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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Trends for Us

Irina

Veteran

OK, here is disclaimer:
The following post is for those who like discussing trends. If you are not that person, proceed with caution

There are so many mentioning of "trends" on this forum, which makes perfect sense since it is a fashion forum. Trends that good for us/not; good to be trendy but only a little/don't care about trends at all; trends we love on others but not on us/trends we hate and many, many more topics.
Angie kindly does a trend report for us but I can't help but wonder where else women of this forum get ideas on what trendy ATM. Retail? IG? on the streets?
I'll explain - retail offers so many styles now, also a vibe and a general direction are different from brand to brand. We use social media in our own way and follow/or not other women we find interesting and inspiring.
Any street style depends on a street, of course.
So, when do you look at an item and think "Oh, that's trendy, maybe I should try it". How do you decide this new thing is trendy? And what does it mean for you?
Do you look at the brands that offer more fashion forward clothes and wait for a retailer of your choice to come up with a version of it?
Generally, if everyone wears a trend, it is not trendy anymore. Wide leg cropped pants that I love are not trendy. They are mainstream. Lugged soles on shoes are not trendy anymore. Both are examples of not dated but not necessary trendy pieces. Do you feel the difference?
Maybe it should be called a new trend v a mainstream trend.

So, from Celine runway to H&M rack to Old Navy shelves.

Fashion is fickle by definition and always moving forward. One can obviously call it marketing and money grabbing but it also can be an artistic expression.
I will tell you later what do I think when it comes to my own choices but for now, I'm interested in your opinion.

Dressing

43 replies

Latest reply was from Stagiaire Fash

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Nice discussion, Irina

As someone who has been prepping trend reports and been in the Rag Trade for 30 years - and following things very closely because it's my line of work! - a few upfront important points:

Mainstream items can absolutely be on trend
If everyone wears a trend - it's still on trend
Wide crops and lug soles are on trend - just not fringe trends or new trends

Personally, I don't think anything is dated at this stage of the game. It's dated to call items dated! A look can be dated, but not the item.

I have to go to the podiatrist - but will be back!

rachylou

Veteran

I will say more later… but I note Angie speaks of trends in a more long term, fashion industry kind of way than I’m used to thinking of them. My use of ‘trend’ is like that of a high schooler, lol. Like when everyone starts showing up at school fiddling with a Rubik’s cube and a beanie baby and Jordache jeans. Haha! Circa 1980.

Helena

Veteran

Irina, this is an excellent and thoughtful way of breaking down the discussion! Here are my two cents

I really like your distinction of new trends vs. mainstream trends, or perhaps as you say trendy vs. not dated (current)
I would say I am interested in mainstream trends, or staying somewhat current. For myself, I am less interested in new or cutting edge trends, as some of these will end up being short-lived which is not my thing - I like the tried and true.
I like to have a very few influences which seem to me to be trendy i.e. they are looking at where fashion is going and adopting things early in the cycle (or even influencing the direction of the cycle). Someone like Amy on IG that we've been discussing recently (I've forgotten her last name!) would be this sort of person for me.
My main focus though is on people who are current AND share elements of my lifestyle/level of dress, because I like to see how they integrate trendy elements into their style, in a way that resonates with me and makes me feel good about where I am. Someone like a Jennifer Aniston or Meghan Markle in casual wear would fit the bill for me. Lots of IGers too (@sdmomstyles is a favourite) - and brands like Zara or Aritzia that are sort of the "Madonnas" of fashion - not original per se but good at spotting up and coming trends and making them "pop" - if that makes sense.
I completely agree with you that change is inherent to fashion. It's a fast-moving train and I personally can't keep up with it. This is going to be different for everyone - some people are naturals at integrating the new, some price it highly, some aren't great at it (me), some don't care to. Horses for courses. To the extent I decline to participate in the movement of fashion for myself, I accept I will be "unfashionable" to some degree and I am fine with this!

Looking forward to hearing your take Irina!

DonnaF

Veteran

I read Angie’s trend reports with the filter of what will flatter me and what may disappear. I never try to be trendy or fashion forward but admit that I don’t have a good eye for what is way past its prime style wise. I like TopShop which I understand is a trendy brand for its unusual (to me) stuff — but I also mostly shop at Nordstrom which I consider fairly mainstream stodgy.

I could probably tell you what is mainstream. Like babydoll dresses. And midi ditzy print dresses. Ugh and ugh! At least for me, always too chunky to wear. But no one really expects a nearly 70 year old woman to be trendy or fashionable so no pressure.

Bijou

Veteran

Irina I enjoy watching fashion shows and following a number of designers, different price points and locations - I love Japanese street style and Chanel collections equally. I may adopt certain trends, but only if I feel that they are consistent with my style preferences. I am more adventurous with colour as opposed to silhouette and my main place where I am somewhat trendy is shoes.

Synne

Veteran

Interesting. Come to think of it, I trust a couple of people to be canaries in the coal mine. When they confidently start wearing stuff (that I may previously have thought of as absolutely ridiculous) I can be certain it has become a safe trend. Or will soon be.

These people are friends, coworkers and acquaintances that I know are very "with it". Fashion forward, knowledgeable and somehow always familiar with the Zeitgeist. I don't know how they do it actually. It's very impressive.

slim cat

Veteran

I adopt some trends and ignore others based on what's available for my size/price point ( limited - lol ) and what I like seeing on others ( some fashionable ladies/clients, bloggers) and magazines, retail stores . I like the idea of developing personal style but in truth I fall into a uniform wear - the formulas that are working now and need just a little tweaks. As a slow adopter I usually wait for the more options available at my preferred brands.
Currently I'm ignoring a lot of trends because of difficulties of finding the right fit for the straight body ( not in fashion I'd say - most things I like cut for the curvier shapes ).

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I sometimes feel like "trend" can be a dirty word with some forum members -- but I see trends much as Angie does. Sometimes I think trends are mistaken for "fads" which I see as more capricious and short-lived. In my mind, trends can portend wider shifts in preferences in the market and in the realm of public relevance and acceptance. Look at how the trend of fashion sneakers has led us to a point where sneakers are now worn with literally EVERYTHING.

I like to pay attention to trends, but definitely pick and choose what I want to dip into. For example: prairie style dresses? No, never loved the look and never will. Lug-soled boots? Yes, please!

I don't seek to look trendy, but I do want to be current. I tend to implement a trend or maybe two in a look. I do like when my preferences dovetail with a couple of current trends so I don't feel like my look is out of touch. I do shift elements of my style according to what's current, but I'm not knocking myself out every season. For instance, I pay attention to what's coming up in summer sandals every spring because my summer style is not as interesting as my winter style, and I depend on footwear to keep me looking more current. But I will happily wear the same midi dresses and skirts for several seasons because I have no desire to chase the trend of shorter skirts.

I do sometimes see things that seem dated to me, although I do have to say that the term applies more to *combinations* of items rather than the items themselves. For instance, one of the Charly Goss reels on holiday dressing had some photos that I must agree seem dated to my eye because everything was miniskirt-short PLUS leggings/skinnies tight PLUS high heels. Very circa 2000 looking. But take the stilletos and pair them with a roomy trouser and a sweater, or take the miniskirt and pair it with a roomy top and chunky boots, and it would look more current. It's all in the styling.

I don't like the word "unfashionable" for some reason, and I don't see anyone thinking it applies to you, Helena. Your style is classic and that is always fashionable.

RobinF

Veteran

Hmm, interesting discussion. I don't really have a specific source. I follow some fashion people on Instagram - which definitely can be trendy in the "everyone is wearing this" way, which I like to know even though I may not wear it myself. I tend to pick and choose and am a fairly late adopter of trends. It takes my eye a while to adjust so is probably on the way to becoming mainstream (or out) by the time I feel comfortable with the look. Following here helps me see what is coming and then I watch for it.

Helena

Veteran

Janet, thanks for the kind words, and just to clarify in case it sounded wrong or like I was putting down myself or anyone else, or taking offence or anything - I definitely don't think anyone on here would use that word (nor would I - I agree with you; it's not one I like particularly!) I more meant the fashion "powers that be" (Miranda Priestly!!) would probably not give me the fashion nod, which is fine with me as I am not interested in doing the work or spending the money that said nod would require !!

Such a fab conversation Irina!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Interesting discussion. Like Angie, I'd distinguish fringe trends or fashion forward looks (i.e. what's coming way down the pipe via the runway or the street) from what's trending now at retail.

Like Synne, I doubt I have the ability to identify cutting edge trends. Partly due to lack of time (I don't follow most of. the runway shows and can't always interpret the plethora of stimuli there very accurately.) That's one reason I am here -- Angie distills it all so helpfully and several more fashion forward members of the forum also add to the discussion.

I like my style to feel fresh and current -- but since the core of my style is classic, I tend to adopt those trends that are classics-newly-interpreted or, as Angie says, "having a fashion moment" -- assuming they are practical for my lifestyle and I like them. Example this season: lug soled loafers.

I tend to be an eager and fairly early adopter of such trends, which is why I bought high waisted culottes about 4 years before others started wearing them.

Example of a trend having its moment that I haven't bought into -- oversized denim jacket. Nothing wrong with them and one could inject a lot of newness into my style. Angie suggested one for me three years ago. But it did not appeal and I don't have one. I think I would feel too masculine in it so I ruled it out.

Jonesy

Veteran

I love this topic but upon reflection, I'm not really sure how to articulate my process! Hmmm, here goes...I do follow the fashion cycles (e.g., I watch the RTW and couture shows, and related street style pics, on vogue.com) and I enjoy being current to some degree, so I am usually ready to adopt whatever strikes my fancy. I enjoy putting together outfits and incorporating new items into my wardrobe--it's a creative, fun outlet for me, in contrast to my pretty intense job and family life!--so I am always ready for what's around the corner. But I don't hop onto every trend either--that would be too much, and not really sustainable (I tend to hang onto things for a long time and don't generally buy fast fashion, with a few exceptions here and there). It's a balance with me.

Since there is so much variety in terms of what is trendy or current, I do tend to stick with certain silhouettes that have some longevity for me. For example, I have worn loose-fitting or oversized clothes since I was an adolescent. They were trendy in the 80s and 90s, but fell out of favor during the tight/low-rise bootcut + tight cropped top era. Now oversized clothes are trendy again, which makes me happy because I can find stuff to buy, but I will continue to wear things loose going forward, because that's what I like. Also, certain designers I favor like Dries van Noten have created loose-fitting or oversized clothes for 15+ years, so to me, this sort of silhouette goes beyond what's "of the moment," if that makes any sense. Ditto lugged-sole boots: I was wearing them before they became trendy, and I will happily continue to wear them as they become increasingly ubiquitous, because I like them for my own style and they are very practical and comfortable for me. Other current trends, like the resurgence of the mini-skirt, I can comfortably ignore, because I'm just not that into mini-skirts and have never really worn them.

So...I'm not sure I've answered much of your question with this ramble, lol!

ETA: After posting my comment I saw Janet's comment about pairing certain items together in a new way--this to me is style, and it really resonated with me. It's like a fun puzzle I get to put together every day :). It makes me happy and feels creative and lively, which I need in my life.

Vildy

Veteran

I read the style sections of the Guardian and the Telegraph. That gives me an ongoing overview of trends and usually with numerous photo examples. A lot of older people who don't follow fashion get their trend information from what soap opera stars are wearing. The papers above are full of discussion and illustration of current royals' style. Along with myriad others, I like Kate Middleton's style above all I read certain menswear blogs and articles. .

Dee

Veteran

Since fashion is inherently creative, it will always be changing and it sure is fast paced these day, so I find it hard to keep up and sometimes I don’t even want or need to.
YLF is my primary source for info on trends, but the newsfeed on my ipad also offers fashion articles on trends as well. I don’t follow anyone on IG.
I’m a late adopter so I tend to wait until trends work their way into mainstream retailers before I assess whether I’m on board or not.

BlueJay

Veteran

I like this distinction, Angie:

A look can be dated, but not the item.

If people are wearing the item everywhere, then I know it's gone mainstream. haha! If I don't own it, then it's a trend.

When trying to identify what is "new", Angie's trend reports are good places to start.

I also look at fashion week pictures, particularly the street styles, and even sometimes "designer" retail items that are extremely expensive and waaay out of my budget. The "trends" are usually more expensive because it's "new" and there are less of it available, but offers good clues as to what will be a trend (colour, pattern, silhouette), especially if many designers have the same idea. Mainstream has both high and low price points and is more readily available (a good thing)!

SarahD8

Veteran

What a great discussion here!

To answer your question, Irina, about how I get ideas about what is trendy -- I think mostly by osmosis. I sort of absorb patterns in what people are wearing here on the forum, in the items that Angie shows in her roundups, what's available at retail (less browsing in stores and more like if I need something and am looking for it online, I might notice oh hey, they're styling skirts like such-and-such now), in what the people around me are wearing (though honestly, this probably least of all as I don't get out much and my milieu is not very fashion-forward). I do not have a "process" whereby I sit down and suss out what's new for each season.

My own relationship to trends:
-sometimes it's fun to participate in trends and have a sense of being part of the collective (we're all wearing X sort of earrings this year) but in general I'm not that concerned about being on trend as a matter of principle.
-I do want my style to evolve, I don't want it to be frozen in time and I definitely don't want to look stuck in a particular era. But I'm not sure my aim is even to look "current," exactly. I'd like to look *intentional* (and doing so probably requires some kind of nod to currency or at least evolution over time), but am happy to be marching to the beat of my own drum.
-I like noticing things that people are wearing or how they are wearing them that may be new to me, but I'm kind of like an indiscriminate magpie, I see something shiny and new-to-my-eye and it interests/intrigues me so I might try something similar myself. But said intriguing, new-to-my-eye thing might not be "trendy" at all. Maybe I was just struck by someone else marching to the beat of their own drum!

I do think it's useful to be aware of what's out there in order to take advantage of what's available at retail (or, conversely, to be able to recognize when retail is not going to serve me well in a particular way for the current season). I am sure that my style is *shaped* by trends but it's not as though my style just boils down to picking and choosing the trends that I like.

Runcarla

Veteran

Keeping abreast of trends is something I do to support my personal style. Mostly I like to get ideas on how to style/restyle items I already own in new-to-me ways, so street style summaries from around the world are on my roster - especially during the fashion weeks. I still snag the occasional paper magazine, and lightly follow a few of the ones I used to buy that have gone digital (now free via my library!) I follow a few bloggers. Instagram - not so much. Angie is #1 for identifying and synthesizing the trends in my world!

People watching and window shopping plays a role too, and I’ve copied a way of styling an item from someone I’ve seen grabbing a coffee at the Starbucks this summer, and from Fabbers who’ve posted interesting OOTD combinations. I talk fashion with the folks who work in the shops I frequent, and discuss beauty trends (and fashion) with the stylist who does my hair and my aesthetician.

I’m generally a late adopter when it comes to ‘the thing’ that needs to be purchased in order to be added to my closet, but rolling, tucking, belting, tying, layering, paring back, matching or clashing can be experimented with more immediately.

kkards

Veteran

i'm very interested in and follow the fashion trends each season, even if i tend to dress fairly classic. in the old days i loved to read fashion mags, these days i find myself watching a lot of YouTubers who distill the trends and of course Angie's seasonal and fringe trend post. i guess i just like to know what's happening. i also do a lot of people watching, and pay attention to what my coworkers are wearing.
on a personal level, like others have mentioned, i aim to look current. and for me current means that i will incorporate some trends, but they need to be trends that work with my existing style

as an aside, one of the more interesting YouTube videos on trends that i watched recently was Trinny comparing a couple of different "fashion authorities" fall 22 trends and what what consistent and what was unique to each. (at work right now, so can not link the Youtube, but will try to find it later). she also then talked about how she would interpret the trends.

i will also add, that i do think its ok not to follow trends, and its ok to be a total trend follower. neither is inherently good or bad, and each have there own merits.

Irina

Veteran

Very interesting and informative. I'm working from the office today and will post comments later.
Cheers, ladies!

judy

Veteran

I think throughout my life my adopting this or that fashion wise has always been a balance of "seeing it" and/or "wanting to be it". So sometimes I'd see someone wearing something and get inspired (back in the day it was IRL and mags), but other times, it's something I feel inside, like a more masculine or feminine approach, and then seeking things out to express that, like going more workwear or adding scarves or jewelry. It's like artistry, paying attention to how it bubbles up from who knows where, really...and then going with it, like playing dress up when we were kids, its fun! Nowadays we are inundated with inspiration on these little machines we have, and for me at least where I live, nothing at all IRL. But I feel like it's still that intuitive balancing, sometimes acquiring new things (and therefore being affected by what is available trend wise), and sometimes playing with what I have in a new way.

rachylou

Veteran

I’m back… so the subject of identifying trends… this is quite the process. I think I rely on a survey of things… Angie, media, ‘on the street’ in varying locations, my haunts, etc. There has to be a certain momentum in time and space. One person at a bookstore one month, then another individual at another bookstore two months later v a person at the grocery, a person near campus and a person at work the same week. I do think you know something new is going to start bubbling up when the majority of people are wearing something and it’s been a year. Because the Devil Wears Prada… that’s probably been like seven years over the whole arc of things.

Speaking of which, I got some fuller leg jeans, maybe even seven years ago, because I was really interested in patch work. They are honestly just now coming in to their own with the trend as seen now…

LJP

Veteran

Janet , Jonesy and kkards have already articulated my thoughts . Specifically though , I am heavily interested in fashion in all aspects : the business end and the design end . I do pay attention to what’s going on , even if my wardrobe no longer reflects it the way it once did . I’m now removed from the business end , and I don’t need a work wardrobe like I once did so trends are less important to me with each passing year . I’m an early adopter in some areas - lug sole boots and shoes for one , but later in others : high waisted wide leg jeans for example . I consider the definition of trends the way Angie does and agree that it’s less the garment that’s dated and more the whole look of an outfit . I follow some women on IG and blogs , and still read digital mags but with less enthusiasm than I once did . I had to nod along with Janet’s comment that the word “trend “ seems to invoke some negativity among forum members , which is too bad . It shouldn’t be a judgment of any sorts .

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I think in my teens I must have looked in stores or maybe my parents’ printed newspapers for ideas, in my 20s mainly browsing in stores (certain fashionable ones of the time), in my 30s maybe what other people were wearing and in stores, and in my 40s stores, early internet, magazines. In my early 50s still magazines plus in-store, these are the years my wardrobe got too big.
Discovering YLF at age 56 really helped with the “bigger picture” especially ahead of time, plus I do look at an NZ-specific website called Fashionz occasionally. It shows brands. I plan my wardrobe much more now, more on what I like personally from the smorgasbord of options. I think I only buy trends almost accidentally if I already like what is trending. If I don’t, I just wait. They will change!

Sloper

Veteran

Great thoughts, Irina!

I haven't read everyone's comments above - I'm so eager to share my own immediately (a rare occurrence!).

I love "fashion" - which to me is anything anyone wears and how they wear it. I'm visual and love eye candy of all sorts. A trend doesn't have to work for me, for me not to enjoy looking at it, appreciating the creativity that spawned it, and seeing it on others.

For inspiration and trend-watching, I like looking at the seasonal collections (easy to find on Vogue.com), at the trend stories on retailers' websites (Saks, Matches, Bergdorf, etc.), Instagram, at any fashion section of any publication I get my eyes or hands on. Movies, TV...The more visual input the better. High or low - I don't care.

Instagram is great (for me) because new-to-me designers constantly pop up in my feed, as well as people who love to dress creatively.

Pre-Covid, I did enjoy mall-walking and people watching, and seeing merchandise on display.

What, to me, is a trend? Something new (or new to a new generation). But I don't buy every new thing - I'm not a heavy analyzer - either I like it (see link below), or not. Also I'm old enough to have lived through lots of fashion cycles - and have the things (shapes, colors) I like and buy no matter what - when they are back "in" it just means more goodies for me.

The special moments are when something new (and not necessarily trendy) comes along and has that magic.

Kind of a super weird example - if you've ever seen Robocop - this is how I feel...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6F6u5TIUbI

Jules

Veteran

"Do you look at the brands that offer more fashion forward clothes and wait for a retailer of your choice to come up with a version of it?"
I do look for Old Navy/The Gap to come out with trendy denim cuts (sometimes it feels like a slower version of hitting refresh on my browser, lol). But I will go elsewhere for new trends I love if it's not happening fast enough.

Sal

Veteran

Like others I used to buy fashion magazines. Whilst I rarely purchased the exact pieces shown it gave me context . In the past I worked with stylish women who also gave me good ideas both in shopping together or by copying and adapting.

Now it’s a real mix. Angie and the forum here are a big help- and the fact I am in a different hemisphere helps me resist some of the temptation. What’s available here can be ahead, in sync or behind the US scene - or sometimes it’s just different. But by the time our spring/summer comes I have seen forum members purchase and outfits for inspiration.

Street style and YouTube, and a couple of boutiques are the other main influences. If I go out to a restaurant I check out what people are wearing, or on day trips to other cities.

I like Trinny, Signe, Justine and Alyssa on YouTube - plus another YouTuber called MM style. Their styles are different to mine but that’s what I like.

In the weekend I went to a boutique fashion parade - it was at a coastal resort and the models were men and women of different ages and sizes. It gave me new ideas - and it was a lot of fun. My sister bought a stunning dress that looked awesome on her in the Kelly green that I have been admiring.

There are constants with me- midi lengths, flat waisted wide leg trousers (long or cropped), sandals, florals, clear colours, dresses and straight leg denim. I do stretch - both skinnies and pleated trousers are not my best shapes but I have responded to the trends and worn them my way.

I take my wardrobe seriously - but not trends or fashion. But I know that my palazzo pants in 2022 or skinnies in 2015 were me wearing the trends. I share Angie’s attitude that it’s a source of fun and relaxation in life.

I agree that anything can be worn now - it’s how you style it. And whilst some combinations can be stale - that’s also just fine. I think wearing all the trends or none of them doesn’t make you a less or more interesting person. I like to think about how I present myself - it is a hobby. It helps me mental health too.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Reading others' comments I was nodding at various points -- like kkards, Jenni, Lisa, Carla, and more, I used to be an avid reader of the fashion magazines. It's so long ago now that I barely remember it!

The other thing I did in my 20s was "shop" at the stores I could not afford -- Creeds, Holts, etc. Rarely -- very rarely -- I'd find something I could buy in the sale racks, and oh, the joy of that!

That's where I learned to recognize beautiful fabrics, interesting cuts, excellent (or poor) construction. I also saw the trends as they developed in those higher-end collections and when I live in a large city, I still go to stores to drink that in.

My mother sewed and my father's mother was a milliner and a seamstress, and our neighbour was an exceptionally creative home sewer. None of that taught me about trends but it did help me think about patterns and how they work. There was some unsubtle pressure on me to become a sewist but I resisted mightily. I say that without pride or shame; I just wasn't interested in making or designing the clothes -- more in "arranging" them.

To answer your question more specifically, Irina -- even today, I do sometimes look at fashion forward (and expensive) retailers or designers' offerings and then search out a style at a price point I can afford. But I don't start out saying to myself: Hmm, what trends do I want to try this season. The process is more: I see something, I like it, and I think -- that would be fun to try!

Also, Carla raised a really good point -- it is easier (and cheaper) a lot of times to try a styling trend (scrunching, cuffing, belting vs. not belting, etc. and the other examples she gives) and I definitely like to do that and look for that in images.

Irina

Veteran

Thank you all, it is an interesting topic, indeed.

I thought about it for a while, looking at the trendy outfits that young women display on the streets of my city, which is a big, urban center.

Like many of you, I love all things fashion. I don’t read magazines but I watch shows, read reviews and follow some fashionable women on IG.

I like learning about new trends as much as I like to read about history of fashion and it’s houses, designers, trade and such.

I used to think that I adopt and wear some trends and sometimes successful with it. But when I look at my 2022 purchases, I can’t deny that I’m not really a trendy person. I bought garments that in the style I prefer right now but they are either mainstream (wide cropped pants, oversized t-shirts and a blazer) or closer to classic. I like to look at the architecture of an outfit, it’s composition, an unusual take on it more than at flattering clothes. So, more Amy than Charly. I’m interested in those outfits but I’m not trying to replicate them. It’s not about a budget to buy cutting edge designer clothes for me, it is about the whole package. I’m not in a creative profession nor I’m a creative person. Trying to emulate someone like Amy would not be singing beautifully but rather amount to equivalent of bad karaoke in my case, IYKWIM.

And I’m OK with it. I appreciate them teaching me to have fun, wear socks with pumps and a jumper as a skirt Be bold in my own way.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Very enjoyable thread and I have been nodding along with so many responses I have lost track. I came to fashion late in the day - only in my early 40s with three young kids. Prior to that, and despite living and working in lower Manhattan, I had a very small wardrobe and was completely oblivious to fashion. (I am sure I was influenced by surroundings but did not actively think about it.) Once I discovered fashion bloggers, it was like a new world opened to me. I rediscovered my love of thrifting (I thrifted in college for my few clothing items, I always did prefer something unique), but now it was with a more educated eye and an interest in learning about clothing quality and trends. I am now a pretty avid fashion and style hobbyist, enjoy looking at runway shows that used to be complete puzzles to me, love thrifting for the trends, and am good at spotting things that will be popular soon. I am interested in trends and how they work in a more abstract way also (philosophy and anthropology double major ). That said, I am not especially interested in looking trendy, and trends and style advice in general I can take or leave, try and discard easily.

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