Remember the famous "Devil Wears Prada" scene where Miranda Priestly schools Andy in the importance of fashion? "OK, I see. You think this has nothing to do with you..." Miranda intones as her assistant quakes in her cerulean sweater.
A new study that just landed in our inbox is proving Miranda Priestly right: 59 percent of American women admit to seeking fashionable, trendy items when shopping. Moreover, 55 percent of American female shoppers admit that they've bought clothes they didn't even like purely because they were trendy.
Of those shoppers, 67 percent say they never actually wore the items in question. (We're guessing peplums, wedge sneakers and cropped tops might have been involved.)
The new survey of 2,825 adult women in the U.S., done by CouponCodes4u.com, shows the heavy influence of fashion trends on what real women buy. 42 percent of the women polled by CouponCodes4u.com said that they felt "pressured" to wear fashionable clothes, and 39 percent of those women blamed that pressure on the media.
Just an unscientific survey of today's media would show why. Every day there seems to be another fashion-related TV show, movie, book or blog hitting the airwaves, not to mention all the fashion coverage done by non-style news outlets. (Did anyone notice CNN's heavy coverage of Michelle Obama's Inauguration Day outfit?)
Plus, Americans are shopping more than ever before. 2012 saw the biggest Cyber Monday sales in history, record numbers for Black Friday shopping and a rise in sales of clothing and jewelry.
In other words, Miranda was right: "It's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when in fact, you're wearing a sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff."
Do you feel like you're being driven to buy more and more trendy clothes, whether you truly want them or not? Are you more influenced by the fashion media than you'd like to admit?
The study, which came to us via press release, isn't currently online -- but our comments section is! Sound off below.
Here's a few fashion trends you might have tried yourself...
Celebrities In Current Trends
Sneaker Wedges(01 of25)
Open Image ModalWhy would I wear such an ugly style AND be uncomfortable? Absolutely no way. The form is unattractive and the function is limited.Katy Perry, February 2012(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Sneaker Wedges(02 of25)
Open Image ModalJessica Lowndes, May 2009(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Sneaker Wedges(03 of25)
Open Image ModalKeri Hilson, April 2012(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Sneaker Wedges(04 of25)
Open Image ModalNelly Furtado, May 2012(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Sneaker Wedges(05 of25)
Open Image ModalLindsay Lohan, May 2012(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Cowboy Boots(06 of25)
Open Image ModalDon't get me wrong, I love any footwear associated with riding animals (oooh, equestrian boots). But the pointy toe, clunky heel and galosh-like fit on the leg just doesn't work for me. Even though I love country star Alan Jackson, there are too many other shoes out there that I'd rather wear.Taylor Swift, April 2009(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Cowboy Boots(07 of25)
Open Image ModalVanessa Hudgens, March 2009(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Cowboy Boots(08 of25)
Open Image ModalChristie Brinkley, August 2010(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Cowboy Boots(09 of25)
Open Image ModalCarrie Underwood, April 2012(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Cowboy Boots(10 of25)
Open Image ModalLindsay Lohan, February 2011(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Fringe Bags(11 of25)
Open Image ModalAnother western-themed trend that I can't get behind. It feels inauthentic to me since I'm neither a) Texan or b) a bohemian hippie from the '70s.Nicole Richie, May 2012(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Fringe Bags(12 of25)
Open Image ModalHilary Duff, June 2012(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Fringe Bags(13 of25)
Open Image ModalRashida Jones, May 2012(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Fringe Bags(14 of25)
Open Image ModalElle Macpherson, April 2012(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Fringe Bags(15 of25)
Open Image ModalHaylie Duff, April 2012(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Thigh-High Boots(16 of25)
Open Image ModalThese shoes always remind me of Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman". It's not the kind of working girl I want to emulate.Rihanna, February 2012Nora Ephron
Thigh-High Boots(17 of25)
Open Image ModalHeidi Klum, March 2012(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Thigh-High Boots(18 of25)
Open Image ModalCiara, February 2012(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Thigh-High Boots(19 of25)
Open Image ModalAshley Tisdale, December 2011(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Thigh-High Boots(20 of25)
Open Image ModalJennifer Hudson, December 2011(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Cropped tops(21 of25)
Open Image ModalI love the retro look of a midriff-baring ensemble, especially if the exposed skin is only a few inches and it's the area right below your ribs (no belly buttons please). But what happens when you sit down? Spillage. 'Nuff said.Jennifer Lopez, March 2011(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Cropped tops(22 of25)
Open Image ModalMiley Cyrus, March 2012(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Cropped tops(23 of25)
Open Image ModalSelena Gomez, March 2012(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Cropped tops(24 of25)
Open Image ModalKaty Perry, March 2012(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Cropped tops(25 of25)
Open Image ModalFrieda Pinto, May 2012(Photo credit: Getty Images)
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