A s we approach the last half of this decade, we inch closer to our new identity, not only for the century but for the millennium. A new crop of creatives will take the torch passed by previous geniuses of talent and present to us their vision. Theirs will be one of hearsay and disconnect; their voice will have no connection to the last century or millennium, and thus their virgin eyes will bring the first view of the future, influenced to some degree by the stuff of legends illustrated by online content and yet may be reactionary and defiant as do all new generations looking to make it their own.

We, armed with the technology to bring us cumulative knowledge never before seen in the recorded history of mankind, are able to review our past with unabashed totality. As well, we are now able to better examine ourselves and our habits as the internet of things and our connected world illuminate our influences and habits with a click of a button.

Gone are the days of relying on a conglomerate to access information once privy to only an elite group. Now the information is coming available to see, and this is being more widely shared  (one of the perks of the democracy of the internet). We now see that the game of trends and influence comes in all directions and from unlikely places. Well...unlikely for those who aren't in the design business.

As such, fashion publications such as Style.com now have to look at fashion reporting differently. No more can we look at conventional categorization, although patterns do exist. In that regard fashion will never change. It always needs soundbites to include the public; making it too nebulous when we have trained the public to conform is bad business. But now we have general sweeping influences, such as the decidedly 80s aura in the 2015 Fall Winter collections (read: oversize) versus the more regional collage of inspirations that makes it hard for publications to quantify (international elements versus particular nationality focus, for example). These technically have a category, but now we have a new approach based on the variety as designers realize too much homogeneity in trends can be a death sentence in the industry. Look what minimalism did in the 90s...and what it was doing when it repeated (good riddance to normcore). 

Now, the landscape shifts, reflecting our connected online world. It's a balance of variety and commonality. It connects with those who are born into the 21st century, even if the forms are still so last century. As we now take the time to open discussion of the torch passing, we admit we are openly curious. We don't know yet how it will be, but like the Gibson Girl's appearance hinting at the next century's new mindset, our approach to fashion is reflecting something similar that may give clues to how we are going to create our new millennial looks. And just as informed and sophisticated is the potential of our technological landscape, so too is the platform from which this new chapter may spring our new cultural representation.

These last few years will be brimming with speculation and examination to be first because that is how fashion is, and yet the overall trend that decides our new direction may be a rebellion against that very approach as a reaction against our formulaic marketing mindset. If a middle finger was given in the 20th century to those who wanted to restrict movement the century before, this new generation may do the very same with regards to our calculated conceptualization as a symbol of breaking free in the name of claiming their own voice. And that may blindside us just as the the flappers did for the generation before them. Curious? Excited? Aren't we all now.