No really, do you?
With fashion month in full swing, I got to thinking - what's the deal with trends? Don't get me wrong, I love to see the process of a trend taking place, but do we all really love what's trending? Not always.
I'm a big believer in personal style. The fashion world can get so cluttered sometimes, meaning that personal style is the only way you can organise it all - using two foolproof ways of course, the love it pile, or the hate it pile (both that exist purely in our minds, the latter is usually forgotten about). By having a deeply ingrained personal style, trends don't always lead the way, we do.
I can only imagine that designers work this way too, as I've never personally asked (maybe one day, I will). Yes, they're business men and women, but they're also creatives and work with their heart. What we see on the runways, comes from passion. The same passion we put into those two personal style piles. It's not forced and it's certainly not influenced by anything other than itself.
So is it their passion that influences us as spectators and shoppers, or a connection with that passion? My guess is an emotional mixture of both.
And it's not just limited to the major four cities that we see across fashion month, oh no. This kind of love-hate, passion fuelled trend-fest takes place at fashion weeks all around the world. Just because a designer is lesser known, emerging or brand new, doesn't meant the theory is blown out of the water. Maybe, it's even stronger.
I once read that consumers will hunt for what's right, whether it's mainstream or not. But, just like that inner passion when it comes to editing out the noise with trends, it exists in individuality. Some of the fashion giants appeal to the masses, but not always - if they don't fall into that love it pile, they never will.
That's the beauty of sites like Net-a-Porter and MyWardrobe, or even more independent ones like Wold & Badger and Tumqo, they're offering a range of designers (yes, and trends) that appeal to that passion.
Think about it. Do you wear the brands you do, just because others do? My guess is no, just no. You're wearing it because it fell into that exact same love it pile as the trends did. The designer's style suits yours, whether they're mainstream or not. If you relate to a collection, brand or designer, it's because you've found your passion's niche, not because you're forced to.
So, the next time you accuse yourself of being a sheep, remember: it's not possible, your love it pile is there because you made it. Trends may come and go, but your wardrobe says so much more.