Spring 2024 – Five Runway Trends For Now

• It was business as usual across the cities as designers delivered workwear essentials that lean into the season’s overarching minimalist themes. For Spring 2024, retailers should continue to invest in grey and oversized office-ready basics that will resonate with the new Gen Z workforce.
• A standout color for 2023, 17% of red apparel arrivals for Fall 2023 so far have seen a majority SKU sell out, up 4pp YoY. Maxi eveningwear dresses have performed well at Mango and have been seen on the Spring 2024 runways, updated with feminine bows and silky materials.
• The biker jacket emerged as a hero piece on the runway, furthering Motocross stories. For Spring 2024, move away from overt racing graphics and stripes and opt for grungier stories, with worn-in, oversized leather jackets having already seen success in the market for fall.
• Transculent fabrics continued to dominate the runway, with sheer dresses taking up a larger proportion of the assortment wheel for fall. For spring, use sheer tulle to lean into romantic stories in pastel hues.
• Rosettes and bows cemented ultra-feminine themes for Spring 2024 as the Coquette aesthetic continues to grow. Carry on investing in these details for occasionwear and partywear lines, which have already performed well at Mango and PrettyLittleThing for fall.

1. Corpcore

Current Retail Status

The latest ‘core’ trend to take off, Corpcore is anchored in workwear essentials, but is playful with proportions. For fall, “tailored” featured twice as much in the product name description for trouser arrivals compared to last year and in 9% of all product names for blazers, up 5pp from Fall 2022. Greys were the third most invested in color for blazers, making up 13% of the color wheel assortment for Fall 2023 – minimalist greys are set to be the new black. As for shirts, royal purple hues saw majority SKU sell outs at both & Other Stories and Mano in loose-fitting satin and silk fabrics.

Top Performing FW23 Arrivals

What’s Next?

BOSS delivered a profound study of corporate culture for its ready-to-wear Fall 2023 collection. While the collection was rooted in traditional workwear pieces inspired by the 90s, the designer added a youthful edge through asymmetrical lapels and oversized silhouettes. Elsewhere, designers such as Proenza Schouler focused on wardrobe-building pieces, leaning into the minimalist themes of the season in a core color palette of blacks, whites and greys.

2. Reds

Current Retail Status

Red apparel has performed better for fall this year compared to last, with 17% of red items having seen a majority SKU sell out, up 4pp from last year. Tops took up a greater proportion of the assortment mix this year, with T-shirts making up the majority, followed by sweaters. Maxi eveningwear dresses have already performed well at Mango ahead of the party season, with an asymmetric bow dress having seen a majority SKU sell out just one month after arriving online and being currently OOS.

Top Performing FW23 Arrivals

What’s Next?

A standout shade from last season, vibrant reds are continuing to dominate Spring 2024 collections as a favored primary color. Head-to-toe ensembles were seen across major designers, including Burberry and Ferragamo. This striking hue was primarily seen on party and eveningwear dresses in both mini and maxi lengths and silky fabrics, updated with a feminine bow at Simone Rocha.

3. Biker Jackets

Current Retail Status

Intake for biker jackets increased by 48% YoY, as Motocross trends thrust this staple jacket into the spotlight. This season, the trend has evolved from racing graphics and color-blocking stripes to more grungier pieces. Best-selling styles for fall so far include oversized and worn-in, distressed leather pieces, including a real leather jacket at H&M selling out at $499 with no advertised discount. Retailers updated this core item in trending fabrics, including in denim at Monki and in metallics at Zara.

Top Performing FW23 Arrivals

What’s Next?

Designers continued their biker-centric exploration, cementing the jacket as a hero piece. Iceberg presented moto jackets in faux leather and snakeskin, while Diesel opted for grunge denim with multiple zippers and low-rise jeans for a Y2K spin. Padded leather and racing stripes made more overt references to racing themes, while Gucci presented a parred-down offering.

4. Sheer Fabrics

Current Retail Status

Sheer dresses took up a larger proportion of the assortment wheel YoY, swelling by 8pp from 2022 to 37% in 2023. Forever 21 increased its investment from last year by 68% this year, with gothic blacks the dominant color across dresses and tops. Transparent skirts have performed well so far at H&M and Mango in both elevated workwear and partywear lines, with styles reminiscent of Miu Miu’s Fall 2023 collection.

Top Performing FW23 Arrivals

What’s Next?

Transculent fabrics continued to dominate the runway, feeding into the ongoing sultry and sexy stories that have ruled fashion weeks over the past few seasons. Sheer tulle fabrics contributed to the season’s major feminine themes, while see-through lace furthered gothic themes from Fall 2023 shows. For a more directional take, Prada’s pastel organza and gazar dresses went viral for their ethereal look that made it look as though they were floating down the runway.

5. Romantic Details

Current Retail Status

Ultra-feminine stories continued their strong presence on the Spring 2024 runways, taking a cue from ongoing Coquette and Balletcore themes. PrettyLittleThing, Forever 21 and Mango are among retailers backing the rosette trend for fall. Dresses pairing the detail with ruffles and ruching have performed well for the former retailer, with one option seeing a first majority SKU sell out eight days after landing. Bows were mostly applied to dresses, seen both on the straps and on the back. The detail was also seen on hot pink dresses, leaning into this year’s standout Barbiecore theme, with investment from Lulu’s and PrettyLittleThing.

Top Performing FW23 Arrivals

What’s Next?

Rosettes and bows have emerged as major trends across all three cities so far, adorning ultra-femme occasion dresses. While some opted for a single statement placement, others favored all-over maximalism, furthering fueling Bloomcore stories.

Date analysis
New in Jul 1 – Sep 25, 2023 vs. 2022
US & UK retailers considered
& Other Stories, Abercrombie & Fitch, Banana Republic, Bershka, COS, Forever 21, H&M, J.Crew, Lulus, Mango, Marks & Spencer, NA-KD, PrettyLittleThing, Reiss, River Island, Zara