Our grading rubric: how a trend earns an A
Grading trends is only useful if the grades mean something. Here is the rubric behind every letter we assign.
Versatility (30%)
How many of your existing clothes does it work with? A trend that requires buying three supporting pieces is not one purchase, it is four. A-grade versatility: works with jeans, trousers, and at least two of your current layers.
Cost per wear projection (30%)
Price divided by realistic wears before the trend reads as dated or the item wears out. A $40 trend piece worn 20 times ($2/wear) outscores a $200 piece worn 15 times ($13/wear). This criterion is why boring versions of trends often outscore the runway version.
Staying power (25%)
Where is the trend in its lifecycle, and has it appeared before? Recurring looks (burgundy, leopard, double denim) have proven resurrection rates. First-time novelties carry real extinction risk.
The exit test (15%)
When the trend ends, what is the item? An A-grade trend piece becomes a wardrobe basic (the wide trouser becomes just your trousers). A D-grade piece becomes a costume you donate. If you cannot imagine wearing it in a non-trendy context, the exit test fails.
What the grades mean
- A - buy well, wear for years
- B - buy mid-range, enjoy the season and beyond
- C - test cheaply if you love it
- D - admire on others
- F - the industry is laughing
The rubric exists so that a C grade is not an insult - plenty of beloved pieces are C-grade trends worn by people who simply like them. The grade predicts value retention, not taste.