High fashion - who actually is a slave to fashion?

[Bunbaker]

Walking round a well known shopping mall today I noticed that no-one was wearing the latest fashions currently being sold in the shops.

The stores are full of 1960s geometric designs that look like they have been designed by someone on acid, and not one person was wearing these clothes. I suspect that most of them are going to end up on the sale rails in July.

Who actually does buy these clothes? When I shop for clothes I am too old to slavishly follow fashion, yet I don't want to look frumpy so I buy what suits me and doesn't look too dated.

As I have morphed into an old gimmer, I have a better idea of what is going to look really rubbish. I make fewer mistakes now, but roughly follow your plan.

I sort of wonder if fads have had their day to some extent. People these days seem much more invested in buying versions of recent classics like ankle boots, nice knits, skinny jeans etc. I have loads of old fashion mags from the last few years and I the stuff from 2005ish onwards is the stuff I'd wear today.

Or else it's just an age thing -- I'm 30 and ancient. Still, I wonder. And you're right the geometric stuff will end up on sale rack.

I think I'm too old for all that. I wear what I like / suits me, and if something that's in fashion meets that criteria, then I'll get it.

I often wonder this! Agree with above poster. I usually notice some key pieces around that the shops sell out of really quick but many clothes that just don't seem that wearable and will probably end up in the sales.

TBH (and I don't live in London or in a city so might be why) this season has been particularly wishy washy in terms of fashion. Last year it was all skinnies and long boots but I can't see much of a pattern to things this A/W. Am I missing something?!

I really don't understand why unwearable fad clothing is being made in such large quantities, only to be put on sale with a 70% reduced price because no ones buys it...such waste.

I agree. And so much of it is manufactured from man made fibres these days. When you are lucky enough to find something made from cotton it is so thin.

Many women on here say that shops are catering towards the younger market eg the teenage girls, so maybe they are buying these clothes.

I think people are more clued in to the shapes, lengths and colours that suit them to follow fads.

I wonder this when I look at ASOS: who buys this insane stuff? I'm sure that the students of Central St Martins/the people who went to 'All Tomorrow's Parties' festivals/Dobby from Peep Show can't be buying all of it!

Interestingly though, if you look at Net a Porter or the other top dollar clobber websites, they are full of black dresses and other classic items.

My DS is at Central St. Martins and the students there appear to wear their own style including a lot of vintage and thrift shop stuff, so that's another group who don't follow current trends! I see the 16-19 age range wearing all kinds of stuff and suiting themselves, it's great to see the freedom in clothing nowadays. I don't follow fashion myself but still love clothes and buy lots.

Are the 1960s geometric designs part of the new season stuff coming in? I haven't seen any of it. Maybe I just have tunnel vision for the things that suit me and don't notice the rest.

The geometric stuff has been around for a while.

I think it takes a while for new styles to filter through. Think how long it took skinnies to go from - only the really slim can wear them, I'm sticking with my bootcuts, they're a fad to they're a classic and we can't be without them.
And I still remember how long it took bootcuts to take hold after years of people wearing drainpipes....I remember people gasping in horror when I wore 70's flares in my youth because tight trousers were the thing.

I don't think there's any chance of fashion coming to an end, I know some people like to dress in the same thing every year and only make minor changes but I would get seriously bored, I'm not a classic dresser, I crave new shapes, colours, not that I would suggest I am a slave to fashion, I just don't ever have the desire to dress like a Parisian, I'd feel like my mother.

I agree bunbaker skinniest are supposedly being replaced by boyfriend jeans now but I still see plenty of people wearing their skinnies and buying more!

Sorry meant snowdown

I was looking at jeans yesterday and most shops had skinny and bootcut in equal quantities. I prefer slim straight leg as they suit me the best.