As an online retailer, staying on top of emerging trends is crucial for curating a compelling assortment that resonates with shoppers. Our retail analysis dives into the key trends, items, and opportunities shaping women’s transitional fashion for spring 2024. Discover how holiday-inspired palettes, relaxed workwear, and elevated essentials are defining the season. Use these insights to inform your buys and merchandising strategies to set your business up for a strong start to the year.
Table of Contents
1. Regional occasions ignite red-hot opportunity
2. Hoodies and leggings lead cut-and-sew comfort
3. Blazer alternatives suit shifting workwear needs
4. Denim’s wide stride from jeans to maxi skirts
5. Outerwear makes a splash with fresh utility
1. Regional occasions ignite red-hot opportunity
Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day are painting the season a bold shade of red. Dubbed #RadiantRed, the hue heated up catwalks for A/W 2024 and is forecasted to be a key color for fall. But don’t wait until then to embrace the fiery tone. Infuse pops of red across your transitional assortment, from knits to dresses and accessories. Tap into Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day with curated edits and displays. Google searches for “Valentine’s red dress” surged this year, with related queries for sleeve lengths, fabrics, and silhouettes – use this to guide your red dress mix.
2. Hoodies and leggings lead cut-and-sew comfort
As transitional collections land, pay close attention to core cut-and-sew categories. Hoodies and leggings are emerging as key items, offering the comfort and versatility consumers crave. Despite increased markdowns overall, hoodies were a bright spot, outperforming sweatshirts and tees. Consumers see value in this cozy, practical layering piece. With leggings continuing to outpace sweatpants, athleisure is taking a sleeker turn. Pull back on novelty cut-and-sew styles like crop tops for now as shoppers gravitate towards easy, elevated essentials. Focus on getting the fit and fabric right for these staples.
3. Blazer alternatives suit shifting workwear needs
The new rules of workwear revolve around polished comfort as people adopt a relaxed approach to office dressing. With tailored blazers struggling, waistcoats and denim shirts are rising as modern suiting alternatives. Searches for work outfits are climbing, driven largely by younger consumers seeking fresh office-style inspiration. The hashtag #WorkLeisure captures this macro shift. Fluid trousers with pleats, column skirts in stretch fabrics, and refined utility details are defining the look. Stock up on knit layers, from classic cardigans to textured sweaters, for easy ways to smarten up casual separates.
4. Denim’s wide stride from jeans to maxi skirts
Denim is loosening up for spring as wider, roomier cuts come into focus. The star of the jeans show? Wide legs, which performed well in both the US and UK. Though retailers increased the style, similar growth in out-of-stocks as bootcuts points to an opportunity to up the mix further. Flares underwhelmed comparatively, underscoring consumers’ interest in airier shapes and perhaps signaling a style shift on the horizon. Beyond jeans, mentions of denim maxi skirts are climbing year-over-year, with slit-front styles gaining ground. Round out your denim offering with an array of relaxed fits across varying lengths.
5. Outerwear makes a splash with fresh utility
Practical outerwear shows no signs of slowing down, fueled by #TheGreatOutdoors trend. Anoraks and windbreakers are standouts, with the latter boasting below-average markdowns. Trench coats remain in demand too, but could use an update. Look for denim and leather iterations to give the classic style a fresh feel. On the other end of the spectrum, soft, unstructured coats are bringing a graceful ease to outerwear. Brushed textures, roomy fits, and muted neutrals lend these toppers a luxurious, minimalist sensibility. Sophisticated utilitarianism runs through the category as cargo pockets and drawstrings elevate anoraks.
Conclusion:
The transitional season serves as a preview of the key trends to come for spring/summer 2024. By acting on these early indicators, from bold red hues to polished utility pieces, online retailers can position themselves competitively and align their offerings with what consumers will be seeking. Prioritize getting the key items right, whether that’s a perfect wide-leg jean or a chic, cozy sweater. As always, use data to validate your assortment mix and identify opportunities. With a finger on the pulse of where womenswear is heading, your shop will be poised to become a go-to fashion destination next season.
