What Women Need to Know about the Latest Fashion Trends

Are You Wearing Next Years Fashion Clothes This Year?

Take a look at your outfit you're wearing right now. Is it slightly behind the times on fashion? Do you dote on fashion and find yourself the unofficial local expert on the latest fashion trends? Well, this is a tough position to maintain, as fashion trends can change by the week, not the season as many believe. If you live in L.A., you know what I mean.

Where Do the Latest Fashion Trends Come From ?

Sure, New York, Milan and Paris lead the world in fashion, but many of these creations aren't wearable by the common woman walking down Main Street. However, this doesn't preclude your being in the know. Understanding what's driving haute couture today helps you to predict what tomorrow's Next Big Thing will be. The latest fashion trends follow haute couture.

Experienced fashionistas know also that women's fashion has only so many faces and that history repeats itself. The 1960s look is currently making a second appearance. In order to survive this curtain call, this latest fashion trend needs to develop along a more focused line, with a feel for the authentic flavor of that decade. There's a certain romantic note missing from this current crop. Handmade clothing and accessories were part of the charm at the time.

How Does Economy Affect the Lates Fashion Trends?

When economic times change for the worse, hemlines come down. During war time, ditto. Prosperous times breed short skirts. Rebellious attitudes often herald radical clothing. If you study costumes in modern history, the latest fashion trends of the last 150 years reflect the events in the common man's life.

For example, in the years before the Civil War, times were good and ladies like Scarlett O'Hara (Gone with the Wind) wore dresses made of untold yards of fabric of the finest silks, with an abundance of lace and ruffles.

At the time, this was the latest fashion trend, particularly in the South. As the war progressed, the ladies could no longer afford or procure such clothing material. As Scarlett lamented over a coarse, rough wool, the old latest fashion trend gave way to the new, despite her desires, with less fabric of a more practical weave.

Now There are Clothes for the Retro Girl

Fashion fads sometimes reign briefly and disappear forever, only to be remembered with embarrassment when old photos are taken out. Other trends do have resurgence now and then.

There is a lot of interest these days in retro clothes as the current generation picks up on something that appeals to them. It's all new to young people and the older generation who recall the fashion the first time round, look on with bemusement. It's not just clothes; cars, décor and hairstyles go round in cycles too.

Many stores specialize in fashion from different decades in addition to retro clothes appearing in the mainstream chains. The UK is in the middle of a nostalgic return to 1950s style winter coats, with big collars and bold check patterns. There is also interest from time to time in poodle skirts and Bermuda shorts from that era.

The 1960s is a decade that still has a big influence today, especially on music and fashion items. Tie-dyed shirts have brought back fond memories of the psychedelic era. There is also a trend for customizing one's jeans, which was another hallmark of the decade.

Not much denim was on show, after the jeans were covered in patches and other forms of decoration. Rock bands and peace signs were the usual themes and they are once again, being worn very skintight. The greatest symbol of the 1960s was probably the mini skirt and this too has made a little comeback in retro clothes, much to the delight of the male of the species.

1970s fashion is popular too, if only to wear at the many theme parties from that time. The disco boom brought in lots of glitz as people danced under the disco lights with glitter and spandex. Short dresses were all the rage, often worn with calf length boots known as Go Go boots. These were in leather or vinyl and were often white.

There are many retro clothes shops with this sort of gear, in addition to Afro wigs and feather boas. An attempt was made to bring back hot pants but it didn't really catch on a second time.

The 1980s was the time of big hair and shoulder pads. The bouffant hair do's have already returned to some salons, so maybe the big shouldered power suits will follow. Re-runs of Dallas and Dynasty will encourage a revival.

The Mullet hairstyle was another popular trend but no one seems in a hurry to bring that one back. Whatever fad comes and goes, there will always be a market for niche and retro clothes. Wallowing in nostalgia is big business.

When you conduct a review of costume design over time, you'll come to see the cycles and patterns of all fashion trends. When you also correlate the period of history with dress, you can predict what's coming down the line.

If you'd like to be a trendsetter, or maybe the next big female fashion model, here's a secret. Given a thorough study of costume and history, along with careful observations of the New York, Paris and Milan shows, you, the avid fashionista, should be able to let your friends know what the next latest fashion trends will be. How?

There's a marketing term which refers to the strategy of gaining an early foothold in a market, with the intent of approaching mainstream markets through a back door strategy. This term is 'early market'. The early market of the trendsetter is haute couture. Simple as that. See if you can't author the latest fashion trends! Now, you can't wait to put on your trendy new outfit, can you?