I wanted to sit down for a more educational post. Generally in my fashion blogs, and I’ve noticed it other blogs as well, I use the word ‘trend‘ loosely. In my text, ‘trend,’ ‘style,’ or ‘of the moment’ tend to be a little interchangeable, but in reality they’re all just a little different. Today I wanted to talk about the differences between trends and fads.
Knowing the difference between the trends and fads will not only let you impress the “fashion kids” with your lack of ignorance, but it could also help you save a little bit of money. We’ll touch base on it later, but knowing what will stay relevant for decades as opposed to weeks can save you money when shopping for new pieces.
What’s a trend?
So what is the difference? Firstly, trends have staying power. When looking through fashion history, the trends are what you’re more likely to see in the history books. Trends have a lasting impact on the market and/or are impacted by current events in politics, technology, environment, movements, economy, and other sociolandscapes. You are able to delve deep into explaining trends, because they have depth and matter when they’re not around. And what I mean by that is that even if the particular trend isn’t popular in the present, it still reflects an importance in society at the time it was current.
An obvious example of a trend (which is making a huge comeback in 2018) would be 1980s powersuits. You are seeing these all over runways and in stores in 2018, but it’s a trend we’re borrowing from the ’80s. In the ’80s women started entering the corporate workforce and wanted to be taken seriously in a male dominated culture. So they began wearing pant suits with broad shoulder pads in order to “fit in” the workplace they were trying to enter.
So how do we know if something is a trend? If it’s caused by a necessity from society, it makes a comeback, and it lasts more than a few months, it’s a trend–unlike a fad that lasts a few weeks or less.
Very Brief Examples of Other Trends:
- Dior’s New Look: Cinched waists and wide skirts were extremely popular in the late ’40s into the mid ’50s. After the end of WWII, the men returned home, and the women got to remove themselves from factory work.
- In the ’60s, we saw an influx in African Americans wearing their natural hair or corn-row braids due to the civil rights movement becoming more powerful.
- We got sheer, nylon panyhose in the ’60s which made wearing mini and micro mini skirts easier.
- The grunge of the ’90s–sticking it to the man
What’s a fad?
Unlike trends that will always make a comeback and last, fads rise in popularity and build fascination extremely quickly but also fall just as fast. In other words, fads no do not staying power and are short-lived. Also unlike trends, fads lack depth. It’s very difficult to explain why a fad is popular. They usually stem from trends but in a novelty and non-practical way.
In my opinion, I feel that fads are generally created due to do a major influencer or celebrity. We’ll see someone high profile sporting a “fad,” and it will take off like wildfire. But it also burns out pretty quickly. And generally, we don’t miss these things when they’re gone.
Some recent examples of fads:
- Those Kanye glasses? Remember those? Those were not practical.
- The visible thongs of the early 2000s. (Why?)
- Does anyone remember wearing two polos with popped collars in like…2003? I don’t think I ever did this, but I know some of you did.
That was a lot of information. Unfortunately, or fortunately whichever you look at it, for you, I love talking about the importance of fashion. To reiterate:
Trends matter. They have depth and meaning and a lasting impact on society. Trends can last months or decades and will come back when society finds it necessary.
Fads on the other hand generally don’t come back. They lack depth and are novelty and lack practicality. And, apologies to the visible thongs, they aren’t missed when they’re gone.
You may also enjoy these posts:
Let's Chat!