Fashion and Trends – What Is the Definition?

Fashion and trends are usually discussed together, especially when it comes to defining a product line’s image. However, fashion and trends are often used separately and are often thought to be synonymous with each other. The truth is that trends are really a matter of personal choice and preference. Trends are most commonly found in areas such as fashion and design, but can also be found in everyday life. Trends in fashion design are influenced by cultural assumptions and social expectations.

Trends are an ever-evolving reflection of society. Fashion trends are also an ever-changing reflection of the times. The impact of the fashion and beauty industries on society has been considerable since its inception, with the fashion industry using fashion trends to promote and advertise themselves, sometimes using negative stereotypes of certain groups or undercutting traditional images to create a perceived difference. Although the fashion and beauty industry certainly has the ability to affect societal perceptions, they should not be considered the be-all and end-all of fashion trends. Trends are a useful tool for defining individual personality traits and are certainly an important part of a person’s style, but trends are not static entities that cannot be changed as technology or society changes.

The definition of a trend is determined by those who practice the art of identifying and charting change through art and statistics. Trend forecasting is based upon a variety of statistical tools and methods to determine which trends are likely to last and how robust these trends are. A trend is said to be a known quantity (known to the profession of trend forecasting) if a significant number of data points from previous periods can be used to analyze the current period. The use of historical data is especially important because past fashion trends are much easier to analyze than current fashion trends and more specifically, how the same fashion styles or themes may relate to one another. If an individual can plot a simple trend line for a given period, then this is known as a “trend,” but a trend can also be shaped by changes in economic status, public opinion, or even national or global political events.