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.
What benefit would someone get from “always” having “loved” something that is just coming into style?
The benefit would be that either a) you would be in style with the things you are already wearing or b) there would be more of what you love available for you to buy. 🙂
Did I understand your question right?
So true! It’s a bit foolish for people to look to others telling them “what’s hot” or “what’s trendy” every few months . . . who cares? Whatever fashions come available, pick and choose what you like. For example I think the whole gladiator trend is hideous and extremely unstylish, but don’t care if others decide to wear it — I just won’t.
Those who say they’ve “always loved _____ ” just as it becomes trendy don’t really seem to care about whatever it is under discussion, they just want to be seen as on top of things, of the moment, having their finger on the pulse of fashion, etc. . . .
fashion trends come and go so quickly, it’s useless scrambling to “keep up to date” ‘cos you’ll just have a closet full of clothes that are “wrong’ . . . until, of course, it all cycles back and becomes stylish again!
That being said I love shopping and seeing what’s new, but never overhaul my wardrobe and never feel the need to obtain “this season’s key pieces” — every season there are “new must-haves” according to somebody. If I like something I get it, if I don’t I ignore it . . . easy!
In my case, there are some things that I’ve “always” loved – such as ruffles or vintage or feminine details, which date WAY back to my ultra-girly childhood – but I haven’t always loved them on me. Or I over-wore them and got sick of them, or didn’t see a way to incorporate them into my styling in a subtle way, or didn’t see how I could add a more modern
I also definitely go through phases and habits – unable to get enough of my favorite items, wearing skirts or dresses or scarves for a week straight, getting hooked on bright colors – that can vary a lot from year to year. It always takes a year or two of seeing a trend work for a variety of other people before I warm up to it or see a way that I can make it work for me. I don’t *want* to look like a fashion slave – I want a wardrobe that feels like me and won’t look out of date in a few years, and I think (hope) that’s what I’ve built.
It’s contrived impression management, so of course it’s annoying.
Fortunately, I can say with all honesty that I have always passionately despised magenta. If I get more testy in a pink season, it’s only because when pink is hot (no pun intended) it’s significantly harder to find sufficient non-pink for those of us who are pink-averse. This us probably true to some extent every season, for whatever the it-shade happens to be, but it certainly *seems* to be more true of pink.
(Strike that – it’s probably equally true of autumn colors when they’re in, and I know they’re as unappealing and/or difficult to wear for some people as pink is for me.)
I am guessing you don’t like a smug, rather self-satisfied attitude. It does seem that some seasons there is a colour conspiracy among designers. I’m the opposite of Mella, and just wash out in earth colours.
Oh Mella, where do you live w/ such an abundance of pinkness available? I have the complete opposite problem: never enough pinks… sometimes its feast or famine, and when pink is trendy I’ll stock up to get me through the dry season, hehehe —
I often hear these pronouncements too, and they are annoying. I often wonder though if it doesn’t stem from a bit of insecurity too. To suddenly be swathed in magenta all the time when it’s trendy does make one seem a little desperate to be “in” when we want to seem stylish, not fashionable. I know when I see someone who is wearing the trend of the season all the time, I wonder about her vision of herself. Has she finally found “her” colour, shape, or print or is she just buying what is fashionable?
I think the litmus test (and it only works if you know someone quite well) is if indeed they have always worn magenta/harem pants/the safari look.
Christine
Does it count that I’ve always loved the safari look? Never actually been able to afford the real deal, unfortunately. lol