A Trend to (Maybe) Try Archives

10 MUST HAVE ITEMS for Spring and Summer 2017?

May 25, 2017

I get dozens of these lists, and once in a while I actually take a look to see if there are any fresh ideas I can learn, or at a minimum some insights into the fashion zeitgeist that I can observe... In all fairness, this list was written by a young lady half my age, so her insights might be very different from mine!

In finding examples of these trends, I've tried to stick to relatively inexpensive pieces (with 1 exception I can remember). If you're tempted by a trend, it only makes sense not to spend the monthly grocery budget on an item that you might not want to EVER see again after Labor Day. (aka early September...)

As always, some aren't bad ideas, some are ridiculous, and many of them depend on the individual. ... View the Post

Six BIG Trends to Try (Maybe) for Spring!!!!

March 21, 2016

These lists always crack me up, but I think they're worth considering, from time to time. I see two sides of this issue:

I hate this, because I don't think you should listen to what someone tells you to wear unless you're in an organization for which a uniform is appropriate, or if you're in a wedding.... but It can be edifying to see what other people think of as "can't miss" because it can clue you into things that are going to be readily available in stores for a while, and maybe remind you that it's time to replace or upgrade something that you haven't purchased in years.

Yes, my name is Janice (like Janus, the god of beginnings, endings, doorways, portals, and both sides of everything). The '90s ... View the Post

Are These Trends for You? Autumn/Winter 2015

Two people sent me this list, from a well-known magazine, asking if I thought that the items included on this list were things that they should consider buying.Oh, me and trends.... it's a conflicted relationship...

On the one hand, I don't think we should EVER let ourselves be dictated to in terms of what we buy. Unless someone else is going to flat out GIVE me something, I will make my own purchasing choices. And I think there's something inherently self-defeating about chasing trends: you spend money that you probably shouldn't waste on things that are, by definition, going to be obsolete in a short period of time.

That said, I think that unless you're a very famous poet, you should try to look as if you're somewhat in touch with ... View the Post

Accent Colors for Fall 2015

August 10, 2015

You remember these guys, right? They're the colors that Pantone assured us would be the BIG colors for this fall and winter.Well, I've seen a lot of Marsala in the windows at Ferragamo. Other than that, I can't say that, in my hours and hours spent each day looking at clothing and accessories, I have seen any of these in large quantities. And for what it's worth, I had to do some serious hard-core digging to find some of the goodies shown below.

I think we can conclude that Pantone's either not as accurate as they would like to be, or that the market is much less dependent upon their advice than they once were. This is a real annoyance if you fell madly in love with one of the colors that was supposed to be ... View the Post

A Trend to (Maybe) Try: An Upgraded Sweatshirt

September 15, 2014 One of the joys of having all of our core basics covered in our wardrobes is that, if a trend happens along that holds some interest and appeal, we can give it a try! This year, sweatshirts with some sort of enhancement seem to be everywhere. I've seen jeweled, beaded, embroidered, textured, and printed ones - some of them very beautiful. These can be worn with nice trousers and good-quality leather shoes on casual Friday in most offices. However, be careful, because some of these sweatshirts, while very lovely, are BLINDINGLY expensive. Happily, there are also very similar products available at more reasonable prices. Just check to be sure that your new purchase is put ... View the Post