say I have had rebuilt my wardrobe from scratch. I bought a lot, and still do- but it's not always about trends or fashion only. For ex. I am tall and have a long torso, so longer lengths are always a need but this wasn't always available in my shops, they only showed up only a few seasons ago. So even I had plenty of clothes I didn't feel that fab in them and I wanted-and still looking to stock up on longer lengthened everything (tops/toppers/knittwear, dresses, and skirts) which suit me better than the shorter ones. I believe some of these items will stay in my wardrobe for years and years.

On the other hand I now know nothing lasts forever and workhorses will have to be replaced sometime-so sometime I even duplicate-no fear of trend will fad or no.... I almost have had the same rellevance as rabbit, about my favourite white jeans which felt like beeing only 2-3 yrs old but actually turned out were bought in spring 2009, and so perfectly right to not looking that bright white anymore for their age...and I now don't have remorses for using a new pair.

With the world entering and stucking in the skinny trend for soo long the figure unflattering thing was very painfully hitting my pants section. Last time when I wore great dressy jeans was almost 8-9yrs yrs ago, when the bootcuts and pointy toes were in for the last time. Skinny or BF jeans just didn't do me any favours esp not suitable for my work capsule-so I didn't jump on them-other then 1-2 pairs for my very few casual settings. I jumped on the pencil/tube skirts and midi day dresses trend instead and wore them shamelessy every day and every season for years(for work and play:-)).

This year I have had huge luck with finding me some BF style khakis which fit OK and with the help of the forum and Angies's posts finally I figured out how to styled them for work, so you bet I bought them (and suitable springy sweaters to them) in 3 colors:-). BUT I bought them because I finally found some pants flattering enough and and aknowledging that they will have to last me years-as I know nothing fitted me and my requirements for sooo long....

I won't even care if the rolling up the hem thing will not last more than probably only a season. I wore my summer pants so (rolled up and showing my ankles) before the trend and will do it happily long after it all had gone. Not because of the trend, but because this is and was my look of summer pants even before the PPL concept and forever:-).

I'm new to ylf and joined because I'm interested in fashion and personal style. I don't tent to to follow trends closely, but may pick one or two things that work for me. This year it was d'orsay flats. I tend to switch things up seasonally as I live in a city that has extreme climate fluctuations - hot summers and frigid winters - and usually update my wardrobe seasonally or as things wear out. This summer I needed some new sandals and dresses for work. I sell/consign whatever I can and enjoy thrifting!

Good topic, Manidipa!

-Do you need to check off every trend Angie announces for the season? Or do you choose just a few to try each year?
A: Not trendy.
-Do you turnover or refresh more than half your seasonal wardrobe each year? Or just swap out five pieces or less?
A. I aim for long-term pieces in each category, but still add.a few in each category each season
-Are you bored by most of last summer's things this year? Or do you have swathes of stuff you have worn for several summers already?
A. The latter.
-Do you go above and beyond the mainstream trends to really cutting edge/catwalk stuff... Or do you wait for mainstream adoption or retail trickledown?
A. Not cutting edge.

I am definitely not trendy...but I am aware of trends and sometimes one comes along that fits in with my own personal style. Then l
I'll try it. I like to be aware of what is not in style, so that I can make sure I don't wear anything like that! I replace a small percentage of my wardrobe each season, but I have lots of clothes that I keep for a long time. I like classics or beautifully made things in lovely fabrics...so even if something I've had a while is not "in fashion" it's still beautiful and gets some wear...with other items that are more current! I am looking forward to wearing the things I bought last summer. I've thought of some different ways to style some of them, so it all seems new to me.

Do you need to check off every trend Angie announces for the season? Or do you choose just a few to try each year?
I find it fun to go down the list and see if I've already been looking at a particular trend that Angie mentions or if I've already bought something in that category. I'll do a couple that appeal to me and leave others.
-Do you turnover or refresh more than half your seasonal wardrobe each year? Or just swap out five pieces or less?
I started buying better quality clothing when I turned 40 (seven years ago). I find it hard to let go of things because I buy things that I really love and because I have so much they don't really get worn out. I'm starting to bite the bullet and purge things that are getting kind of old or that I've found a better version of. I am constantly refreshing - I buy way too much, in fact. I probably buy 4 or 5 new outfits per season.
-Are you bored by most of last summer's things this year? Or do you have swathes of stuff you have worn for several summers already?
No, I have things from several summers ago that I still wear and am anxious to wear my summer things now (it hasn't really warmed up much here yet).
-Do you go above and beyond the mainstream trends to really cutting edge/catwalk stuff... Or do you wait for mainstream adoption or retail trickledown?
Nothing really cutting edge for me. I usually take awhile to get used to a new trend and by that time, it's well in the retail trickledown.

I'm in the process of rebuilding my closet as I ceased to become a SAHM last year and now a WAHM. I guess I'm still trying to transition my wardrobe from being mostly knits and jeans (which I still love to wear) to more semi-casual/dressy chic (not sure how to describe it). I still have outfits that I love from before having children and I don't see myself parting them any time soon. I find it hard to rebuilt my closet as I'm at an age (early 40s) that I "should" know what my style is but I still want to experiment and try fun outfits as I'm a bit more comfortable in my body despite it being very different after childbirth.

-Do you need to check off every trend Angie announces for the season? Or do you choose just a few to try each year?
I like to check what is new but I don't rush out to buy it. If it is a trend that I've worn before and did not like then chances are I won't like it again. Neons, Converse, pedlums, crop tops, etc. are some examples that are/were back in style but I didn't jump on the bandwagon. I think that young adults (teens to mid 20s) have more leeway in experimenting with the latest trend and having fun with it.

-Do you turnover or refresh more than half your seasonal wardrobe each year? Or just swap out five pieces or less?
As I am rebuilding my closet slowly, I'm more careful with what I buy now. I'm hoping that I don't have a high turnover next year. In the past, it's about a 30% turnover but it's mostly due to the poor material or construction of the item.

-Are you bored by most of last summer's things this year? Or do you have swathes of stuff you have worn for several summers already?
I still have some summer items that I can't wait to wear again. Items that I can't wear again due to wear & tear will most likely be replace with the similar items. Things like white eyelet tops, khaki shorts and maxi dresses are my basis summer uniform.

-Do you go above and beyond the mainstream trends to really cutting edge/catwalk stuff... Or do you wait for mainstream adoption or retail trickledown?
I'm not fashion forward at all and I don't want to be. If there is something I like to try (for example the checkered pattern a few seasons ago by Marc Jacobs) I would probably just try an accessory like a belt or scarf or shoes to see if I like it.

Very interesting read!
I love to follow Angie's trends- the ones that appeal I store in my memory or list and look out for where I shop and thrift.
I am aiming to turn over 25% of my closet each year, but not so in the last 2 years since being a YLFer, where it was closer to 50% (!)
I enjoy trying the latest trends and being slightly unique in my style, but in a classic, not 'out there' way
I am aiming for better fabrics these days, so intend to keep and wear my favourites for at least 3 years.

Angie dubbed me Queen Trendiest of them All.
I rarely analyze my choices.
I'm a bit like Denise in that by jumping on a trend very early I can wear it for a long time.
I also agree with Rachylou that the catwalks are not necessarily cutting edge like they used to be. Trickle-up is just and maybe more important than trickle-down.