I recently came across "cognoscenti", in relation to those in the know about the "latest trends."

Is this how you've used it? I've seen it used to mean "sophisticated" or "refined" taste, which seems to me different from knowing the "latest trends." Now, it does come from the Latin word meaning "to know", so I may be wrong.

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I've seen it used to mean "sophisticated" or "refined" taste, which seems to me different from knowing the "latest trends."

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Why is it different? Surely those who are sophisticated and refined can also know about the latest trends? As you say,the word means "those in the know". Knowing about what, though, has to be gleaned from the context.

I would use it as "I'm just a cognoscenti in the big machine," but that's just me...

Well, Arnie, the "latest trends", to me, aren't "refined" nor "sophisticated." I think about loose fitting jeans or tatoos or body piercing.

That may be my problem!