What will 2019 look like for fashion? Our data shows what trends are going to make it big commercially.
The good news is, it’s going to be another year of sustainability and cycling shorts.
In 2019 saturated colors with neons will hit our spring wardrobes, in order to brighten up the uncertain future year ahead.
Here’s what’s to come.
Menswear looks bright. GLOwing in fact.
As seen on the runway, solid color options are important but the use of highlighted stripes or blocking offers a more accessible introduction to these bright colors.
As far as colorways go, yellow and green were by far the most dominant shades from the runway, as well as pink. Pink’s proven track record over the last few seasons in the mass market actually makes it a safer hue to initially invest in for neons.
Neon popped up on sports tops, holsters and body warmers at Louis Vuitton, on sweatshirts at MSGM, on shirts at Xander Chou, and on padded bomber jackets at Charles Jeffrey Loverboy.
The likes of ASOS and boohooMAN have already made options available within their tops assortment, but overall arrivals are minimal across the US and UK.
EDITED Tip: Log in and read the full menswear 2019 trends report here.
Functional utility
Versatile and functional, we’re seeing the pants styled up and down for any occasion. While we’re in peak layer season, style cargo pants with baggy sweatshirts and sneakers. Missguided dresses it up in a red crepe wide leg trouser and crop top.
Between October 1 to December 13 this year, the average full price was $37.75 – which is 17.9% lower than last year’s average. This suggests that retailers are pricing more competitively as the garment becomes more trend-driven. A $25.17 black military button wide leg trouser from Missguided is at the entry price, while Urban Outfitters utility burgundy trousers at $74.28 is at the top end.
Q4 isn’t over yet and we’re already seeing a 65% increase of new cargo pants for women compared to last quarter in the UK.
Meanwhile in the US, we’ve seen a 26% increase of current new in YoY. Forever 21 is the top stockist with 29 products, Nasty Gal with 22 and ASOS at 16.
‘What to stock?’, I hear you ask. For fast fashion e-tailers, baggy styles with oversized pockets will perform well, whereas skinny and slim-fit styles with simple pocket detailing will appeal to a wider consumer base.
Bike shorts
A tomboy’s alternative from flowy skirts and dresses. More of a fit in Spring/Summer assortments, the bicycle short still saw movement over Fall and will be an important trend piece to stock in SS19 assortments.
While some are yet to be convinced, cycling shorts aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Key e-tailers such as boohoo and Pretty Little Thing have already deeply invested in the bicycle short, offering it in a multitude of colorways, prints and fabrics.
While this style of short might not be on brand for some retailers, the runway offered a variety of looks more suitable than the lycra options currently retailing – consider a tailored version as an update to city shorts.
We owe this to street style stars such as Kimmy K and Bella Hadid to propel this trend into next season.
EDITED Tip: Log in here to see our full womenswear Spring 2019 trouser shapes.
Sustainable swimwear
In Q4 alone we saw a 82% increase in swimwear products described as ‘eco’ or ‘recycled’ compared to 2017. With an estimated 12.7 million tonnes of plastic in the ocean, it’s no wonder our guilt is racking up. And with everyone looking to book their winter getaway to miss miserable January, it seems sensible to invest in a sustainable swimsuit and ditch our plastic inflatable lilo.
ASOS leads the way for top stockists with their recycled swim collection with 147 products. With their $6.37 recycled microfibre brazilian pant providing the entry price, while a recycled sequin embellished high leg swimsuit rounded out at $61.10.
Among independent labels, Mauritian Victoria Secret model Alicia Rountree has launched a range of sustainable swimwear. Constructed using Econyl, a yarn spun from the fibres of washed up fishing nets, the range consists of seventies inspired bikinis and swimsuits.
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Charlotte Yau
