Identifying Fads/Trends and Classics

I’m sure you can all identify with me, when you have a big clear out of your wardrobe, either because you have no more space or you feel like spring cleaning, then you are hit with throwers remorse. It is very hard to know what to keep and what to not. My general rule is if it’s a classic it stays and if it’s a Fad it goes. If of course you have a massive wardrobe it can be fun to keep and fun to sieve through 20 years down the track. You should always keep classics  like a white shirt, pencil skirt, classic black pants and tailored jackets. So lets talk about Fads, Trends and Classic to help you make those wardrobe throw out decisions.

A Fad whether related to Fashion or anything for that matter is something that is short lived. It is extremely popular but for a short time and is followed with enthusiasm and zeal.

Of recent times the Jeggings would have to fit into this category. This is a Bubble up effect. Jeggings is a recent variant of leggings. They are leggings that take certain attributes from jeans, such as colour and style and seams down the side. Topshop introduced them in 2009 but the term originated in Japan. These wouldn’t be possible though without the technology to produce fabric (stretch) that looks digitally like denim.  As they are very comfortable society loved wearing them. Jeggings were a social fashion cycle.

Another Fad seen currently is the Nerd glasses as they have been termed. They were originally made of horn, tortoise shell or plastic in the 1950’s. They were a type of eyeglass students wore with the main characteristic being their lack of nose pads.  Today they are made fashionable by celebrities such as Pink and Lily Allen.  We are even seeing them on the runways, magazines and music video clips.  (Bubble up). They are a social fashion cycle.

A Trend is a general movement or direction in Fashion.

After in depth discussions our group decided that femininity will be the next trend. We are seeing it already but think it will continue strong with the current interest with television hit series like ‘The Mad Men Series’ where woman dressed like woman in stockings, dresses, hats, gloves and all the accessories. We are seeing alot of the designers like Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior being influenced by this glamour period of the 40, 50’s and 60’s. We all welcome this change away from masculine, minimal lines and can’t wait to see woman dress as woman used to.

The colour we predict are the soft pastels, particularly all shades of pink.

What is a classic?

Something that is continually in fashion usually because of its simplicity and basic need.

LBN: (trickled down).Everyone knows this stands for Little Black number. It is usually cut simply and quite short. The origin of the LBN dress can be traced to the 1920’s and Coco Chanel. It is essential to every wardrobe it’s almost a rule of fashion. Worn with a jacket and pumps for daytime attire or business wear then with ornate jewellery and killer heals and you have evening wear. When choosing your LBN make sure it is not part of a trend.  Chanel was the first to introduce black as a fashion colour; her versatile, semi-formal "little black dress" became a Chanel trademark.

Black was used for Day wear, evening wear and cocktail wear.  Black has continued to dominate throughout the decades. 

Chanel stripped down the design of women’s attire in 1926, no longer did the designs focus on bosoms, stomachs, and rump.  It was the simplifying taste of Chanel that woman could identify with.   No longer could men dictate what woman should wear. 

The LBN due to its simplicity will never be out of flavour, it’s something that can be worn to any occasion. The Little Black Dress started out being a political, feminism fashion cycle, nowadays though it is socially exceptable to wear a LBN anywhere.