• Consumers coped with the stress and uncertainty of this past year through experimental escapism, providing an anchor for turn-off-the-millennium trends to take off.
• An extreme volume trend, there are 731K average weekly searches for nostalgia. Searches are +57% to last year and are growing at an accelerated rate.
• Brands and retailers are delivering with nostalgia-inducing silhouettes, materials, and accessories. Velour tracksuits (+55% to LY) and baguette bags (+95% to LY) are safe bets, expected to continue growing over the next year, while halter dresses (+7% to LY) and silver body chains (+105% to LY) are emerging trends to watch.
• Products…

In our post-pandemic world, what does back to school mean? Is it synonymous with logging back into Zoom classes after a much-needed summer break or will it be returning to a socially distant classroom?

Last year, the back to school season was marked by delayed reopenings and remote or hybrid learning situations for many. With COVID-19 vaccine rollouts and a slow decline of infection rates, this year’s return may be the first characterized by an entirely in-person school year.

As brands and retailers gear up for this upcoming return to normalcy, it’s important to remember that this back to school…

• According to the Fall 2021 runway, cow print is here to stay! The mooody animal print was spotted on jackets, bucket hats, boots, and skirts at Anna Sui, GCDS, and Eckhaus Latta.
• There are 48K average weekly searches for cow print. Searches are +196% to last year and are growing at an accelerated rate.
• Cow print is new to market—53% of products are new within the last 3 months.
• A top market mover — 20% of new SKUs out of stock.
• Tops (24%), swimwear (19%), handbags (11%), intimates (9%), and pants (5%) are the most popular cow print product categories…

“Dear reader, the Loewe show has been canceled, but our lives continue. We’re just living in a different context and we have to move on, whatever happens,” read the newspaper announcing in bold letters that “The Loewe Show has Been Canceled.” Jonathan Anderson presented Loewe’s Fall 2021 collection in the format of a newspaper, ready to be enjoyed with a morning cup of coffee, an act that is equal parts familiar and energizing. The collection pictured was full of life and imagined a more hopeful future of bright, joyful colors and avant-garde shapes. …

A year ago, Italy was hit by the first COVID-19 outbreak, and every moment since has been fraught with concerns about the retail industry and last-ditch efforts from brands to stay afloat. This season is Milan’s third women’s ready-to-wear season to take place during the pandemic, and it is the second to take place almost entirely digitally. Digital presentations have become the new norm, and with two seasons of experience under their belts, designers proved well-adjusted to our digital-first reality.

Italy’s most notable designers approached this season with a “business as usual” attitude, and many stuck to a traditional runway…

From crafty essentials to virtual spring break apparel, these are the trends that emerged in March and are expected to impact the womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, and beauty markets for months to come.

Women

Rooted in our desire for escape and connection, the craftcore movement that exploded during quarantine shows no signs of slowing down. Macrame, crochet, and tie dye are making a major comeback in the retail world, and consumers are searching for everything from crochet bucket hats (+998% to LY) to tie dye skirts (+62% to LY) and socks (+98% to LY). …

• For several seasons now, the puffer jacket has cemented its status as a cold-weather staple. Designers on the Fall 2021 runway are reworking the classic piece with unexpected shapes, materials, and details.
• There are 214K average weekly searches for puffer jackets. Over the last 3 months, searches are +71% to last year and are growing at an accelerated rate.
• Puffer jacket has a strong engagement rating, generating more social buzz now compared to the last 20 weeks.
• A top market mover—21% of new SKUs out of stock.
• TL Forecast: This trend is expected to continue growing over the next year with 70% confidence.

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“When I was working at the Royal Opera House, that was the moment I found so exciting: the dancers shifting around, crisscrossing, half-dressed in what they wear during the day and half-dressed in their costumes,” said Erdem Moralioglu of his most recent collection. Inspired by the art of ballet, the collection froze a dancer’s wardrobe between the stages of rehearsal and performance. Though likely unintended, the collection was a reflection of our current moment, stuck in this time in between lockdown and living–as we all are–waiting to return to “normal.” This tension wove its way into several collections this season…