Every era has been defined by its fashion trends. Whether it be the Hobble Skirts of the 1910s, the pillbox hats of the 1960s, or the rise of mom jeans in 2020, fashion has remained an intrinsic part of the cultural fabric.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the industry has been faring quite well. According to FashionUnited, the retail value of luxury goods alone stands at 339.4 billion USD. Additionally, the womenswear and menswear industry stands at 621 billion and 402 billion USD, respectively.
Owing to the rapid pace with which trends tend to change these days, sometimes it can be hard to keep up. For instance, it wasn’t that long ago when skinny jeans and side partings ruled the world. Now, Gen Z’s consider both as a fashion disaster. Millennials were indeed taken aback by this change in trend.
Thankfully, modern consumers are not caught off guard as often when it comes to new style trends. This is because we are surrounded by technology that provides us with the tools to identify new trends easily. Here is how technology helps us in doing so.
Access to influencers and celebrities
Remember the time when there was a mystery around celebrities? Stardom was marked with ambiguity. People could only catch a few glimpses of their favorite idols during the paparazzi or red carpet events.
With the rise of social media platforms, especially Instagram, this has all changed. Now, you can see what influencers and celebrities are wearing, up close and with their permission. According to research by Statista, in 2018, 72 percent of 16 to 24-year-olds use social media to keep up with celebrities.
By keeping up with what celebrities and influencers are wearing, the masses can identify the current trends in the fashion industry. Kylie Jenner, Gigi Hadid, and Blake Lively, all of these A-list actors and influencers, form trends for people to follow.
Online shops
There is probably no better way to quickly learn about new trends than visiting outlets to check the latest collections of various brands. However, you might agree that visiting brick and mortar shops every time you need a fresher on fashion is impractical.
Here too, technology makes life considerably easier – through ecommerce. According to NPR, 69 percent of US citizens have shopped online. Additionally, as per Statista, fashion accounts for the largest Ecommerce segment, with a global market size of 525.1 billion USD in 2019.
Even if you don’t wish to purchase apparel right then and there, you can use online shops to get an idea about the prevailing fashion trends.
Digital fashion weeks
Runways and fashion weeks are the heart and soul of style. This is where trends are often born. Yet, previously, not everyone had access to these fashion weeks. Only a few were given entry, and only highlights were telecasted unless the fashion week in question was viral.
COVID-19, while being tragic, did pave the way for new use of technology already present. Now, live streams are used for virtual fashion weeks. Therefore, now, the masses can learn about new and upcoming fashion trends in real-time, rather than merely looking at a few pictures of the event later on.
For instance, Prada’s first digital fashion show was one for the books. The brand offered an experience that one would only enjoy physically. Models walked amongst monitors, and cameras attached to a 360 moving tripod hung on the ceiling for the runway.
The equipment was able to capture the design of the apparel from every angle. Every time a model walked on the ramp, the innovative camera displayed the look in various ways – in ways you could have previously only seen backstage. Also, the brand used close-ups and slow-motion to capture all details, further making it an enriching experience for the virtual audience.
It is safe to then say that such a digital experience can help fashion enthusiasts take as many notes on fashion trends as possible.
Online fashion magazines
Gone are those days when people had to wait for their monthly fashion magazine subscriptions to learn about the latest fashion news. Now, owing to the internet and the rise of online journalism, one can peruse fashion news as they happen.
For starters, you must have heard of Vogue. It is often considered to be synonymous with top trends of global fashion. Once you sign up for its online newsletters, you will get Vogue Daily and Vogue Runway delivered via email.
You can then learn more about the key players in the fashion industry and peruse the breakdown analysis of different fashion trends and celebrity styles. Additionally, Vogue is famous for its September issue specifically. This is when fashion designers advertise their fashion-forward pieces – some of which are adopted to mainstream fashion.
Vogue is just one of the many online magazines that can come in handy. This includes InStyle and Zoe Report. Follow the blogs of fashion gurus. For instance, Monica Rose’s Instagram can help you learn about the recent trends followed by celebrities since she is a stylist for many of them.
Harness the power of technology
Technology can be used for much more. Identifying fashion trends is just the tip of the iceberg. You can even use it to create your own style cost-effectively, all thanks to AI and related solutions. For now, use the basic things you have access to in order to learn about new trends and styles. All you have to do is search for the correct type of content, and you are good to go.
Photo credit: The feature image has been done by Carly Tumen. The photo “woman in brown and black camouflage jacket” was taken by Indah Ameliany Putri. The shot “woman in green sleeveless dress” has been prepared by Calin Strajescu.
Source: FashionUnited / Hristina Tankovska (Statista) / NPR / Statista / Tanya Basu (Atlantic)
