Yes, I think there are some things that have a very trendy vibe that could be shorter-lived, like blinking lighted spikes or something, versus what becomes classics.But aren't buying pre-loved and suistainability right on trend?
Plus, when we buy vintage stuff, don't we often buy what was once on trend? There is this sense that trendy things age badly. I think the opposite is the truth: things that become classic tend to be representative of the time when they were born. For example, the Hermes Bolide, which is beyond classic, a bag that has been in continuous production for practically 100 years and never looks out of place. It was conceived to allure bob-haired girls who would travel by motor car (the novelty!) for a weekend of swinging and had need for nothing more than a feather weighted flapper dress and skimpy silk undies. Was there anything trendier than that in the 20s (or ever)?
Being "on trend".. Why??
- Thread starter Shelby33
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I love the quality and style of a beautifully designed purse and love how a purse can totally pull an outfit together. However, I don’t really care to run out and buy every “it” bag. I buy designs I like in silhouettes that are practical and useful for me.
I bought a Mansur Gavriel small tote a year ago and it’s my go-to work bag. Most people don’t recognize it and it doesn’t matter to me that MG isn’t as popular as it was 5-6 years ago. It’s a good, sturdy, bag that looks polished and professional and fits all my stuff. I plan to keep it for a long time.
My other expensive ($1,000+) bags are a small zipped Bayswater and a Gucci soho disco — Neither are current, but both are very practical and versatile designs. Both bags can go almost anywhere and not look out of place!
Most fashion professionals and style obsessed people just go their own way IME.
As for Insta followers, I think most just enjoy the chase and being part of the in-crowd for a season and that's fashion as it's always been. It's not wrong but the peer pressure is.
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That’s a great discussion. Speaking for myself, If I thought something was dated I would not use it, because I no longer liked the vibe. However if I loved something I would continue to use it as I don’t really care what the current trend thinks. Not sure if that makes sense...
No that makes sense to me. Things do give off a "vibe" and if it no longer expresses how you feel today, you won't want to use it.That’s a great discussion. Speaking for myself, If I thought something was dated I would not use it, because I no longer liked the vibe. However if I loved something I would continue to use it as I don’t really care what the current trend thinks. Not sure if that makes sense...
I think that is the “trick” though. The sweet spot when buying trendy or “it” items is to have the eye to know that they will age well and have the opportunity to become icons.
In contrast, let’s take the Moschino pool toy bag. I don’t know that that could ever become iconic. It can probably be worn ironically forever. (Not a space I want to live in) But it’s not something the non fashion industry ensconced “regular” woman can wear in a couple years (or now) with khaki capris and a button down shirt and not look schizophrenic. Nor can a Hollywood starlet wear it now and not look dated. It’s moment has passed. So I wouldn’t consider it to have been a good buy / keeper for much of anybody. So except for the very wealthy who can throw out a $3k bag and not notice, I would have voted / don’t buy it. It will look dated.
i think one thing to remember here is that spending 1k, 2k or 5k (I assume for those values we’re talking dollars, euros or pounds?) on a bag is nothing for a lot of people. So why not buy it when you can ignore it, donate it or throw it out at a whim and easily buy 5 more next month that are the newer, trendy thing? It’s like when I change placemats. Do I owe my placemats more time with me when I tire of them or something else cuter shows up on Houzz? Nope. I can donate them and get the new set. So it’s not fear as much as why waste my time on something that won’t be relevant in the time span I find meaningful to me.
And for me, I get bored with bags easily BUT I really don’t want to flip bags. So I may ask the question because I want to be able to put the bag away for a year and still have it feel fresh to me when I go back for it. I dithered over buying my Miss Dior bags because they were discontinued when I discovered them. I know myself and if the trends were likely to be hugely different in 3-5 years I would be interested in the new fun thing. So I had to really evaluate buying these bags late in the game. Happily in this case, it was the right thing to do and I continue to love them. But, I can name several others that would have been a bust had I bought because I had a momentary love and not ongoing passion for them.
Makes total sense to me. When something feels meh / dated / “done” to me, I’m not going to wear it. But if something is hugely special beautiful to me it transcends any trend in my world and I’m happy to wear it.That’s a great discussion. Speaking for myself, If I thought something was dated I would not use it, because I no longer liked the vibe. However if I loved something I would continue to use it as I don’t really care what the current trend thinks. Not sure if that makes sense...
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That’s a great discussion. Speaking for myself, If I thought something was dated I would not use it, because I no longer liked the vibe. However if I loved something I would continue to use it as I don’t really care what the current trend thinks. Not sure if that makes sense...
It's certainly a very interesting subject. It's also something that is highly topical. Fashion has never been taken so seriously by so many (for many reasons). Questioning osolescence of an otherwise perfectly usable items being one of them.
I think I know what you mean if you're saying you may have liked and even bought into a trend, but if that trend suddenly became the uniform of people you had nothing in common with you'd be put off. On the other hand if you loved the object enough for its own sake it wouldn't matter. Is that what you mean?
From observing posters on this forum, and my own bag use, I don’t see bags not being used because they are no longer popular ( although that may very well be the case) but I see many women buying a lot of bags, to later find out they are too big, too small, they just reach for another bag, while the Next. Amazing. Bag has been released. That they must have. So I infer bags are not being used due to lack of interest, as the next bag is just more, interesting. And possibly yes, more popular.
I am incredibly practical, so I like to buy bags that can carry varying amounts of stuff and can stand wear and tear and coffee drips etc. I am drawn to a lot of 90’s Coach (working breed x understated style x thick luxurious leather) styles and a bunch of Coach classic styles from the ‘08 ‘09 years in some great leather.
Isn’t it true, if you wait long enough it comes back in style? Coach wants to make the vintage styles a thing next spring with a big roll out of a significant number of reboots.
I enjoy my classy vintage Coach working breeds, which are scheduled to be “in” next spring, now!
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I have regretted most of my on trend bags. I bought the mulberry Alexa because I loved it to look at. I was probably swayed by the hype but hated it to carry. Just found it impractical. My least used designer handbag. I decided then no more 'super-popular at a particular time' handbag ever again. So for me on trend does not mean must have. Classic is tried and tested and stands the test of time. That's where I have find handbag peace.
There is a flip side to this as “classic” can be used as a cudgel too. “I only buy classic and timeless pieces.”
And I’m someone who doesn’t like to be in the same thing everyone else is in. Just because.
So it takes all kinds.
And I’m someone who doesn’t like to be in the same thing everyone else is in. Just because.
So it takes all kinds.
I interpreted it to mean, that when a bag is a trendy, it gets mentally tied to a very specific decade and aesthetic. Fendi Baguettes feel like 1997-1999 to me; they look like tight jeans and peasant blouses and sipping wine out of plastic glasses in the park; Dior Gauchos feel like 2000-2005; 5" heels and pencil skirts, studying poetry and attending gallery openings (mostly for the food).
I'm currently trying to cull my bag collection because there are a lot of bags I don't carry. But there are some I haven't been able let go because I had such visceral reaction; like a fashion scrapbook of I person I barely remember.
It does! I feel there are certain indications on a bag that might make it look dated / give away the fact that it's older, and make it "age" more rapidly than other bags, if that makes sense. And for bags I might think look dated, it not because they're dated that I wouldn't wear them. It would be because I wouldn't have liked them / didn't like them back when they actually were current, either.That’s a great discussion. Speaking for myself, If I thought something was dated I would not use it, because I no longer liked the vibe. However if I loved something I would continue to use it as I don’t really care what the current trend thinks. Not sure if that makes sense...
I had bought a fabric shower curtain back in 1996 from a upscale store's bath department. I had never seen one like it anywhere else. I still use that shower curtain. I love that shower curtain. It launders well, still looks brand new, and doesn't look out of place. I still love the colors, the design, the style. I never get tired of seeing it, and still love it the same as I did when I bought it. I also have a couple pictures on the bathroom wall whose colors match it. Can I afford a new shower curtain? Yes! Do I want a new shower curtain right now? No.
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I love your description of the Fendi Baguette and Dior Gaucho ladies, brilliant. I can't remember so well (although I'm old enough to). You conjoure up the vibe beautifully. I don't have either bag but now I actually want one (I have Dior Goucho sandals and plenty of pencil skirts, so trotting off to an art gallery - for dinner... ).