TRENDY VS. TIMELESS: WHAT MAKES AN ITEM TRENDY OR TIMELESS

Taneya
Dec 6, 2021
4 min read

Updated: Sep 23, 2022

Timeless (adjective), not affected by the passage of time or changes in fashion

Trendy (adjective), very fashionable or up to date.

It is easy to get caught up in trends and wear the latest fashion trends that are currently popping up on your social media apps. It is very common for a trend to come and go, fade in and fade out. It's a continuous cycle and at worst becomes a laughing stock or even embarrassing to wear. Social media is constantly pushing trends and this continuous cycle only increases fast fashion and the mass produced clothing items that are made at a cheaper cost. With only buying trending pieces it can be a struggle to style these pieces in an everyday fashion and actually get wear out of these pieces. More than likely a trendy piece is worn once and then a month later that same item is considered “ugly” or “out of style”, then it ends up in a waste field.

Now, there is nothing wrong with trends, it can be fun to dress up in what is popular now as it is easy to grasp what is popular. Currently, trendy pieces are coming and going at a fast rate and being able to follow these continuous trends is almost daunting. Trendy pieces can be risky and ultimately be a waste of money. Whereas, timeless pieces are just that timeless. Keeping it simple and having the best quality instead of quantity. Timeless pieces will serve you for many many years whereas trendy pieces will most likely end up in a waste field due to the mass consumption and the continuous cycle of fast fashion.

What makes an Item Trendy or Timeless?

More than likely you can tell a trendy piece apart from a timeless one. Trendy items are massely produced with many dupes out on the market, whether that’s on Amazon or Aliexpress. A trendy item can also be categorized as a form of fast fashion. Fast fashion can be defined as “inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends.” Trendy items can be produced at a fast speed in order to meet the consumer demand, which in turn fuels the endless cycle of trends coming and going at a rapid speed. You can spot trendy items very quickly and easily on social media. An app like TikTok is the perfect place to see these trends flourish and deplemish at an alarming rate. Every now and then there is a new micro trend popping up on the app. Whether that's the cut out trend, where people take stockings and cut out holes into it thuus making a cut out top, or the infamous House Of Sunny Hockney green dress that was seen all summer round but is now seen or dubbed “ugly”. These particular trends are seen and loved one moment and then dubbed “out of style”, which in turn makes these clothing items no longer useful to wear, instead it will just take up space in your wardrobe or put up for sell on Depop or Poshmark for a higher price to get the money back from buying a trendy item.

Timeless pieces are meant to stand the test of times and never go out of style. With having timeless pieces you are able to keep it simple and stick to basic stillouthes will make getting dressed more easier and less of a hassle. Oftentimes, many of us act on impulse and buy trendy items that we most likely will regret later on. So being able to take the time to think about an item and instead take time to splurge on a item that is of quality and not quantity. Sticking to neutrals and classic silhouettes makes for a timeless and classic wardrobe. Now outlandish pops of color and patterns can be seen trendy however there are numerous timeless options that can be incorporated into your wardrobe. An article by L’Official, “Vintage Prints are a Timeless Tren”, they go in depth about the numerous options you can pull from that will make your wardrobe timeless and not boring.If you are unsure what staple items you want to incorporate into wardrobe, then thrift stores or even second hand vendors can be your best bet due to the vintage item being better manuafctured tha todays clothing. Second hand shopping is also more sustainable and affordable. Additionally, it is important to note that there is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing your clothes on repeat or multiple times a week. If you cant wear a clothing item multiple times then you probably wont wear it ever. Having staple items in your wardrobe will help in creating a wearable wardrobe that is accostued to you and your style.

What I am trying to express is that you don't need to have a closet full of trendy pieces that you won't be able to wear out in a year from now. Instead, focus more on curating your wardrobe around timeless pieces that will go with anything in your closet.