How to Be a Trendsetter

Co-authored by Shelley Golden

Last Updated: October 11, 2022 References

Trendsetters are people who can spot new trends early on and spread these fads to new locations and social groups. Sometimes they even create their own trends that others adopt. "Trends" can be almost anything, from a cell phone brand to an exotic food. However, fashion trends are the most common type people follow. If you have a penchant for looking great and want to be ahead of the curve, you may want to become a trendsetter.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Being Popular

1
Make a lot of friends. It will be easier to set trends if you have many friends who are popular and well-liked in their own right. This gives you more social capital and influence on the rest of your peer group.
- Trends are a powerful demonstration of how social influence motivates people. In general, people follow trends out of a desire to fit in.^{[1]
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  Research source} Trends are typically started by the rich and the famous because on some level people think looking more like them will give them some of that prestige.
- Don't make friends with popular people just to be a trendsetter. Make sure your friendships are genuine.
2
Be charismatic. If you are confident and fun to be around, people will want to be more like you. Be conscious of how you present yourself, and try to be as likeable as possible.
- Maintaining good posture is often overlooked when thinking about charisma. Always try to keep your back and neck straight.
- Avoid being overly serious. This doesn't mean you have to be the class clown, but more laidback people tend to be more universally liked.
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3
Be likable. Being kind and compassionate will go a long way. Express genuine interest in other people by paying them thoughtful complements. Ask them about their lives and interests. Doing these things will make others feel good about themselves and they will attribute these good feelings to your presence.
- Once you're known as a likeable person, others will want to be more like you. Without even noticing it, they may adopt some of your style, preferences, and habits. In other words, they will follow the trends that you set.
4
Stay consistent. This may seem counterproductive if you're trying to be stylish. While you may want to shake things up when it comes to your appearance, your personality shouldn't also change drastically. Don't be consistent in how you dress, but be consistent in how you act.
- In general, popular people are known to be reliable. People like to know where they stand with a person and are put off when someone is completely unpredictable.^{[3]
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- If you try to be a chameleon and change who you are depending on who you're with in a bid to make everyone like you, people will catch on. You may develop a reputation as being inauthentic, causing your popularity to plummet. Instead, be your best true self wherever you go.
5
Get noticed. You won't be able to set a trend if other people don't see and follow it. Start by trying to be more "seen." Make people notice you and cultivate a presence. Talk louder if necessary, make jokes, and learn how to be the center of attention.
- If you want to start fashion trends, try to dress well in general. Your peers will start to think of you as a person who knows style and will be more likely to attribute an unusual look to a new trend rather than a fashion faux pas.
- While positive attention is great, don't be too loud or obnoxious. People who try to be cool rarely are. Make your outgoing persona seem effortless. If you have trouble being extroverted without it seeming forced, focus more on other methods of securing popularity.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Spotting Trends

1
Keep current with pop culture. Global trendsetters tend to be musicians, actors, and other celebrities. They often bring existing subcultural trends to the mainstream or kick start crazes based simply on their personal tastes. Regardless, they tend to be a good barometer when you're trying to spot a trend. Pay close attention to what they wear.
- If you see a celebrity sporting a unique look that you love, borrow it. Don't copy the outfit exactly, but take inspiration from it.
- Fashion trends can be fabric types, color palettes, and specific garments. When planning a similar outfit, use one or two of these aspects instead of all three. That way, you may start a trend in your peer group without being accused of simply being a copycat.
- Fashion magazines are also a great way to research what's on-trend.^{[4]
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  Expert Source
  
  Shelley Golden
  Personal Branding Image Consultant & Personal Stylist
  Expert Interview. 10 July 2020.}
2
Track trends on social media. Social media has become an extremely important tool for trendsetters as a way to both track and disseminate information. Follow users who are popular and are in line with your own sensibilities. Check out the "trending" sections of popular websites. Create a personal feed for yourself using an aggregator to help keep track of what's trending in your personal area of interest.^{[5]
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- Some experts are now using high tech computer algorithms to create and even predict style trends. If you're technologically inclined, consider researching and possibly using these methods yourself.^{[6]
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3
Travel to hip locations where trends tend to start. If you can afford to travel, try going to cities known for fashion like Paris, New York, and Shanghai. If you live in a rural or suburban area, visit the nearest urban center to get an idea of what's trending. If you already live in a fashion-forward city, go to restaurants, shops, clubs, and neighborhoods that you know to be trendy.
- Check out what other people are wearing to guess at what may be the next trend to hit the mainstream. If you notice multiple people sporting a style you haven't seen before, it's probably the sign of a new trend.^{[7]
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4
Understand the fashion cycle. Remember that looks come back in style over the years. Don't get rid of any quality clothing or accessories just because a trend has passed. Instead, save these items for when that look is back in vogue. That way, you'll have a partial wardrobe ready to go for next time.^{[8]
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5
Know when a trend is over. Spotting when a trend is waning is just as important to a trendsetter as tracking its start. In order to stay on-trend, you will need to recognize when a trend begins to end before anyone else does. From there, jump ship to the next potential big thing as soon as possible.^{[9]
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- An easy way to tell when a trend has gone stale is how ubiquitous it becomes. If you start to see a style that was once quirky and unique become mass-marketed, it's safe to say it's no longer trendy.^{[10]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Starting Trends

1
Be yourself. Once you've established yourself as a popular, fashion-conscious person, you may find yourself starting trends without realizing it. Just wear whatever you want and think looks nice. Your peers are likely to adopt aspects of your personal style to be more like you. If enough people follow suit, a new trend is born.
2
Do the opposite of what's in style. One popular strategy among fashionistas is to be a contrarian. Look at whatever trends are hot in the mainstream and craft a look around something completely different. More people will notice your look and are more likely to think of you as a trendsetter instead of a follower.^{[11]
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- For example, if everyone is wearing baggy pants, try wearing skinny jeans. Or, if you notice many of your classmates with the same short pixie haircut, consider getting long hair extensions.
- Don't go too overboard. If dark colors and long pants seem on trend, don't start wearing bright yellow shorts in the middle of winter.
3
Wear an item of clothing frequently if you want it to catch on. Make sure to maximize visibility for whatever look you want to trend. If it's something simple and not too flashy, such as a dark pair of pants, you can wear it up to once a week. However, if it's more memorable, such as a bright patterned blouse, make sure to bring it out only about once every two weeks.^{[12]
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- Consider getting multiple versions of your item of choice that look different enough that people won't think you're constantly wearing the same thing. For example, if you want a certain style of shoe to catch on, buy pairs in multiple colors. That way, you can encourage the trend every day.
4
Take time to be creative. Setting trends is a creative process. You will need quiet time to take in and process all of the information you absorb in a day.^{[13]
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Research source} Getting too caught up in forcing yourself to come up with the next big thing may actually stifle your ability to do so.
5
Use your own social media influence. If you have a sizable following or friends list online, you can start trends without leaving your house. Start posting about or reblogging things related to whatever trend you want to start. Mention how much you and your friends love the potential trend. Think of it as a method of marketing where the product you're selling is something's popularity.
- Be sure to also keep posting your usual content to avoid losing followers.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I stay on top of trends?

Shelley Golden
Personal Branding Image Consultant & Personal Stylist
Shelley Golden is the founder of Shelley Golden Style based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 20 years of fashion and visual arts experience, Shelley has worked for The International Academy of Merchandise and Design in Chicago, the Wellesley Historical Society, and at Bloom formerly: Image For Success. Shelley is a certified Color Consultant from The Image and Color Institute International and a Color Specialist Member of Color Designers International (CDI). Shelley holds a BS in Textile and Business from Arizona State University and was rated a Top Pro of 2018 by Thumbtack.

Shelley Golden

Personal Branding Image Consultant & Personal Stylist

Expert Answer

I recommend just keeping up with fashion magazines and runway shows. The more you read and watch, the more you'll become acquainted with what's trending.
Question

Does this mean I should influence people?

Community Answer

You should not overtly attempt to influence others, but you can set a trend and see if anyone wants to follow it. Don't force anyone to do anything.
Question

How do I start a big trend (like the bottle flip trend) without wasting too much time on being popular?

Community Answer

Try and spread the trend through multiple people, or people who are already popular, or use social media to get your trend to spread.