Syracuse Trends

One of the first topics we discussed in class was fashion trends.  In class we defined trend as a "real accelerant to moving a look/style."  The topic of trends is one that is very intriguing to me personally.  In part, because trends have always seemed to elude me,  I'm always just a step behind.  But beyond that,  because trends impact pretty much everyone in some form.  People can choose to follow trends, they are aware of trends, or they consciously decide to reject trends.  In any case, trends are an integral part of the fashion and beauty industry.  Some have a relatively short lifespan (the silly band) and some have staying power and seem to evolve and change over the years (denim).

In the past, gatekeepers or trendsetters in the fashion world have set the fashion agenda for the rest of the world.  The trendsetters/gatekeepers are the buyers who attend fashion shows and editors of fashion magazines such as Vogue editor Anna Wintour.  In Marian Frances Wolber's book "Uncovering Fashion" this is described as a top-down or trickle-down trend.  This top-down adoption also refers to celebrities such as pop singer Rihanna.  In 2008 she introduced a unique hairstyle for women:  shaved on the sides and long and spiky on the top. 

Today especially, trends can quickly be set by a different group of people like fashion bloggers and pretty much any group or person who has use of a cell phone camera. With the instantaneous nature of today's media consumption, images and reports on trends can be consumed much more quickly and are able to spread much faster.  This is an example of a second type of trend.  It is the bottom-up or trickle-up trend.  These trends start within an exclusive group and trickle up into the mainstream.  The grunge look is an example of this.  In the early/ mid 90's the grunge rock/alternative rock group sported flannel and faded baggy ripped jeans.  This style eventually penetrated the rest of culture as bands like Nirvana and Bush became popular in this era.  This look is still popular today, as shown below, worn by Mary Kate Olsen, illustrating the idea that trends always seem to come back into style at some point, but with a modern twist.

In the past week, I couldn't help but pay attention to one trend on the SU campus: the Hunter boot.  The wet, slushy, snowy weather has brought this trend to the forefront of Syracuse University fashion.

Above, Syracuse University junior, Laurie Parish, sports this campus-wide favorite.  The Hunter wellington boot has actually existed since 1817 according to welllie-boots.com.  Their origins lie in men's fashion as an answer to the changing style of breeches.  Men needed boots that could go over the the newly popular trousers as opposed to formerly popular, shorter breeches.  Originally made in Europe, the boots were leather, however as the trend spread to America, American shoemakers began to explore the use of different materials in shoe making, such as rubber.  

Today,  the boot has moved away from their original function as men's footwear to a popular fashion trend for both genders.  Style bloggers such as Emily of Cupcakes and Cashmere have written about the boot making it very popular in mainstream fashion.

The fact that the Hunter boot has been around for so long and is still a relevant fashion staple today, tells me that this trend isn't going anywhere anytime soon.  The Hunter boot is still in the maturity stage of its trend cycle.  I know I wear my Hunters all the time- even when the weather doesn't call for it.  

As I was coming home today I caught my neighbor, Allison Stuckless, walking into her apartment wearing her own fire engine red Hunters.