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From Rack to Register: April’s Top Womenswear Trends

The bestselling trends this April, including wide trousers, button through skirts, sleeveless blazers and fringing. Which did you buy into?
From Rack to Register: April’s Top Womenswear Trends | EDITED

With the spring/summer season in mid-stride, it’s a good time for retailers to take a breath and begin looking at which products are poised to top the coming ‘Best of the Season’ lists. And which are, well, a lot less likely to do so. In anticipation, this week we’ve looked back at April to see which trends are alive, well and headed towards that victory lap.

Amid a dip in newness, April’s overall product sell-outs managed to top March by 7%. And to see which products are leading the way in womenswear, we’ve identified last month’s Top Movers, full-priced items that sell out fast and get restocked quickly, in the US and UK’s mass and luxury markets. Here they are!

1. Button Through Skirts

Since the beginning of the season 139 brands have carried this style, which is retailing for an average price of $53.40. Call it the Chloé effect or proof of the 70s influence on the season, either way it’s a winner.

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L-R: Chloé at Net-a-Porter, Topshop, Topshop, Miss Selfridge at John Lewis, Dorothy Perkins.

2. Sleeveless Knits

We’ve seen these cropped-length, 90s throwbacks everywhere this season – especially in ribbed and marl knits. Both the luxury and mass markets are buying them like they’re going out of style. Which, ironically, they aren’t.

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L-R: Topshop, Esprit, Missguided, New Look.

3. Unstructured Trenches

Call these classic pieces of outerwear trenches or dusters, either way they’ve moved fast. Especially in khaki, camel, blush and navy tones. April bestsellers included the $4280.00 Lanvin trench at Farfetch and the $47.00 First & I trench at ASOS.

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L-R: New Look, Temperley London at Net-a-Porter, Barbara Casasola at Net-a-Porter, Jil Sander at Farfetch, Gap.

4. Denim

Skirts, trousers, jackets, jeans, jackets, you name it. Denim is everywhere. The luxury market has a taste for longer denim skirts and trousers, while the mass market favors white and flared jeans.

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L-R: Marques ‘Almeida at Net-a-Porter, Topshop, Topshop, Kenzo at Net-a-Porter, Frame Denim at Net-a-Porter.

5. Suede

With an average price of $613, suede products may seem like an item favored by the luxury market, however it’s not without representation in the mass market. H&M, for example, have offered the fabric in nine different styles this season.

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L-R: Mango at John Lewis, Paul & Joe at Net-a-Porter, House of Holland at Net-a-Porter, Topshop.

6. Shirt Dresses

The US and UK are unanimous in their enthusiasm for shirt dresses this season. The same could be said for the luxury and mass markets too. Solid sellers anyway you look at it.

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L-R: Theory at Net-a-Porter, Vanessa Bruno at Net-a-Porter, Bottega Veneta at My Theresa, Polo Ralph Lauren at Harrods, Preen Line at Net-a-Porter.

7. Fringing

Though well represented in both market segments, fringing has really caught fire on outerwear and dresses at higher price points. A notable exception being Missguided’s fringed skirts, which have performed wonderfully.

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L-R: Proenza Schouler at Net-a-Porter, Etro at My Theresa, Carmen Marc Valvo at Saks Fifth Avenue, Tim Ryan at Net-a-Porter, THE PERFEXT at Saks Fifth Avenue.

8. Wide Trousers

Finally breaking through more forcefully than in previous seasons, the luxury market has taken kindly to solid color varieties, while the mass market leans more toward prints.

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L-R: Zara, Topshop, Vivetta at Farfetch, Finders Keepers at Nasty Gal, Misook at Neiman Marcus.

9. Stripes

No surprise that the summer Breton turns up among the Top Movers this spring/summer season. However, monochrome and two-tone stripes are also doing well on shirts and skirts this year.

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L-R: Cooperative at Urban Outfitters, Marks & Spencer, Warehouse, Noisy May at ASOS, Topshop.

10. Sleeveless Longline Blazers

Currently more of a hit in the UK, these minimally-styled garments have been hits for Topshop, River Island and ASOS, especially in rust, khaki, grey and black.

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L-R: River Island, Topshop, New Look at ASOS, New Look.

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