Unless you’re a magazine editor (or, indeed, a blogger), you are unlikely to use the word ‘trend’ in a positive context: everybody knows that trends only matter to feebleminded people with no ability to think for themselves. Trends are by default ridiculous and unnecessary.

Devil Wears Prada’s famous cerulean sweater scene made the excellent point that most of us are influenced by trends, consciously or not, and its naive to assume otherwise. This is of course true and I will not attempt to better Meryl Streep, just watch the thing. But despite its genius, it doesn’t actually prove that trends have something positive to contribute – this influence, no doubt real, could equally well be a nefarious one!

The reason I like trends is that they are the mechanisms of the new. Trends disseminate innovations, new ways of doing things. I am completely fascinated by how they work, why some things become trends in the first place and why some transcend the trend status and become lasting influences on us. Why did the 8-year-old me eventually succumb, after having refused to wear the fashionable scrunchie for months? (In hindsight, I should have kept on resisting.)

Essentially, trend as a concept is neutral. It could denote something you believe is completely ridiculous (and I refuse to use harem pants as an example as seems to be the norm – they are comfortable and can look amazing) or something beautiful and/or beneficial. Women wearing trousers were once trendy, as was not wearing a corset or having a shorter skirt than to the knee. All positive developments, in my totally-non-humble opinion.

Why I personally find trends thrilling – in addition to the sociological aspect – is that they make me see things in a new way, to try things I would not have considered otherwise. Of course, there is the consumerist aspect and one has to be conscious of that. We don’t need things simply because they are trendy. But I know perfectly well what suits me and if left to my own devices, I’d wear fitted shift dresses, v-neck sweaters and column gowns for the rest of my life. For the rest of my very boring life.

Because trends of course occur everywhere, not just in fashion, and they make life more interesting. They are inspirations, not prescriptions. So people should relax and try some.