Trend journal retail buying simulation

TREND JOURNAL ASHLEY HIMPEL PROFESSOR DAN GREEN RETAIL BUYING SIMULATION

CONTENTS LUXE SLIP DRESSING ENTRY IN THE MARKET STREET STYLE OVERSIZED COATS DESIGNERS DOING IT STREET STYLE TROUSER PANTS STREET STYLE BRIGHT RED STREET STYE

EMBROIDERY ENTRY IN THE MARKET STREET STYLE TOP HANDLE HANDBAG ENTRY IN THE MARKET VELVET TOUCH ENTRY IN THE MARKET STREET STYLE BACK TO BLACK BLACK ENTRY IN THE MARKET STREET STYLE

A/W 17/18 RUNWAY

1. 8. 17

01 LUXE SLIP DRESSING

The slip dress- an iconic piece of 90’s fashion contuines to be a statement as brands experiment with different fabrics and lace. It was become so prevalent, that plenty of new designers are making it a core part of their collections. Saint Laurent’s metallic slip dresses and Celine’s lace-trimmed ones still stand out in the industry, and the trend has been a key item on the runways ever since.

We’ve seen the dress worn frequently by stree stylers over a basic white tee or button-down for a 90’s inspired layered look; but with chilly fall weather, even more layers are essential. It is the perfect transitional look for fall because slips give a clean outerwear look. For fall/winter, pairing a knitted sweater over a silk slip dress gives it a sophisticated, yet cozy look and the fluidity of silk and satin balance these structured seperates when layered. For a comfy, yet edgy nighttime look, throw on a leather jacket and a pair of knee high boots and you’re good to go.

ENTRY IN THE MARKET

STREET STYLE

A/W 17/18 RUNWAY 1. 16. 17 Oversized coats with soft shoulders is a key item for Fall 2017. Its relaxed, unstructured silhouette and dropped shoulder lines give the coat a tactile feel. Several designers such as Stella McCartney, Fendi, Valentino, Bottega Veneta and Max Mara emphasize the seasonless layering trend on the runways.

02

One of my favorite collections thus far is Max Mara who captured the oversized coats with laser cut alpaca, wool and cashmere fabrics for the chilly fall season while remaining completely functional.

Oversized coats work perfect as a layering piece and finish off the outfit as a statement. One of the best things about owning an oversized coat is it’s so versitle that you can wear it many different ways because it can be dressed up or down. These chic, oversized silhouettes are taking a cue from menswear inspired silhouettes and it’s clearly been a must have piece.

I think this is a staple piece that should never leave your closet because it’s so versitle when transitioning from day to night and can easily be dressed up or down depending on ones personal aesthetic.

OVERSIZED COATS

DESIGNERS DOING IT

We’ve seen various colors seen on the runway, but the ones that made the most impact were neutrals and earthier tones.

This trend is important to buyers because the consumers are really enjoying the looser, comfortable and more verstile clothing that can go a long way. Anyone can wear an oversized coat especially in the chillier cities to work, dinner, or during the day over a simple outfit. I think this is a staple that everyone should definately have in their closet.

THOMAS MAIER STELLA McCARTNEY

AMANDA WAKELEY

PARIS FASHION WEEK

STREET STYLE

A/W 17/18 RUNWAY

1. 24. 17

03 TROUSER PANTS

The 70’s inspired wide-leg pants continue to have a strong presence in fashion and have grown increasingly popular in retail as well. Cropped versions become a practical sell than full length shapes. Street stylers have been pairing either ats and sandals or higher-shaft booties to give a daytime to nighttime transition. My personal favorite is throwing on a pair of simple pumps to add some extra height and to give the outfit a finished, polished look.

Culottes and wide-leg trousers have shown up in editorials and amongst street stylers as well. Designers such as Chloe, Louis Vuitton and Isa Arfen have incorporated cropped trousers in their collection. The silhouettes have ranged from looser fitting culottes to tight and straight, giving the look a more sensual appeal.

We’ve seen some designers slightly baring the ankle, while others chose to shorten them up to the knee line. They can be perfectly matched with sweaters, elongated jackets, blouses and shirts so that they can be worn casually everyday, or for business.

I think the cropped pants trend can be a bit scary for most women since they interrupt the female silhouette and give a more masculine touch, but when styled correctly, they can look modern, slim, and chic. Keeping the design simple with minimal detailing and adding accents of color can be fun and playful.

A/W 17/18 RUNWAY

DOLCE & GABBANA

VICTORIA BECKHAM OSCAR DE LA RENTA

2. 4. 17

04

BRIGHT RED

This is a staple colour that is always previlant for A/W collections because it works well across many product categories from knitwear, to outerwear, to accessories. Scarlet has also returned as a classic tone, and when paired with neutral colors has the youthful vibrancy that works well for high fashion and luxury markets.

If you’re like me and only wear neutrals, bright red is a good pop of color during the fall and works well with all types of skintones. It also pairs well with neutrals such as beige, gray and black. We’ve seen this shade not only in clothing but bags, shoes, home decor and jewelry.

Pantone predicted this color would be a favorite for A/W 17/18 and dark ruby and rich reds add depth and a seasonal warmth. Not only has this hue been seen amongst women’s collections and accessories, but on various men’s collections as well. Burgendy tones and variations of red offer a more distinguished look for men’s accessories and footwear especially. I think this is a color that will stick around for a while and can add a fun pop of color when paired with a neutral look.

Not only have we seen variations of the color red amongst runway collections, but also in street style as well. Fashion week in New York, Milan, Paris and London have brought a number of diverse people with different style together, layering and accessorizing their pop of red.

MILAN FASHION WEEK

Bright reds signal more general for reds, which are becoming richer and are meant to be one of the most important colours for A/W 17/18. Not only are burgundy tones of dark ruby popping up for the fall season, deep reds make an appearence amgonst the collections of Stella McCartney, Oscar de la Renta and Naeem Khan on the runway.

STREET STYLE

A/W 17/18 RUNWAY

DOLCE & GABBANA OSCAR DE LA RENTA

BALMAIN

2. 11. 17

05 EMBROIDERY

Also known as the Gucci-effect, embroidery has been continuing to trend in several designers collections. Embroidery is a leading execution for the footwear and accessories categories. Power house designers such as Balmain, Dolce & Gabbana and Alice and Olivia. Emboridery detailing adds a touch of elegance and drama to the overall look. Designers have been experimenting with this technique on jackets, dresses and tops which have been turning heads in all four fashion capitals. Accessories haven’t escaped this trend either, and emboridered handbags, shoes and belts have been key items for the Fall 2017 season. This trend can easily be accessible to wear for work, Sunday brunch, and for a night out with the girls.

ENTERING THE MARKET

Intricately stitched denim has also popped up on the runway, the streets of fashion week and amognst Hollywood style stars. Emboridery adds an element of fun detail and many people have been using this technique as a way to personalize their outfits. Merchandisers should keep an eye on this trend because it’s seasonless and can easily be transitioned from daywear to eveningwear. Embroidery has mostly been used in top couture collections but now encouraged by more affordable labels, and bloggers all over the world. This trend has been bringing back nostalgia to the 70’s, which is a major inspiration for many designers, so it won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.

STREET// STYLE

A/W 17/18 RUNWAY

2. 18. 17

06 TOP HANDLE HANDBAG

ENTERING THE MARKET

Top handle handbags have been a key item for Fall 2017. A shift away from shoulder styles sees the ladylike, feminine top handlebag that transcends occassions.

Oversized and boxier silhouettes drive newness, counteracting previous mini style handbags with structured shapes. This trend is a must have accessory in the fashion industry that has been seen by almost all designers for fashion week fall 2017 such as Gucci, Christian Dior, Prada and Chloé. The top handlebag adds an extra pop and completes the overall look, whether it’s on the runway or seen seen carried by street stylers and bloggers. This accessory is just big enough to carry all of your everyday essentials and they range from simple to the extravagant. They can be gripped or slipped over the forearm, making it overall a very versitle look.

Designers have been experimenting with different leathers, textures and fabrics for these handbags, and one of the most talked about pieces is Gucci’s light green python bamboo top handlebag. We’ve started to see a shift away from more practical bags, to being used as a major statement piece. A playful bag is a low-commitment way to add a bit of fun and color to your wardrobe as well. With this trend-led style, people know exactly what they’re looking for and and are more likely to committ to their purchase because it’s not going to date after the season is over with.

I think top handlebags are going to start being seen everywhere, especially by a lot of celebrities and stylists after seeing the fall collections. Merchants should monitor this trend and see how people are wearing this bag, especially which so many options for color, texture and silhouettes. This trend has been spotted on several street stylers during fashion week, so it’s definately making its way into the spotlight.

A/W 17/18 RUNWAY

2. 25. 17

07 VELVET TOUCH

ENTERING THE MARKET After making a strong appearance in New York and London, velvet has transcended into a modern twist for Milan. This fabric creates directional silhouettes ranging from daywear to eveningwear, making a versitile transition. Velvet is also an affordable fabric, while making your outfit look elegant and timeless. The trend has permeated the wardrboes of celebrities on red carpet events, in street style, and on the runway amongst several iconic designers. Erdem, Versace, Max Mara and Alberta Ferretti have all incorporated velvet into their Fall 2017 collections that have included dresses, coats, and commonly featured pants.

Velvet accessories have also been incorporated with boots, bags and jackets that are perfect for the chillier fall season. As this trend continues to emerge in the market, merchants should keep a close eye on velvet because it’s been popping up everywhere, in major cities across the globe. I think owning a few key velvet pieces is essential to have in your wardrobe and adds a touch of femininity, and of course, comfort. My personal favorite item is velvet footwear, such as ankle booties because they add an element of texture and can make a more minimal outfit pop. Millenials seem to be on board with this trend as well, so it’s important buyers and merchants take this into consideration, as this age group is leading us towards the future in fashion.

A/W 17/18 RUNWAY

3. 2 . 17

08 BACK TO BACK BLACK

There’s no doubt black has and will always be a timeless color, that works well with every season. The color black has been around since the begining of time and I have no doubt it will ever go out of trend. It’s a key fundamental netural color that pairs well with every other hue and gives a clean, sleek and sophisticated look. It’s also a perfect color for fall and winter when stylists start bringing out their darker colored clothes. Since black is such a flattering color, it’s very versitle from done head to toe. You can wear it to work, out for lunch and it’s so easy to dress up or down. Black is also a perfect color to wear when you want to add in other pops of color or prints because it will make your overall outfit look cohesive. Designers have brought in this color into their collections by incorporating fur, embellishments, leather, and silk for example, which always turns out looking astonishing.

Designers such as Victoria Beckham, Alexander Wang, Brandon Maxwell and Tome have all incorporated various black pieces into their ready to wear collections. Yohji Yamamoto’s and Christian Dior’s fall runway show showed mostly all of their looks in all black, which I think conveys a strong message about this upcoming season.

Merchants should always have their eye out on the color black because it will always be in the market and on trend. It’s the easist and chicest way to get dressed. Whether it’s a black leather jacket, black pants, black shirts or black shoes, you can never go wrong. It can also be layered easily with other pieces and it flatters every skin tones. If you are going for an all black outfit, it’s easy to amp up your outfit with accessories and allows you to experiment with different fabrics/textures.

ENTERY INTO THE MARKET

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK

STREET STYLE

SOURCES WGSN SOURCES WOMENS WEAR DAILY VOGUE WGSN.COM WWDAILY.COM PINTEREST NEWYORKTIMES.COM REFINERY 29