My personal tastes felt pretty defined by around 15, and they're basically the same now. I think my tastes were mostly a reaction against my hippie-ish parents.

I think my "tastes" also began crystalizing sometime around high school, though I recall having pretty distinct taste even back in montessori. haha

there is, of course, lengthy discourse on the philosophy of aesthetics and taste (Kant, Hume, et al.). but what I find interesting is taste's function in the context of competition between individuals. i.e., how people use "taste" as a tool to empower themselves. I'm not a philosophy expert, but I'm sure this has been discussed at length as well.

I havent read anything about 'taste' per se, but I think the notion of 'individual taste' probably develops as an aspect of what we might call our 'identity' it is something we understand as static, and having relatively stable components such as 'taste' so we can appreciate our 'selfness', 'individuality' or our distinct 'personality'.

I mean I understand 'tastes' as one of the artefacts of our desire to be understood (by others as well as by ourselves) as unitary, relatively stable personalities.

When we mature, and realise the desire to have a distinct personality and identity, we crystalise our experience into something we can call our 'tastes'.

an 'aquired taste' may be something unpleasant at first, but the desire to incorporate the understanding of it into our personality structure overrides the initial dislike.

I think, sometimes, a person's "taste" is directly linked to their insecurities. particularly if they are very passionate about expressing what they like and don't like (vs. indifference, that is).

say for instance, the person likes things that are clean and refined, it might mean that thy have some kind of fear of being out of control. so, they end up liking things that give some semblance of order in their lives.

or, if a person values cacophonic or crazy or "wild" things, they probably have a fear of being boring or mundane.

or, if someone is particularly obsessed with opulence (or at least looking/feeling rich), they might be trying to run away from being or feeling poor.

Not so much about an inate set of values but down to influence from environment.

This is why we adopt the values of our parents when growing up, and then start to move away as we begin to socialize more outside the family with friends and peers.

Some people choose to define themselves and fight against external influence, but everyone is inevitably affected by outside factors.

Taste definitely comes from the confidence of a person from within. It comes from our vast culture, experiences and influences from the east and west. We stick to a certain style because you felt comfortable being that character in you. Its your choice to be individual or the same as anyone else but taste definitely changes through time.

It impedes intimacy and facilitates neuroses and as such may represent the last line of defense in the fight against wholesale corporate branding.

My Mom never bought me anything trendy when I was growing up, she always tried to buy quality clothes in reasonable price, and mentioned to me don't try to dress like those who are following the silly trends, her way of educating me in this sense affected me alot. I am grateful she insisted that i didn't follow trends. To now, I always try to find styles that are not conforming to the mass, just a twist and a bit different.