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Tori Brown
Professor Jizi
UWRT 1102-010
08 April 2016

Fashion Trends

Fashion trends were always something that interested me growing up and even
now. Not because I was always the most fashionable, but because I was always intrigued
by the way fashion trends always change and what was cute last season slowly fades until
something else emerges. Naturally as the seasons are now changing, I wanted to update
my wardrobe to match what is hot during Spring 2016. I was looking online and going
into stores and then I started wondering why certain styles start trending and who are
coming up with them? I thought why arent there more practical fashions out there for
everyday women? Why are there so many styles out that are not functional for just living
an everyday life? I do not understand the purpose of a cute skirt if it is impossible to walk
in. This is how my inquiry question arose. What would happen if regular, everyday
people set trends?
This question affects many others than just myself. Although this is a problem that
can be seen in both men and womens clothing, but womens clothing is more affected
because mens clothing is already more laid back and more comfortable than womens.
Fashion designers and bloggers have made a big difference in emergence of a more
practical style called street style. This new trend promotes comfortable and fashionable

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style that can be worn by everyone. For instance, if you see someone walking down the
street with an outfit that you like, try to remember the pieces you like most and mimic
what they did. This style is being widely accepted by many people because it is
something that is not staged on a runway and people know that it works in the real world.
If average people made trends I feel that fashion would be much more practical for doing
normal, everyday activities. The affect of less couture fashion would positively affect
society because we would be able to focus on more important issues while actually being
comfortable. I think my question is significant because if everybody took a minute to sit
back and evaluate which fashion trends best suit them best for the type of lifestyle they
live then there would be happier people doing more things that they love.
Coco Chanel had one of the most influential quotes about fashion saying,
Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street,
fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening (Biography.com, 2016).
This quote by Coco Chanel reminds women that fashion isnt just clothing and trends
being brought to society off the runway, but fashion is really within all of us. Fashion can
be seen anywhere you go and can be inspired by the simple things in life. This quote
suggests that every woman is fashion and can be recognized by the things we do or even
what is going on around us.
In the first peer-reviewed article I learned that most Americans follow the trends
they see presented on magazine covers and photo shoots. I feel like this can relate to
anybody including myself because I personally look into fashion magazines to find pieces
that I can replicate and do for myself to keep up with fashion trends. The main points I
pulled from this study was the link from what models do in magazines and the effect they

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have on average Americans. This information alone shows that people of higher fashion
reputation have a great influence on how the average person lives their life. These
findings are not surprising to me because even in this last decade it is obvious to see that
the trends are being set by people with the most wealth and most fashion experience.
The second article I read was about how pop icon Rihanna easily influences
womens fashion. Her flawless and effortless style is important to fashion designers and
other fashion bloggers because they look up to her for new styles. From this interview I
learned that what influences people the most about fashion is stepping outside of the
comfort zone to take risks with fashion. This intrigues people most because most people
do not have the guts to wear combination of clothes that may not work out in public.
However celebrities with daring styles such as Rihanna and Lady Gaga can pull any
outfit off without judgment from most people. There are a few people who are daring
enough to do these looks out in public, but it would just be easier if trends were made so
everybody could pull them off without feeling uncomfortable.
The third article focuses on how fashion trends actually start. The writer, Allison
Cooper, gives the audience five ways that fashion trends are created. The ways these
trends start are from the runway, from street style, through celebrities, through fashion
bloggers, and different fashion capitals of the world (Cooper, 2016). From the research I
found the effect on society if regular people started trends instead of big fashion icons
because the writer included information on where most trends start and why people look
to them. I and many other women would be able to relate to the sections she wrote about
street style because this shows that everyday people are more comfortable with wearing

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clothes that they see other average people wearing on the street. Street style is usually
more affordable and easier to mimic than high fashion runway designs.
Morwenna Ferrier wrote the fourth article and it showcases the newest, most
practical trend for the spring season: The Pedestrian Chic Look. This is the utilitarian,
universally wearable, comfortable and chic trend that every woman can wear. There is
more of a simplistic look with a neutral color scale to this look that many people can
learn to love because it can pair with so many other things. This look also promotes being
hands-free including lots of pockets and more rucksacks and cross-body bags. From this
article I learned that practical fashion is more about pleasing the average woman than
replicating what is shown in over-the-top fashion runway collections. The real woman
has things to do and places to be and it is smarter to do these things in flats than in high
heels. Neutral colors and pockets are easy to wear and are essentially more efficient.
The last source I used was a video of an interview of Vogues Digital Creative
Director, Sally Singer, discussing how Michelle Obama is a major fashion icon due to the
simple pieces she wears and the frequency at which she wears them. Singer says that,
[Michelle] wears what looks good on her, what fits her, and what she likes, which is
something that everybody should take into consideration when dressing themselves. This
interview shows that more average women look up to Michelle Obama for practical
fashion ideas. It reminds women that they should purchase clothes based on what fits
them and looks good on them rather than trying to follow fashion trends that may not suit
their body type. In todays society, women want to be comfortable in what they are in and
wearing certain articles of clothing that make their figures look good.

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If regular, everyday people set trends then there would have more comfortable
clothing that balances fashion and performance oriented tasks. The most influential thing
I found while completing my research are the emergence of street and pedestrian style
clothing because it promotes comfort and efficient articles of clothing, such as pockets
and cross-body purses. If you really think about it, life is ongoing and whether someones
life is at a fast or at a slow pace, we all want to be comfortable. This is why through this
research; it is evident that there should be more of a trend for creating clothing that
benefits the average working person. I think this is the smartest trend to have come along
because many people can benefit from learning ways to be fashionable and comfortable
at the same time.
The most valuable thing I have learned from researching this topic is that
everybody wants to be comfortable and the new trending clothing is now making it
possible to make fashion more comfortable. The discoveries Ive made have changed my
perception of fashion because instead of thinking tight and leather, Im thinking baggy
and sweatpants.

I would like to focus on:

My conclusion
My introduction
My citations

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Works Cited
University of Minnesota, Department of Dermatology. "Trends in Photoprotection in
American Fashion Magazines." Trends in Photoprotection in America. Europe
PMC, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.
Sykes, Plum, and David Sims. "The Rihanna Effect: Fashions Most Exciting Muse, On
Her Third Vogue Cover." The Rihanna Effect: Fashions Most Exciting Muse, On Her
Third Vogue Cover. Vogue, 18 Feb. 2014. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.
Cooper, Allison. "How Do Fashion Trends Start?" How Fashion Trends Start.
LovetoKnow, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.
Ferrier, Morwenna. "Pedestrian Chic: Spring's Most Practical Trend." The Guardian.
Guardian News and Media, 30 Mar. 2015. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.
ForaTv. "Michelle Obama: Practical Fashion Icon?" YouTube. YouTube, 17 June 2009.
Web. 04 Apr. 2016.
Coco Chanel. (2016). Retrieved April 16, 2016, from