I am interested in the phenomenon of social trends, particularly among GEneration “X”. It seems to me that trens have increasing shorter lives today-remember some trnds of the past? Fpor example-cigar smoking: in the 1980’s, cigar smokers were a dying breed-mostly, they were men over 60 (like my grandfather). Then, it became trendy for rich yuppies (male and female) to smoke cigars-all of a sudden, cigar factories were inundated with new orders.
happily, the cigar craze is just about gone (I hate the smell of them). But new trends continue to be born. My question is-how can you know when a trend is on the way out? is the adoption by the majority a clear sign that the thing is passe?
Let me know-I want to know if my closetful of leisure suits from the 70’s is worth anything!
I have a feeling this will be off to IMHO pretty soon. In my particular opinion, a fashion trend is passe when it is taken up by people under the age of 16. One example I can think of is those little stringy ponytail men were leaving on their hair about 10 years ago. Eventually you only saw them on little boys.
If someone talks about a trend here, it’s passe.
I’d say that there are two stages that the trend goes through on its way to passe:
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Trend is spotted and covered by mass media. This is part of how the trend is created - it mushrooms out from the self-styled “cool people” or celebrities who started it and other people start imitating them. What stage of the trend you are in depends on geography - ie, if the Washington Post’s Style Section is writing about it, the trend is already dead in New York and LA and people have begun moving onto something else, but you might be in the beginning of the trend in D.C. and the 'burbs.
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The trend becomes packaged and sold to the lowest common denominator: KMart, McDonalds, Parade Magazine, AOL’s start page, and your local television news station. Once it reaches that level of saturation, it stops being a “trend”. It’s either absorbed by mainstream culture, in which case it becomes part of the mainstream, or it dies and becomes passe. It’s only a matter of time before people start looking for the next thing. PowerRangers become Beanie Babies become Pokemon.
This system is not foolproof - some trends never die among a certain core audience. Some people who started smoking cigars during this “new yuppie” frenzy will hold onto the habit because they genuinely enjoy it. Big hairsprayed bangs (aka The Garden Rake) are still alive and well in New England shopping malls.
Do you like my “breakdancing shoelaces?” I think the fluorescent green matches my mascara.
I like Magdalene’s model. But I have discovered a single event that marks the point where a trend becomes (or has already become) passe.
If a trend is reported in Newsweek, you can be sure that it is passe.
If that was true, the RAP thing would have been over by now.
CandyMan
If I give into it, it’s sure to be passe within 24 hours!
If at any point either Gallagher or “Weird” Al Yankovich make mention of a trend, it immediately become passe. It then gets shipped to every K-Mart and Wal-Mart in the country for consumption by the masses.
The first time it’s referred to as a “trend,” it is ipso facto passe.
Green Bean said that when a trend is reported in Newsweek it’s passe; not whenever Newsweek reports on anything at all.
Rap is as much a trend as Jazz or Country. In other words, it’s not a trend at all, but another stage in the ever-evolving repertoire of pop music.
Why worry about trends? For Gods sake be an individual!
Sorry
I think this questions defies an objective answer. I’m going to move it to IMHO to see what those guys have to say.
Those little scooters are HUGE here (Toronto) right now. Apparently, they got big during the summer and now every kid under the age of 14 has one. I even saw a little old Mexican guy riding one the other day.
I think that you have to distinguish between a trend and a mania… a trend should come and go a little more gradually. Like economic trends, it should rise and fade gracefully (I know this is not always true, but hey).
A mania, like these scooters, cigars and Hula-hoops can come and go at any time. It is on the basic whim of the masses, and let’s face it: “A person is smart; People are dumb, panicky and need to be kept from the truth.” - Tommy Lee Jones, MIB.
When they start offering ‘collector’s editions’ of something, you can be sure that it’s on the way out (and most collector’s editions are actually aimed at the mass market. Most true collectors either: 1. Won’t touch it, or 2. Will get it to have the complete set, but not expect it to be worth much.
I think trends are passe when MTv tells me so.
<giggle>
When a sitcom uses it as a plot device.
GUMBALL!
When is crosses the California/Nevada border headed east, and when it crosses the Hudson River, headed west.
I’m with Andy, within 60 seconds of my buying/wearing/displaying whatever it is.
Fashion Trends...... When it winds up at The Gap.
Musical Trends...... When it winds up on MTV.
Social Trends....... When a political candidate mentions it.
Religious Trends.... When the Uniterians borrow from it
Culinary Trends..... When it becomes a Mc-something.
Yer pal,
Satan - Commissioner, The Teeming Minions
*I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR:
Five months, six days, 13 hours, 8 minutes and 19 seconds.
6381 cigarettes not smoked, saving $797.74.
Extra life with Drain Bead: 3 weeks, 1 day, 3 hours, 45 minutes.
*“I’m a big Genesis fan.”-David B. (Amen, brother!)
Fashion trends become passe when Mariah Carey finally catches on.