Ask A Stylist: Gone Fishing!

The one pair I’d advise (no, not Prada)

Fisherman sandals…ugly or chic? I can’t work out if I like them or if I’ve just got used to seeing them on people.

I’ve picked this question for todays post because it perfectly highlights the crucial cycle of a trend. A trend’s life cycle can be divided into five stages (generally speaking): introduction, rise, peak, decline, and obsolescence. Any item’s widespread popularity often triggers its own downfall because consumers tend to grow tired of seeing a trend that feels too ‘mainstream.’ As of today, most major retailers now carry a version of the fisherman sandal rendering it accessible to all consumer types and tastes. I would say that right now we’re between peak and decline which is the most interesting space to be because it’s unpredictable. The early adopters have left the scene while the masses are buying in. Usually most luxury brands or retailers will not carry the trend by this point but what’s fascinating to me is that The Row are still selling out of their cult £1,060 fisherman sandal (five years on!) while Prada just reconfigured their hugely popular cage sandal with crochet raffia £1,030 (also sold out) proving that there is an aspect of longevity. Did buyers and merchandisers get it right or are we truly shifting shopping habits?

Prada’s Caged Crochet Raffia sandals

Furthermore, if we want to live with a more sustainable wardrobe, how exactly does a monolithic trend like fisherman sandals that are seemingly on their way ‘out’ fit in to our value system? Should you buy into it at all?