But we now live in a highly mediated world with easy access to images from all eras and places. All fads are now in flux. They’re in and out at the same time; retro at the same time they become new. As such, fashion cannot be relied on. Neither avoiding nor conforming to its rules will show any sort of taste. In five years one will not look dated due to their button count, their tie width or their suit color. They will simply look good or they will look bad. Deeper principles than fashion are now at play.