How long does a fashion trend last?
Runway to clearance is about 3 years for most trends; silhouette changes run 7-10 years; micro-trends can die in a season.
Three clocks run at once. Micro-trends (a specific item or styling gimmick from social media) live 3-12 months. Seasonal trends (a color, a print, a detail like a specific collar) run a 2-4 year cycle from runway to discount rack. Silhouette shifts - skinny to wide, short to long, fitted to relaxed - are the decade-scale movements that actually restructure wardrobes, lasting 7-10 years. The practical value of knowing which clock a trend is on: silhouette buys are investments, seasonal buys are rentals in spirit, and micro-trends should cost almost nothing because their resale value is zero.