2018 Spring Trends

There hasn’t yet been any April showers to bring in the May flowers, nevertheless we’re excited to shower you with 2018’s top trends for men and women. Grab your umbrellas; this Spring’s forecast is cloudy with a chance of prints, yet mild enough for light jackets.

Blasts From The Past

As of late, I’ve had urges to binge watch ‘I Love Lucy’ while wearing red lipstick and empty Coca-Cola cans for hair rollers. In the last month fast-fashion retailers Asos and Forever 21, and mid-tier department stores like Macy’s have introduced Polka Dots as this season’s flirty trend. They’re upping the 50’s glamour factor, and I can’t suppress my willingness to participate, (anyone down for a Happy Days marathon?). While we found this fun print most prevalent in the Dresses and Shirts & Tops categories, the highest representation of the trend was 7%.

Comparable to 2017’s gingham print, I expect polka dots to shift to a summer and early fall trend, which makes investing in transitional pieces like dresses and tops ideal. Across the market, the average pricing for polka dot dresses is $69 and $38 for tops.

Seasonal Favorites

Plaid maintains its status as most versatile, surviving both fads and seasons as a staple print. Last spring, it took the form of corsets, progressing to pleated schoolgirl skirts in the summer, and finally to holiday outerwear. Now, the plaid work pants we left in 2007 are back, favorably in high-waisted silhouettes.

While search interest for this versatile print has varied--partly due to the holidays, the trouser style is already selling out at Forever 21 and Shopbop. Luckily, we’re only at the beginning of the season.

A Common Medium

Comfort is a major theme amongst consumers, leading to the rise of athleisure and throw-em-on pieces. Women are swapping denim for track pants, and men are more than happy to purchase cotton joggers in every color. Fortunately, retailers are meeting us halfway with the debut of tuxedo trousers, a unisex trend.

In more casual instances, the side stripe has made its way to denim, prompting us to give the Canadian Tuxedo a closer look. What’s more, Calvin Klein’s most recent collaboration with the Kardashian family is a clear indicator that the sporty trend is here to stay.

An easy fit is still a paramount purchase consideration for men, as the side stripe trend has upgraded wardrobes from simple Adidas tracksuits to a sleeker design ready for those after-five activities. In our analysis, Zara has the most affordable selection for consumers with an average price of $26, with Forever 21 following at $29, and Asos at $53. Lacking overt branding makes these perfect options for label junkies who don’t want their pants clashing with their footwear brand of choice (i.e, Adidas with Nikes).

Let’s Get Technical

Normcore and Gorpcore have dominated men’s streetwear for the past two years. Both of these street styles highlighted anything utilitarian, usually reserved for extreme weather conditions. Since the streetwear has gone mainstream, functional pieces like the down puffer, warm fleeces, and heavy duty hiking boots are becoming prevalent on the runway. As we approach warmer weather, technical windbreakers will be one of this spring’s top menswear trends.

Although bold colors and prints are more common in menswear than before, it's no surprise that black still reigns supreme - at 41% of the technical jacket assortment. At least we can expect to see more navy and camo print, but don’t hold your breath for much else.

Thanks, Dad

Let’s all give a round of applause for the dads out there, who set the standard for this spring’s footwear trend. Thick soles, tube socks, fanny packs--they’re all archived in those plastic bins your mom uses when she runs out of shelfspace.

Trainers, or more specifically, the hideous orthopedic running shoe that’s been on the rise since Balenciaga set them loose during Fashion Week in September, (I actually think I saw a pair of those dogs snap at someone).

As is the case with any sneaker, the patterns in search interest fluctuate and peak around release dates as consumers search for pre-sale, re-sale, and cheaper alternatives.

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