The London retail scene is buzzing with fashion week excitement. Windows look spectacular and trends are particularly strong this season. We’ve scoured the city from the biggest department stores to the trendiest boutiques to bring you bring you this 80+ page report full of inspiration.
The new forecast is packed with inspiration filled pages providing all the groundwork and information for your new collections. Expert analysis kickstarts each of our 3 major trends and each moodboard provides the buzzwords for the new season. The timing is crucial and takes into account shifts in culture and current influences which will impact on forward-moving trends. COLOUR analysis provides the full palette, colour map and colour trends while accurately pinpointing the key colours and highlights. COLOUR mood boards arrange colours into the most effective and inspiring colour combinations.
The resort collections feature a taster of new, innovative swimwear and beachwear for spring/summer 2014. Contrast fabrics are expertly combined, dividing and splitting the shapes into segments. Unexpected pairings of gingham/floral, mesh/solid, pattern/plain or lace/sheer provide an offbeat touch that keeps the looks fresh.
The resort collections don’t go in for obscure concepts, these clothes offer a fashion reality check that sets the tone for future streetwear. DESIGNers pull out all the stops to create the new must-have essentials that have the same appeal as styles from the main line shows.
St. Tropez is always a mecca for streetstyle fashion and this season it’s right at the centre of the ethnic trend. Ethnic patterns in hippy styles lead the way forward; styles are channelling summer festivals, pulling inspiration for prints and patterns from a multitude of sources. The effect is an exciting melting pot of prints, patterns and handcrafted detailing. There is a lot of movement on the street with fringes, soft floaty hemlines and loose shapes vying for attention.
COLOUR is grabbing the attention this season, either because it’s bright and saturated or because it’s shaded from one colour into another. Shapes appear simple but there are hidden splits, cutouts at the back or clever asymmetric lines, which add to the contemporary vibe. Necklace-style decoration and bracelet cuffs add impact to minimal tops, tunics and dresses in single colours.
There is a massive swing towards ethnic influenced pattern and craft; Aztec patterns, Native American beadwork/fringing, handcrafted dye effects and animal camouflage merge to form a general hippy vibe that will continue going forward.
Denim looks ahead in washed out colour with abraded finishes either in quirky colour effects or with new customised details…
An exciting array of accessories really grabs the attention this season. COLOUR is an important factor but it’s the contrasts and combinations of materials that really make the difference. Interesting textures and unexpected additions really spice up the offering here. St Tropez is a decadent town that attracts big money and consumers here are looking for statement pieces that will set them apart from the crowd. The Riviera retail scene is brimming with stunning designs that capture the imagination and it’s here that new trends emerge. It is vital for fashion businesses to keep a finger on the fashion pulse here, as its impact will be felt across future seasons.
St. Tropez is a retail hub for beachwear trends. Key swimwear brands from Europe, USA and Brazil fill the small boutiques and shop owners are quick to style the new swimwear and cover-ups with the latest accessories.
This season beachwear offers added value with reversible styles in contrast colours or dramatically different patterns. Straps are versatile offering the consumer adjustable style options or a contrast colour/print.
Coordinated beachwear is key, pareo styles are short and kaftans finish at tunic length; shorts and soft pants or leggings expand the offering…
Intimate Tech is fuelled by new technology and the sensual relationship that brings body shape and ergonomic design sharply into focus. Advances in construction methods and the latest innovative developments in fabrics and materials will push design in exciting new directions.
In general there’s a strong move towards unisex and masculine styles, especially in the footwear sector. The majority of glove styles are boyishly bulky with fur linings, padded sections or added knitwear. Headwear reflects a similar mannish mood in unisex styles, such as, trilbies, fedoras, knitted beanies and sports caps. Belts are the only exception to the rule often hugging the waist in feminine corset-like styles at Etro or cinching the waist like a waspie at Jil Sander. Sporty sunglasses are hi-tech with blackout lenses; at Acne these are squashed into narrow slit frames, while at Just Cavalli styles are shaped into winter sport goggles with a neon trim.