What if Fashion Trends Were Predictable?
What difference would it make in your wardrobe planning if you were able to forecast fashion trends yourself? Well, maybe you can.
According to author and wardrobe expert Suzie Woodward (who blogs at Suzie’s Haute Line), there is and has been throughout history a predictable cycle of three silhouettes and their accompanying characteristics. From her 1984 book Susie Woodward’s Wardrobe Strategy, which I picked up at a thrift store a long time ago and recently pulled out again, the three cycles are:
- Town and Country (which I am sorely tempted to rename “separates”)
- Sophisticate
- Gamin (can you say “saucy”?)
Once upon a time, a person would live his or her entire life within one of these cycles. Or generations would clash, as when Anne insisted she must have puffed sleeves and Marilla just couldn’t see it. By the 1960s, due primarily to the influence of TV, cycles had settled in to about every five years, with regional and generational variation.
Next up, according to the professional website of Suzie Woodward, now Morris, is the sophisticate cycle (see examples of the silhouette). In my mind, I think this chic shape resembles a lightning bolt more than a V or a Y. I’ve always loved it. Or at least since the late 80s.
I have to add, though, with the advent of the internet and increased globalization, it’s my opinion that we probably see every shape pretty much all the time. In other words, the cycles have blurred. Which is both a good thing (more options) and a bad thing (more confusion).
And a confession: until I found her website, I had thought we were moving from a Sophisticate cycle into Saucy.
What are you craving in the way of fresh looks?
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Style Personality and Trendiness
There is a certain trait of a particular style personality that I find annoying. Whatever is definitively of the moment is this person’s favorite, which isn’t so bad, but IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN. For example, if magenta is the color of the season, not only is this person’s favorite color magenta, but magenta has always been their favorite color. How can that be? Why not just be honest and say “I’m loving magenta this season”?
The reverse is less common. Somehow it seems that the person who can’t stand to wear what everyone else is wearing is also more upfront about it. In other words, they’ll just tell you, “I used to really like magenta, but now I’m tired of seeing it on everyone.”
Perhaps I am being uncharitable. Perhaps these people (usually the ones I call Contemporary Classics) are not dishonest as much as they are less self-aware. Which reminds me of multiple intelligences and this excellent book.
