Retail Diary: Fall Fashion Trends
Sorting through the retail and merchandising news to bring you Fall Fashion Trends. What will drive sales, but more importantly, style.
End of summer means a few things:
It is still 100 degrees out but we are dreaming of cashmere sweaters and boots
Back to School Shopping
Images of Meg Ryan from “You’ve Got Mail”
Pumpkin Spice Lattes (or if you are me, the first Candy Corn spotting in drug stores)
Stores can’t risk the same styles as LY - we need a reason to shop and buy. It is all about inspiring new looks and new ways to wear. We are seeing dark denim trending (LY it was oversized and horseshoe shape.) Now it is time for a refresh. There are plenty of Fall Fashion articles, newsletters and content out there. Here is what you can find in this Retail Diary:
Trends driving shopping this Fall season
Content to inspire you to get dressed this season
Trends Driving Shopping This Fall Season
The color of the season: Red
All things Red - Alicia Lund did a great round-up of “Tomato Girl Fall” which is the transition from Tomato Girl Summer. I know - we really like identifying and categorizing looks and trends as aesthetics at the moment.
Accessories: Shoes and Handbags - If you aren’t looking to go full force adding just a touch is a great idea. This was one thing I loved about prepping for new seasons at Bloomingdale’s. As a Buyer it was our goal to make every trend approachable. Whether you wanted to cannonball into the deep end or just dip a toe in it. See Town & Country’s Red Handbag recap here.
Denim
Dark - As far as denim goes, every season we need the pendulum to swing some. To keep it fresh and to drive customers to buy something new. This season we are seeing more of a darker solid wash.
Heavier/More Structured Denim Button Downs - Is it a shirt or a jacket? The shacket has made its way to denim. Also great for the start of crisper fall weather. See Khaite, Zara, ASKK NY and this blog post talks about the denim shirt as a hero item and I agree - wonderful for transitional dressing.
Mary Janes - the updated version of wearing a ballet flat is a Mary Jane. As functional as a sneaker (if there is a solid sole) and a bit more elevated. (Oh, now that I’ve said sneaker and mary jane in the same sentence I’m having flashbacks to this shoe that drove my sales as a Shoe Buyer at Bloomingdale’s.) High (The Row) and Appropriately Priced (Madewell) which also comes in a silver, which is still trending this season.
Silk Maxi Skirt - the newest iteration of the 90’s look. I’m into Reformation for RED, Favorite Daughter, J. Crew, Amazon and (I can’t believe I’m saying this) Abercrombie & Fitch.
Two Bags - The trend of wearing two bags at a time (a tote and a smaller bag, two shoulder bags, a tote and a mini bag) have been popping up from The WSJ, Jess Graves, Leandra Medine and others. Articles discussing this trend go back to 2018 so we’ve seen this circulating for awhile.
Idea: Let’s see retailers and brands share content of which bags to pair together (I see Shopbop and Net-A-Porter doing this.) Buy More Save More for Handbags to get customers to check out with two or more bags at a time.
Work Wear - Becky Malinsky has been sharing some great work wear trends. Check them out: Grey suiting, work tops, black work pants. With the debate around return to office, having some solid work wear to make getting dressed up an exciting part of the office day is a treat.
Images via Leandra Medine/Proenza Schouler/Spotted Fashion/WSJ/Getty Images
Content To Inspire You To Get Dressed This Season
Jacey Duprie’s new Fashion Newsletter Basic (the newsletter is the new blog)
I love The Love List and Jess Graves did a great job with this post - nailed all the trends.
Gabriella Gofis Newsletter Gifts of Gab Fall Trends
Allison Bornstein’s book is out in a few weeks. This podcast with Hillary Kerr discusses what you will find in her book.
Images via Instagram @jessnellgraves @gabrigofis @allisonbornstein6 @jaceyduprie
Thanks for reading Retail Diary: Fall Fashion Trends edition. What are you excited for this Fall? Any new trends you see emerging? Comment to inspire and ask questions.
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xx
Sarah Shapiro
Always learn something new with each Retail Diary!!