Sunday, February 19, 2012

Fads and Trends


Fads:

Skinny Jeans 

Skinny jeans are very in right now. Men and Women have added the trendy skinny jeans to their wardrobe I feel this is a fad because it’s very wide spread and a lot of people are now wearing skinny jeans. I think that our current culture is bringing back fashion trends from the 80s and they are becoming current fads for us. Skinny jeans remind me of the fad not so long ago of wearing wide leg pants or bell bottoms. I think that fashion will continue to draw from generations before us as well as add new fashion fads.http://www.classiccamera.org/skinny-jeans%C2%AE-%E2%80%93-fashion-fad-or-flop/


The Kardashians
Reality TV is very popular right now and becoming more and more, wide spread. Leaders of this genre become current style icons and are the current fad. Take the Kardashians for example. Everyone has heard of them, and knows who they are regardless if they like their show or not (I do not) they are a great example of a fad. Reality TV shows have a short lifespan no matter how popular they are. Can you think of a TV show that lasted more seasons then you can count on your hands? The Kardashians have an influence on our society in how it is acceptable to act or dress. I feel that this fad will soon be replaced by the next big hit in Hollywood. 



Animal Hats
Randomly spotted on children and young adults, the animal hat fad has started. Fuzzy hats with animal faces from tigers to puppies with often two long strings on either side representing animal arms or paws. Although it is a unique take on fashion I feel that this style is a fad not a trend because the expected lifespan of this style is assuredly short. Children may think it is cute for the moment but will in time outgrow the fashion statement. The fad is targeted towards the younger consumers who often change their minds regarding fashion and what is currently in. 

Fashion Boots
In many styles, styles and textures, boots have become a current hit. We used to think of boots as a winter staple, simply designed to keep our feet warm and toasty from the elements. The sacrifice of designs was accepted at the gain of comfort and protection. Today’s boots are being marketed with fashion first, comfort later. Boots are often worn over the jeans to accentuate the boots and in a sense be a fashion accessory.
I feel that this is a fad not a trend because in the fashion world shoes styles come and go and rarely dominate the market. 



Bright Hair Colors
Bold streaks of unconventional colors such as florescent blue or neon pink began as a statement of nonconformance. These bold colors are often a fashion statement in the punk rock genre. Over the years what was once seen as a rebellious statement is now being subtly adopted by celebrities and society. A small streak of vivid color or even complete all over dye can be seen on youths as well as adults. It was once unheard of to have pink or purple hair now it is considered a fashion dare. This is a fad due to the ever changing guidelines of fashion and what is currently in. 
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/21/fashion/once-shocking-hair-in-bright-colors-turns-conservative.html



Trends:


Smart phones 

Cell phone use has become an unspoken way of life. Smart Phones are a trend that is increasing every day. I feel this is a trend because the amounts of people who have smart phones are increasing. Almost everyone I know has one or intends to get one. Business executives rely on smartphones to communicate with other executives and make deals. Parents can now use the GPS feature to track their children and young adults use smartphones to connect with friends and update their facebook profiles. The technology age that we live in will only create and provide more high tech and advanced smart phones.


Social Networking

Social networking has become a huge trend. Almost everyone had a Facebook account and uses it to find and communicate with friends and family. The business industry has been using Linkend more and more. Twitter is a hit with celebrities and society. As far as the specific types of social networking I feel that that may change in the future. Facebook has remained center stage, but with technology it may be replaced with a new version of social networking. Websites such as myspace were once the popular place to be and now facebook is. I think that so many people rely on social networking for business and personal use that it will remain a steady trend.

Economically Friendly Cars 

The recent lean towards economically friendly cars is becoming more common. With gas prices high and the economy being weak, it’s natural for consumers to want to cut costs or save money. With daily commutes to work and school one of the first places consumers look to save money is in commuting expenses. While it can be argued that economically friendly car are higher priced and in the long run the consumer would not save that much money on fuel. There is always the class of consumers who can afford it and there is also a consumer who places a high amount of value on being “green” the trend has started and I feel that in time we will see more eco boost engines and higher mile per gallon stats. The Automobile industry is marketing these qualities and I feel they will continue to deliver. 



Internet Based Businesses 
Internet based businesses are becoming more and more common. With low cost start up fees and easy accessibility internet based business are spreading like wildfire. I keep hearing young entrepreneurs telling me that they have already or hope to soon start an internet based business. The advantages are definitely a plus and I can see why it is catching on. Giants like amazon.com are dominating the online world. How many times have you gone to amazon.com to buy a textbook or a product that was recommended to you? I know I have. With competitive prices and no sales tax, (although I hear that will change …) this a good example of the age we live in and the rate that internet based businesses are increasing. It creates a huge competitive edge for brick and mortar businesses to compete with. The convenience of shopping at with a few clicks from the comfort of your homes makes it a first stop for many.  I feel this is a trend because of the technology age that we live in.
http://www.amazon.com/                                                      
 http://www.active-domain.com/internet-business/internet-based-business.htm



Online Education 
There is a huge movement to online classes and learning. More and more classes and degrees are offered online. The convenience of online classes appeals to young student as well as working adults who are returning to college. There are even arguments that online college will someday replace all in person classes (I hope not!) There is a benefit to teachers as well as students, teachers who are instructing several courses at once may find it easier to juggle the load of responsibilities and multi-task the work load. I feel that this trend will continue to develop and remain a popular choice over time. 


http://www.onlinecolleges.net/


Saturday, February 11, 2012

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Hey everyone! I just completed my first tweet today. My user name is bkrockz2. So far so good!