What's hot for menswear next spring?
Buyers know that a bad trend or product investment could cost their company billions. However, traditional fashion retailing can be equal parts gut instinct and gambling. This is where Retail Intelligence changes the game.
This article demonstrates how EDITED blends trend analysis with real-time data to take the guesswork out of range planning.
We provide data for the most commercial trends to surface from the recent Spring 2023 shows - your must-haves for the season.
EDITED knows retail. Reach out for intel to back the winners next season and every season.
Key Takeaways
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The addition of baggier fits to core shapes feeds into next spring’s overarching story of comfort underpinned by oversized T-shirts and Bermuda shorts.
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Technical products in the form of sporty, or outdoor-inspired clothing, remain a key feature for SS23, with hero pieces like cargos, sandals and bucket hats returning.
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Outdoor, sporty, preppy and vacation themes will be the cash-driving stories for next spring, built from hero items, including revere shirts, cargos, overshirts and Bermuda shorts.
Oversized T-shirts
As skater themes took off on the Spring 2023 runway, so to did the baggier silhouette, noting an abundance of oversized T-shirts with drop shoulders and longer-length bodies or boxier shapes. This season, the oversized fit grew 16% in mentions YoY, while skinnier styles like the muscle T-shirt dropped back 45%.
Short-Sleeved Reveres
The cash driver of summer assortments returned to the runway in an array of fabrics, including classic cotton, satin and lace. Newly emerged print direction saw fruit motifs adorned on co-ords and tropical prints slotted into vacation edits. In the mass market, florals and stripes dominated intake, accounting for almost half of all styles.
Bermuda Shorts
This summer season, cargos and Bermuda shorts were the only categories to see YoY investment growth at 56% and 14%, respectively, tracking above the shorts category as a whole at 3%. Styles on the runway favored sporty or tailored fabrics and lengths continued to grow, some spotted below the knee or in exaggerated baggy silhouettes.
Cargos
Now considered a core line within assortments, growth in the market across demographics continued this season. Both shorts and trouser style options climbed 40% and 34%, respectively. For Spring 2023, while classic iterations were still the backbone of this trend, cargo styling was also applied to jeans and tailored trousers.
Bomber Jackets
While the varsity jacket has been considered a more directional trend in past seasons, a growing number of retailers continued to invest and this season accounted for 21% of first majority sell outs on bombers. Although still present on the runway, classic styles, in satin, lightweight fabrics and leather, were the hot ticket item.
Overshirts
Neutrals remained the most invested in color this season having grown its mix by 2% versus 2021, trumping black, in its usual top spot, as the most invested colorway. On the runway, utility-style pockets offered fresh updates to shirts, while worker jackets were the most popular shape seen in lightweight cotton canvas fabrics in neutrals and khakis.
Technical Sandals
Investment has climbed 75% YoY, with big pushes across demographics, including a 333% growth at boohooMAN and 80% at Marks & Spencer, clearly indicating growing consumer appetite. Their presence on the catwalk saw key design details return, including buckles, straps and velcro, as well as new designs with higher uppers.
Loafers
The slip-on silhouette has seen both increases in price points and options. Where the US market has expanded its exit price point assortment, the UK’s mass-market retailers have heavily invested, resulting in a 192% increase in entry pricing. On the runway, returning penny and tasseled styles accompanied new cut-out and backless design details.
Sliders
This season, styles favored earthy tones over brighter hues. Although neutrals were the third most invested in color, they were ranked second most popular in first majority sell outs, highlighting investment opportunities for next year. Mirrored on the runway, earthy tones were spotted on chunky, futuristic and monogrammed silhouettes.
Bucket Hats
Although denim entered the mix as a new fabric update for next year, styles still focused on technical attributes, including toggle fasteners and neck protectors . Consider applying details to cotton options for next spring, ranked top in descriptions this season, as an easy styling update to move on ranges and elevate basic product offers.
Sport Cross-Body Bags
A category bouncing back from a two-year hiatus, cross-body bags grew 95% YoY, with mini styles, nylon and mobile holders seeing the biggest investment. Sporty styles were the commercial go-to for Spring 2023, noting cotton canvas and nylon base fabrics with zipper, mesh and buckle details, fitting into active and outdoor stories.
Colored Sunglasses
Infused with nostalgic references to the 70s and early 00s, ensure headscarves are merchandised within retro edits. Offering add-on opportunities, the piece was commonly seen on the runway as a coordinating garment with apparel lines such as dresses, beach cover-ups and bralettes. Stalwart paisley and florals were the top stocked patterns for SS21.
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