Fashion is unpredictable, ever evolving and ever revolving!

Fashion is highly impulsive. It is random at times, and is often a little strange. The years 2014 and 2015 brought back style trends from the '90s, while 2016 saw the entry of plaids, cold shoulders, tighter knife pleats, mesh, bathrobe dresses and fur bathroom slippers. Never had we thought that we would see ourselves following these peculiar fashion trends, but here we are, embracing the styles popular in our childhood days and wearing crushed velvet dresses, slips over t-shirts, oversized sweatshirts, and fringed denim as adults.

Vintage fashion makes a comeback

The year gone by has managed to pick some dated looks from the 70s and 80s and make them cool again, all thanks to Hollywood celebrities and socialites such as Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, and Kylie Jenner who never stopped flaunting them in front of the shutterbugs! The year 2017 will yet again bring about a slew of vintage styles modified to meet the demand for something fresh by today’s fashion-conscious generation. Some of the popular trends in recent times will disappear in the next few months, as is the way of the fashion world. Some styles might stick around for longer, but the year will be the year of throwbacks paying homage to the vintage fashion trends of yore. How do we know it? Simply head to your closet. You will spot your favorite denim representing the style of the 1950s, the crop tops from the 1980s, those block and platform heels from the 1960s and the pleated midi skirt that might have been worn for romantic brunches during mid-century.

Ever-evolving fashion

The revolving doors of fashion trends are constantly in action. Every time the past favorites are revived, however, the fashion industry invariably comes up with some modifications. Such evolutions give style conscious people a chance to enjoy the bygone fashion trends in a way that suits their lifestyles and their more nuanced sensibilities. Fashion is of the highest priority for many people and extends way beyond clothes to shoes, accessories, and even how people do their hair. It therefore becomes important for the fashion industry to constantly keep up with the times, even when it goes back to vintage trends.

This particular phenomenon has been happening for hundreds of years, probably ever since clothes first became more ornate and less functional. We can trace the demand for more stylistic clothing back to the 17th century, when the cultural influence of the Parisian society was at its peak and led to the French developing a lavish taste for stylistically innovative and technically exceptional fashion. French designers have been creating the most renowned and coveted fashion brands in the world ever since. Chanel, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Hermes, Louis Vuitton… the list is long and is constantly being added to.

So what makes fashion change? It is probably the simple fact that people change. They are mostly influenced by popular culture. Style icons such as musicians, movie stars, celebrities, socialites, television shows and members of the fashion fraternity have to keep adopting fashion that has a new angle, be it new clothing styles or hairstyles, to maintain their popularity within their social circles and respective fandoms. These trendsetters then influence their followers, who also seek out the latest fashion fads adopted by their favorite stylistas. This is the major reason why fashion trends constantly evolve and change over time.

The rapidly changing nature of fashion trends makes it unwise at times to invest too much when it comes to luxury wear, be it international brands or Indian designer labels. It isn’t even a question of affordability of consistent splurges on luxury wear; the greatest concern for the discerning fashionistas is to keep up with ever-evolving style trends and fill up their closets with the latest couture without being burdened by outdated fads.

Novel ways of consumption

New-age online platforms are helping them address these concerns by allowing the buying and selling of designer, luxury, and trendy labels at deeply discounted prices. Not only are these platforms establishing a new way for individuals to shop for the latest trends, but are also giving them an opportunity to monetize their closets. This allows the fashion-conscious women to keep their closets revolving and always up to date.

Currently, the online fashion market is worth US $7 billion and is expected to grow to US $30 billion by 2020, of which 20% is expected to comprise of premium and luxury fashion. With fashion and technology already intersecting, there will be a persistent democratization of fashion with high-end labels and luxury brands offering inexpensive options and more engagement with a broader audience spectrum through social media and blogs. As for the trends, since fashion is so incredibly unpredictable, let’s just stay game for more surprises. After all, the key to staying fashionable is to look confident in whatever you wear and carrying yourself with grace!