Death of Trends?

Are we witnessing the end of trends? The JC Report has some interesting thoughts on what constitutes a trend in today’s world. In a series of posts titled “The Death Of Trends”, they explain how in the fashion world there’s no longer monotheistic style “big” trends. Although labeling this development as a “death” is extreme, they do bring up a relevant point.

What’s really going on here (in fashion, and in general) is that instead of a top down, declared big trend (think statements like: “Green is the new black!”) there are thousands of micro trends swarming from the bottom up. Not death, but diversification.Trends are just smaller, move lightning fast, and can come from anywhere and anyone.

From the JC Report:

It’s not just designers who are contributing to the end of boldface trends, however. Armed with broadband and blogrolls, consumers, too, are rejecting the commandments of the editorial elite, taking inspiration from peers around the world to craft their own personal interpretations of style. Rather than buy into one trend from head-to-toe, like the “preppy” or “punk” movements of decades past, consumers are appropriating eclectic influences and remixing them like a DJ does with music. It’s now common to see stylistic mash-ups, like a demure Stella McCartney floral-print blouse coupled with Alexander Wang’s grimy cutoffs and finished off with a pair of Balenciaga’s erotically charged knee-high gladiator sandals.

JC Report: Death of Trends Part 1 / Part 2