I’m going to assume most of this will be a lot of “No’s” but hey, I figured I’d give it a shot.
I don’t really buy magazines and try to look like the fashion models exactly–but if I see a trend coming up I usually find myself emulating it. Mostly based on people walking by in the street and noting cool trends that I see a lot.
I don’t got whole hog in to the whole fashion thing - but I try to buy a few transitional pieces from each season. These are usually knock-offs and low-cost, so that I don’t feel guilty when they go out of style.
But I only go with the trends that actually look good on me. Buying something just because it’s trendy doesn’t do anything for me.
And usually I’ll only buy trendy tops or accessories - because I like quality pants and skirts - more classic - that I can use as a base for building that day’s look.
Yeah, same here–about the knock offs for things that might go out of fashion. H&M’s usually pretty fun for that. In general I don’t buy stuff that’s too bizarre, I don’t think. I mean, I did buy skinny jeans but they aren’t super tight or ridiculous looking, they’re just more fitted than my other jeans. And no, no muffin top or anything like that going on–I run a tight ship here.
Usually the skirts and dresses and such I wear tend to be more the kind of thing that could work for most decades–the cuter inexpensive tops that you can wear a few times when they’re in are for sure fun.
I’m too cheap and lazy to be fashionable. If I’m not at work, there’s something in the area of a 98% chance that I’m wearing a tee shirt and jeans. If I’m feeling fancy, instead of wearing sneakers, I’ll wear ballet flats.
I own precisely one pair of skinny jeans, and I bought them because I have several boots with design on the, err, I guess shaft you’d call it (?), and I didn’t want my jeans to cover them up. I tuck my skinny jeans into my boots so that everyone can marvel at the fanciness. I’m kind of a tomboy, though.
If your idea of fancy shoes are ballet flats, I’m so there. So much comfier than heels. I had a really good pair, though, but apparently they don’t make them anymore and every other pair isn’t comfy enough for me.
I don’t participate in trends because I rarely buy clothes, but I pay attention to what people are wearing. I like to think that if I’m breaking fashion rules, it’s not because I’m just a clueless old woman. Naw, I’m a rebel! I’m unique!
Since I found out such shoes are called mary janes, I’ve had a much better luck finding them.
Me, I don’t really follow fashion. I’m a skirts and dresses girl, and those are rarely in fashion. I often do look fancy, (jeans and tee look terrible on me) but it is my kind of fancy, and quite often I guess I’m off mark.
The ones I had weren’t really mary janes…they didn’t have the strap. More like this. I find a lot of them in stores but there was only one pair that I thought was really comfy.
God yes, it’s a disease. Started with my mom’s Vogue subscriptions when I was a child, and never ended. I wait impatiently for the pics to come up at every Fashion Week, read a ton of fashion blogs everyday, and spend a majority of my “fun money” on clothes and shoes. However, I will not wear things that are not me. Those long maxi-dresses that were popular two summers ago? Absolutely not, I would look like a fool. The dominatrixey opentoe sky high heeled strappy bootie contraptions from last Fall? Seven or eight pairs. I also sit on waiting lists for various shoes and pieces that are going to be popular in different boutiques in LA and New York, since Austin gets that stuff much slower. Hey, we all have to have a hobby!
Oh, and I make money once in awhile as a personal shopper, would LOVE to make a full-time living out of it. I need to meet the rich older ladies in this town.
I follow fashion from my comfy armchair. I love spotting the beginnings of trends. I like websites like The Sartorialist. I’m too old, fat, and poor to be trendy, though.
I like to be aware of fashion trends. I like fashion. The trends that I feel would suit me well, I keep in mind while shopping. I seldom head out with the intention to purchase something in particular because it is a trend, though.
Sadly, sometimes also knowing the trends is only a warning that the stores will be flooded with something that is simply not going to work for me.
I follow fashion trends…only I’m about 40 years out of date. I favor double breasted suits, wide ties, and wide brimmed hats. Now, if I could only find an Edwardian smoking jacket…
The only time I check trends is to see if something I like is coming back into style enough that I can restock my wardrobe.
The last few years have been horrible, but this fall/winter has been excellent. There’s corduroy and velvet all over, nice deep jewel tones that I haven’t been able to find in a while, and I was able to replace a couple of plaid shirts. Mostly, though, I have a hard time finding anything I like.
I pay some attention, but I’m not a fashionista by any means. I will say that I love watching “What Not to Wear” - though I usually fast-forward through the inevitable “person flails around trying to figure out what to shop for, fails” segments.
What are fashion trends? 
No seriously, I’m another who’s somewhat aware of what’s hot or not, but choose to wait until it’s so cheap (and I’m convinced enough that I like it) that it’s probably beside the point in the first place. Also, like others, I’d rather be comfortable than all that stylish. If I can wear jeans and a sweatshirt, I’m a happy girl.
I think I’m like OP. I don’t feel I have to follow fashion because I’m otherwise uncool but I do really like clothes and I watch what others are wearing and if I feel something looks good chances are I will buy the “trendy” item. But I’m equally comfortable wearing things which are completely out of fashion if I feel they look good.
I should add that I am plus-sized, so often the fashion trends are more limited or less flattering (at least for the prices I’m willing to pay for them).
That being said, about 6-7 years ago I decided that I would never again buy something “just because it fit” (what I call ‘default dressing’) and so if I don’t feel cute in it - I don’t own it. And that means it not only has to be flattering, it has to be comfortable so I don’t fidget constantly.
As a result I tend to purge my closet a lot (freecycle ftw) and tend to have fewer clothes.
Not a whole lot, because I find a lot of the more recent fashion trends to be ugly/not something I’d like to wear. I’ve always dressed more “boring” or plain. Lots of sweaters, argyle, stripes. V-neck. Bootcut jeans. LOVE that flats are in and hope they stay - I’m really tall and refuse to wear heels. I have pointy ones and rounded ones, love them.
Everyone that buys clothes regularly somewhat follows trends, because stores follow trends. Sometimes it works out (the plaid thing can be cute and I love those shirts that roll up and button) and sometimes not (I hate how shirts are so damn long these days, looks weird on me!). But basically my rule is don’t look like shit, ever. I never wear grubby scrubby clothes or ones that are too big, or outdated, etc.
Hey now, v necks and argyle are things that will never be uncool. Actually, wasn’t/isn’t argyle “in”? I think it looks awesome regardless of what is officially “in,” though.
My local consignment store had a red corduroy smoking jacket in last weekend. In excellent condition and only $25.00.
Unfortunately it was sized for some pigeon-chested effete and would not fit a man of more prosperous figure. It would have gone perfectly with the leopard-print fez…
