Originally Posted by hkq999

I don't disagree with you that a lot of men may choose to by devices instead of other things. I can sort of see this happening because I see it right now in some people. But the thing is, at least right now, it's not a general thing and I don't think a lack of interest in fashion is a general thing among millennial guys right now (there is variety). Just as many guys I know would save up to buy that trendy pair of sneakers as those who'd save up to buy the new iPhone. Who knows though, maybe like the GIs, millennials will suddenly show more of what you're talking about in mid-life (I don't think the GIs really starting showing their strong core traits until the high began). But even during the last high in mid-life, GI men worse pastel colored shirts and pullover sweaters, bermuda shorts, looser cuffed-pants, corduroy jackets, and broad double-breasted suits. This was all technically fashion of the time. A pastel colored shirt isn't something men wear to compete or show off..it's just the predominant look of the time that they wear because everyone else is and it's what's selling and is in stores. It's like those light colored high waisted causal jeans in the 80s or the large loose shirts in the 90s. They are just what men were buying..but if a man decided to not wear it he wouldn't be any less..which is why those things weren't based on social standing. So what I'm saying is, there is always a certain fashion or look of a certain time..even if it's more practical and utilitarian.

I think formal wear will be worn less during the next 1T (the formal wear of the 20s and 30s was unchanged in the late 40s and 50s but worn much less often). I actually don't think expensive brands will be as important in the next 1T because unfortunately, I don't see this 4T turning out well (and I think another financial crisis is coming soon that will be worse the the 2008 one). I don't think there are going to be times of excess again until at least the next 2T. That wouldn't mean general trends like size or color going away though (which seem to come no matter what).

In terms of world wide trade, the 1T might be the last time we actually see true growth for a while. By the end of the 2T we'll likely have a decline in population, which means a drop in potential consumption, which means basically a period of massive financial reorganization. The US will fare this better than most, but it'll still be ugly.

As for a specific look, it'll probably be real simple T-shirt and jeans for pretty much everything. Sweaters and sweatshirts for when it's coldish. I expect a lot of the older, dress wear to go away. The standard for acceptable clothing for most people is work wear. Right now you have Boomers making the final calls, so it's this half assed hybrid compromise between two ideals. Bridging the desires of Silent and Boomer shareholders and customers with the desires of the Xer and Millennial workers. In the 1T those shareholders will be late Boomer and early X shareholders late X and early Millennial management and late Millennial early Homelander workers. I could easily see this alignment creating a scenario where the T-shirt jeans street wear look is standard, and that just makes everything else go to the most casual it can be. Where as now I wear a seperates and tie, when I'm upper management I will actively discourage that kind of dress, and that's if people come to the office at all. So I'm competing in my office with my clothes. It's not a clothes competition, but it's an edge in a larger competition. If I set street wear as standard, people will do the same, just with street wear.

I wouldn't expect much of anything new or innovative until the 2T. Then it goes moon bat.

Originally Posted by Kepi

In terms of world wide trade, the 1T might be the last time we actually see true growth for a while. By the end of the 2T we'll likely have a decline in population, which means a drop in potential consumption, which means basically a period of massive financial reorganization. The US will fare this better than most, but it'll still be ugly.

As for a specific look, it'll probably be real simple T-shirt and jeans for pretty much everything. Sweaters and sweatshirts for when it's coldish. I expect a lot of the older, dress wear to go away. The standard for acceptable clothing for most people is work wear. Right now you have Boomers making the final calls, so it's this half assed hybrid compromise between two ideals. Bridging the desires of Silent and Boomer shareholders and customers with the desires of the Xer and Millennial workers. In the 1T those shareholders will be late Boomer and early X shareholders late X and early Millennial management and late Millennial early Homelander workers. I could easily see this alignment creating a scenario where the T-shirt jeans street wear look is standard, and that just makes everything else go to the most casual it can be. Where as now I wear a seperates and tie, when I'm upper management I will actively discourage that kind of dress, and that's if people come to the office at all. So I'm competing in my office with my clothes. It's not a clothes competition, but it's an edge in a larger competition. If I set street wear as standard, people will do the same, just with street wear.

I wouldn't expect much of anything new or innovative until the 2T. Then it goes moon bat.

I don't quite remember what this conversation was about. I think fashion? Are you talking about men's fashion throughout all of this because I can't ever see women's fashion being t-shirts and jeans for pretty much everything.

People already wear jeans and T-shirts most of the time, or something else casual like that. So you expect the specific look to just be the fashion of the 1990s? T-shirts and jeans for pretty much everything and sweaters and sweatshirts when it's cold. Sounds like 1995-2005 to me.

I have no idea where you're getting this idea that millenials (as a generation) will take away a dress-code, it doesn't look that way to me. I'm sure some will, but some won't. There is no one unified attitude on this. Do you see millenials (as a generation) just throwing on t-shirts and jeans and not putting half a thought into the trends or color or style? Surely some, but if you think it's the majority you should meet some more. Millenials seem like x'ers with their attitude towards fashion, there is too much diversity.

Also, I think one of my points in this was that even if the dominant look becomes casual (it pretty much already is and has been for years), there is still such a thing as casual fashion. Which is pretty much what's happening right now, sometimes a certain type of sweater is in, sometimes a certain cut of jeans, sometimes a certain color. This is all within casual clothing. And my point throughout this whole thing has been that fashion will continue because millenials are generally not hostile to the concept of fashion. And fashion has become less casual in the past five years. It was more casual five or ten years ago. Office wear may have been formal then, but that didn't affect the every day fashion which was quite casual. Only in the past six or seven years has there been a little shift toward slightly less casual.

And there are many people (mostly women) who ALWAYS enjoy experimenting with different looks and patterns and enjoy the aesthetic value of clothing. These is a lot of diversity in people when it comes to this (like there always has been). This will never change. If people start dressing casually all the time, the fashion companies and advertisers will just start modeling and showcasing casual clothes and casual trends. Look at some girls, many of them are very interested in fashion but dress casually most of the time. Because casual is a very wide term that includes many different kinds of clothes and looks. Also, as an example, the GI men's standard was a simple suit (usually grey). Men's fashion and trends did however, continue during the last 1T outside the office. If the look in an office is t-shirt and jeans, even men's fashion and trends will still continue outside the office.

I've actually met a lot of millenials who enjoy formal dress and the idea of formal occasions. I'm surprised you haven't encountered more of this. Another thing is people who would want to dress casually at the office but formally or differently at a party. Then there are people like me who really don't care that much about trends or looking fashionable. And haven't you ever heard people's extreme distaste for crocs and flip-flops anywhere but home or at the beach? There are literally all kinds of opinions. Nothing unified. I go to New York City and I see millenials wearing everything from flannel shirts and black pants to calvin klein blazers walking out on the streets. Millenials also DO dress a certain way for clubbing, often flashy and a little gaudy. Clubbing and partying fashion has it's own rules and trends.

At the end of the day even if what you're saying is true or regardless of whatever happens, the fashion industry will continue in the future and has continued in the past because many females in particular have for whatever reason always been interested in fashion. That will never change.