Definitely a late adopter, although living in a city is changing that. I didn’t buy a pair of skinny jeans until 2015.

Like TG, I think of “trend” and “fad” as more less interchangeable when talking about fashion. In my mind both refer to looks which sweep the fashion world at multiple price levels for a short period and then disappears until rediscovered a decade or two later.

This is so funny...I just came from my earlier thread where I said to you that this deserved its own conversation. Clearly I was right!

I tend to agree with your distinction between trends and fads so I don't feel negatively about trends at all.

1. I am not and have never been a trend-setter. That is, I lack the fashion flair to come up with new ideas that everybody wants to copy.

2. I am an early adopter of trends that appeal to me/ work within my budget and lifestyle. I try to keep an open mind and don't assume things won't look good on me just because they didn't work in their last incarnation 20 or 30 years ago -- if I like them, and can find them at retail, I try them on. Conversely, I'm not tempted by those that don't work on me or that simply don't ring my personal style bells. If they are grossly impractical for my life, I snort at them.

I fall into the ‘very fashionable or up to date in style or influence’ with regards to how I think of trends. My style is a mix of classic and trendy. That said, I only buy into trends that speak to me and work for me. I've made trend mistakes in the past (like puffed shoulders which are terrible on an IT) but I have a better eye now for what's in line with my style. I'm sometimes a late adopter.....I avoided skinnies in favour of my bootcuts for the longest time. Other times I jump right into them.

Also, Vildy, I'd love to meet your friend.

Nemosmom -- that's another interesting way to distinguish -- between "trend" (the noun) and "trendy" (the adjective). I can see where the latter could have more negative connotations than the former.

I'm in the "if it suits me and is available yet at shops near me". Usually though, when there's a trend I like, I can't find it locally for a long time. Late adopter for things I don't immediately love, when my eye adapts and/or when that's what the retail powers that be give me!

A very interesting thread.

I have been both at various stages if my life depending on work and financial position.

Currently like many -it depends. My basic style has not changed drastically over the years - so when trends line up with my fashion loves I will adopt quickly - at the moment I into linen, midi dresses, some earthy tones and tailored tops with full bottoms.

Really enjoyed Vildy’s story too- although NO IDEA what “coastal”, “flyover”, “Atlantic Pacific” and “Atlantic Jersey Pine Barrens” ( especially that last!) could possibly mean.

oops, Jenni, sorry! By coastal I was meaning sophisticated city dwellers such as New York City or Southern California celebrity blogger style or San Francisco, Ca urban style. Flyover is the thousands of miles in between the coasts, like the Midwestern USA, that some people think get short shrift insofar as being ignored for, well everything. Atlantic Pacific is Blair Eadie's blog, where she seems to alternate between East and West Coast for her photos. She just did a collab with Nordstrom? I think. It was written about on the blog here, I think. The Pine Barrens. Well. It's a semi-wasteland on the way to the seashore, in an otherwise very crowded state where the Southern part of the state is like the outskirts of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the Northern part of the state is like the outskirts of New York City. Google: Pineys to see some folks.

Color is the only trend I jump on right away. The rest is a wait and see.

I have always loved staying current with fashion and tend to get bored and feel frumpy if my clothes are not on trend. To me, trendy is a good thing.

I am not an early adopter, usually about a year behind. I need to see it multiple times to get used to it, unless it is a trend I loved in the past that still appeals to me.

I had the hardest time getting used to non skinny, high waisted pants and tucked or cropped tops. It was all over retail but I felt it would not be flattering.

I'm still not 100% comfortable in my high waisted cropped wide leg plaid pants because they are not as flattering as a slim pant. I feel wide and had to try on many pairs over several months before I found some even close. But, I was getting really bored with only skinny pants and wanted a change. So I decided to try new pants silhouettes and discovered several I like and added:
Cropped high waist jeans - instantly fell in love with the tummy control of the high waist.
Joggers - found some with a waist band so no bulky elastic bunching. These are still tougher to style but working on it.
High waist velvet skinnies in different texture - different enough, love velvet and fell in love immediately.
Suede leggings - feel updated because they are earth tone and new texture.
Girlfriend jeans - old trend i had never adopted. Feel less great in these, probably because they aren't really new.

This all opened up the desire for shorter cropped tops, which I had really disliked before. Now I am actually tucking in my short non waist because I realized -this long leg look is current right now so I should milk it rather than hide it because that is my natural shape which I usually try to disguise and balance out.

Other trends I tried and am liking:
bias cut, satin, animal print, earth tones/olive, white tennis shoes, block heels, mules, velvet, peplums, tennis shoes in general

Things that stay pretty consistent are: hair color/style, pointed toe shoes, usually some feminine detail or pattern, fuschia/pink, teal/tiffany blue, ankle strap shoes

I'm totally a late adopter Anna I'm half with that. I often lean to figure flattery and more classic, sophisticated and luxe looks, which to me address sometimes at odds with new trends.

After spending the first part of my life as pretty much fashion oblivious, I now like to fancy myself an early adopter. As in I love to read trend reports and then thrift my way there asap . For example, I would have never picked up my new to me/old to the world bootcuts last spring if Angie and others had suggested they are coming down the pike!

I’m generally a late adopter. I have to see a new trend a lot before my eyes adjust.

Cheers to Vildy for the amusing explanation

Late, late, late. Partly because it takes time for my eye to adjust, and partly because it takes time for items to be widely available at retail. Many trends I bypass altogether if I don’t think they fit my lifestyle or would flatter me in any way. I’m more a modern classic dresser anyway.

I tend to be a "wait and see" kind of girl. If something winds up having some longevity, it may wind up in my closet.

I'm mostly a late adopter because I buy most of my stuff on sale, plus if I need it in Petite it takes FOREVER for it to be offered in that size range. I've had my hacked kick flares for a few years now, though, because I was able to hack them myself. Flatforms suit my foot needs, and I'm wondering if I should stock up on combat boots because they also fit my foot needs. High waisted pants also work really well for me. . .

I also skip some trends to the extent I am able, but sometimes they are all that is offered at retail. So for those things I am a late adopter?