Are Fashion Trends Dead?

The Wall Street Journal reported recently that when it comes to fashion “There are no more trends.  Everything is in style.” (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704320104575015141536429662.html)  Women wear what they want to wear, and I’m all for that!  If you look around, it seems that every length of skirt is available as is every cut of pants.  As the WSJ said “The trench coat has been ‘in’ for the past five years, and will be hot next year, too.”  As it should be!

It has not always been this way.  For those of you who remember the 1970’s, you know how liberating this new concept is.  Back then, there was one skirt length – short!!  Pants were low rise and bell bottom and good luck to anyone who wanted to wear (or looked better in) anything else.  Or, how about the 1980’s when all you couldn’t find a pair of attractive flat shoes if your life depended on it.  Thankfully, that has all changed.  But, have we gone far enough in the choices we offer?

I can’t help but think that when they say that the concept of trends is dead (or something to that effect) that they might have jumped the gun just a bit.  Ask women who were shopping this past season (or two) and found mostly yellow, gray and purple, short boxy jackets and very few skirts anywhere, and you know that the designers still have some influence.

I have a novel idea.  Rather than dictating to women what the current fashions are, how about if the designers ask women what they want!  For instance, just try to find a nice looking, scoop neck tank in a fabric that isn’t tissue paper thin to wear under a jacket.  There are a few out there, but you have to hunt to find them.  A designer could make a fortune just providing those in beautiful colors.  And, yes, women wear jackets (especially the baby boomers), and we’d like something other than black and gray and maybe some elegant details, please.  It doesn’t seem like too much to ask.  It would also translate into more sales for the designers and retailers.  I cannot tell you how many women told me this past year about how they wanted to buy more than they did (a coat, jacket, or suit, for example), but couldn’t find anything they liked.  Is anyone listening?