As corporate lifestyles continue to evolve, there are many new demands driving the women’s trouser market. The autumn/winter 2022/23 season will see customers placing more emphasis on trousers that are comfortable yet stylish. These are the trendy key items in women’s trousers businesses should make note of for the coming season.
Table of Contents
What influences the women’s trousers market this season?
Key items in trousers for autumn/winter 2022/23
Women want trousers that won’t compromise on style
What influences the women’s trousers market this season?
Trousers are a specific style of pants that are tailored for formal or semi-formal occasions. They frequently come with a waistband, buttoned loopholes, and a fly front. The trousers segment of the global women’s clothing market was valued at USD 211.95 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7% from 2022 to 2028.
Demand in the women’s trousers segment is driven by a growing rate of working women with rising fashion awareness. The trendy items for autumn and winter 2022/23 are influenced by the continued evolution of workplace culture and lifestyle habits. Western-style trousers replacing ethnic wear in some regional segments is also contributing to volume growth in this market.
Key items in trousers for autumn/winter 2022/23
Cargo pants
Cargo pants continue their popularity from previous seasons thanks to an ongoing need for practical fashion. A cargo pant is a loose-fitting casual trouser with large patch pockets on the thighs.
Customers looking for a wardrobe staple that can be worn across multiple seasons may be interested in cargo pants with a relaxed fit and neutral color. Trendier interpretations can range from casual cargo pants made from soft jersey to business casual cargo bottoms with smart workwear tailoring.
Comfortable wide-leg cargo pants in colorful pastel shades will be suitable for youth markets inspired by the nostalgia of 1990s dressing, while activewear details like functional modular pockets or thermal and heat-tech qualities tap into the contemporary market’s athleisure obsession.
Wide-leg trousers
According to WGSN, wide-leg trousers have witnessed significant growth since 2020 and remain dominant in the market for autumn and winter 2022/23. A wide-leg trouser is a pant that is fitted at the waist and flares out from the hips.
Customers have become accustomed to the look of roomy wide-leg silhouettes with elasticized waists that mimic the qualities of cozy loungewear. For women seeking a new take on the trend, luxe suiting styles and softly sculpted jersey fabrics will give a more tailored character to the trouser pants. Additional details like pinstripes or textured corduroy will make the wide-leg pant suitable for the office.
Outside of work, wide trousers that come with utility pockets, cropped lengths, or as a long matching set with top will offer customers a casual, bohemia-inspired alternative.
Slim trousers
Although wide-leg trousers are the go-to silhouette, businesses should not overlook the emerging interest in slimmer styles among younger customers. Slim trousers are pants with a snug fit through the legs and a small leg opening.
This fashion trend was prevalent in the autumn/winter 2022/23 runway collections and is driven by contemporary fashion designers inspired by the mid-2000s indie mood. For some women, the narrower slim trouser will be a welcome change from the ubiquity of wide leg shapes.
To attract customers at all levels of the market, businesses should aim to offer a variety of pant styles. Low-rise waistlines and statement prints can appeal to trend-driven customers, while cropped and tailored cuts can be worn with blazers by working women. Slim pants in stretchy jersey will also come with the ability to transition from day to night for women with busy schedules.
Barrel-leg trousers
As a spin-off to wide-leg trousers, businesses should expect to see barrel-leg trousers gain momentum this season. A barrel-leg trouser is a pant with a high waist and wide-cut legs that are tapered at the ankle.
This relaxed yet stylish silhouette can be applied to other key items of the season, including cargo pants, twill trousers, and denim bottoms. Tailored styles in soft jersey, wool suiting, or leather materials will be appropriate for more business casual or semi-formal occasions.
The rounded shape of barrel-leg pants can be highlighted with unique details like floral embroidery, built-in utilitarian elements, soft pleats, and engineered seams.
Comfy party flares
Leggings surged in popularity over the past few years because of their comfortable properties and they continue to be a key item for autumn/winter 2022/23. This season, leggings adopt a trendy flared hem that gives them versatility outside of the home for both everyday wear and fashionable partywear.
These comfy party flares are strongly influenced by iconic 90s styles that will appeal to the youth-driven market. Flared trousers that come with retro patterns and colors or as a matching set with a cropped top will be the most literal interpretation of the Y2K craze.
For businesses with a wider customer base, flared leggings with peak performance features will be another key opportunity. A comfy party flare with functional details like ergonomic seams or split hems will give it the flexibility to serve both fashion and active purposes.
Women want trousers that won’t compromise on style
As more women enter the workplace, there are several key items in women’s trousers for the autumn and winter 2022/23 season. The wide-leg trouser continues to dominate the market, with barrel-leg trousers and cargo pants offering a different take on the relaxed cut. Comfy party flares and slim trousers are more tailored pant styles that have been cropping up on fashion shows and are opportunities to give customers an alternative leg shape option.
This season, women demand comfortable pieces that will allow their wardrobe to easily transition between fashion and active looks. They may have an appreciation for trousers that demonstrate versatility for on-the-go lifestyles.
