The Runway Rank glossary
Trend lifecycle
The five-stage arc of a fashion trend: runway, early adoption, peak, discount, thrift - roughly three years end to end.
Silhouette
The overall shape or outline of clothing (slim, wide, cropped, long); decade-scale shifts in silhouette define fashion eras.
Wearability score
An informal rating of how easily a trend fits ordinary life - occasions, climate, comfort - independent of how it photographs.
Quiet luxury
Status dressing through fabric quality and cut with no visible branding; a recurring counter-cycle to logo fashion.
Micro-trend
A hyper-specific look driven by social media with a 3-12 month lifespan and near-zero resale value.
High street
Mid-priced retail fashion (Zara, Cos, & Other Stories tier) that translates runway trends quickly at test-drive prices.
Frequently asked questions
How are runway trends ranked here?
By wearability first: how long the look will stay right, how it fits real wardrobes and weather, and whether the key detail helps or hinders the garment. Photogenic novelty alone ranks low, because most readers buy clothes to wear them repeatedly.
What makes a trend timeless instead of dated?
Timeless pieces solve a recurring problem with clean proportions and durable fabric, so they keep working as other things change around them. Dated pieces depend on one exaggerated detail that stamps them to a single season.
Should I buy trends on sale at the end of season?
Only the high ranked ones. A classic cut on sale is a bargain that will serve for years. A gimmick piece on sale is still a gimmick piece, just cheaper, and closet space is a cost too.