The Top 12 Fashion Trends To Emerge In 2016
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London - 2016 has shaped up to become quite the pivotal year for the fashion industry. From the new business model ‘See Now, Buy Now’ being taken on by designers, to the unifying of fashion shows, the departure of Raf Simons from Dior and the death of Sonia Rykiel, this year underlined how nothing ever remains still an increasing faster-pace industry. However 2016 was also the year of historical and nostalgic influences, as fashion looked back for inspiration for future trends.
As the year draws to a close, FashionUnited rounds up the main 12 fashion trends to emerge in 2016, based on data from Lyst, Google and Edited.
SPRING
January: Throwback to logos
The start of 2016 kicked off with a 64 percent increase in sales of logo athleisure wear and sportswear, mostly driven by 2000s favourites such as Calvin Klein Jeans, Tommy Jeans, Reebok, Champion and Ellesse, according to data from Lyst, online ecommerce platform. Later in the year it became crystal clear that Calvin Klein Jeans had its finger on the millennial pulse when they cast ‘it-model’ Kendall Jenner as well as Canadian artist Justin Bieber to star in their Spring/Summer 2016 campaign #mycalvins - even if the man behind the brand itself was not overly impressed with the Kardashian sister.
February : Oversized hoodies
Thanks to streetwear-is brand Vetements, which has been named the second more searched for designer brand of 2016 following Gucci, hoodies were one of the biggest must have items of the year. In February, the oversized Vetements hoodie was the most popular product by the cult brand to hit the shelves as consumers went for comfort. Overall, Lyst reported an 48 percent increase in the sales of luxury hoodies in 2016, with the average UK order value for a hoodie up for 35 pounds to 85 pounds this year. Although that amount pales in comparison to the 762 pounds customers shelled out for Vetements Total Darkness Hoodie.
March: Straight denim
Although skinny jeans are still in demand, 2016 saw another denim style rise to the top of the charts once more: straight denim. The UK is said to be leading the way when it comes to the straight denim revolution, by challenging the skinny jeans dominance on the market. In fact, the most searched for jeans by British consumers in 2016, across high street and designer denim brands, were straight styles. Frayed, ripped, patchwork and step hem denim all had their own moments in the spotlight this year, but the best-sellers overall were clean, straight classic jeans - think Levi’s classic 501.
April: Trainers and skate shoes
2016 was also the year that trainers officially overtook high heels as the British woman’s choice of footwear. However, this should come as little surprise, as the market was flooded with trainers styles as more than 331,000 new pairs of sneakers were launched online in 2016, according to research from Edited. Although consumers were spoiled for choice, the average price of trainers also went up in 2016, from 59.99 dollars to 75 dollars. This is not deter consumers for splashing out on trainers however, with brands such as Adidas, Nike, Reebok and Puma enjoying footwear success in 2016. However, perhaps the most unlikely front row choice of footwear this spring was Vans Old Skools. Demand for this unisex, skater style began during fashion week and Lyst currently reports sees more than 18,000 searches a day these trainers in black and white.
May: Bomber jackets
Perhaps the wardrobe staple item of the year, bomber jackets were still a reigning trend in 2016. Google highlighted the bomber jacket as the most-searched for trend of the year as bomber jackets outsold bike jackets by 3 to 1 this year on Lyst. This demand should come as no surprise however, as over the last 12 months alone more than 61,000 bomber jackets were launched in the US and the UK, reports Edited. In May, Britons were snapping up a bomber jacket on Lyst every 3 minutes, with black remaining the bestselling colour overall although satin souvenir styles with embroidered detail were also in high demand.
SUMMER
June: Off the Shoulder & Slip dresses
Off the shoulder and slip dresses became the defining dress (and top style) of 2016. More than 34,700 slip dresses arrived online this year, in addition to 19,500 off the shoulder dress styles launching in the US and UK alone, according to Edited. Bardot off the shoulder styles were in high demand this June, with Lyst reporting 3,000 searches an hour for them. Asos had the widest offering of these styles, although it was mass-market retailer Zara which sold the most off the shoulder tops in the UK.
July: One piece: body and jumpsuits
Demand for one piece bodysuits, swim suits and jumpsuits soared this year, as consumers embraced single bodied garments. Lyst reported a 6 percent jump in searches for one piece swim suits this July, lace-up bodysuits began popping up in high street retailers across the globe after being spotted on the likes of Kendall and Kylie Jenner. Jumpsuits also held their own as a staple to any summer wardrobe, with over 52,000 jumpsuits launching online in 2016, according to Edited.
August: Metallics
All that glitters is gold has certainly not gone out of fashion this year, as metallics remained a key trend throughout 2016. From silvery boots, to glittery dresses, to golden floral accents and metallic skirts, this is a trend that was firmly embraced by menswear and womenswear designers this year, driven by Gucci, Prada and Marc Jacobs. In fact, the most viewed product of August on Lyst was a metallic, leather, pleated skirt from Gucci, as consumers showed a slight preference for silver toned items over gold as the most popular metallic fashion shade of 2016.
AUTUMN
September: Small Insta-it bags
Not too long ago, giant designer handbags were in Vogue. But 2016 has become the year of the smaller, Instagram favourite ‘it-bags’. Leading fashion houses, ranging from Gucci to Fendi, to Coach and Mulberry have been toting diminutive handbags as the must have item of the year, simple in terms of colour but heavily decorated. J W Anderson’s Pierce handbag has been hailed as the “hottest handbag” according to Lyst, with more than 750,000 people searching for the bag during September fashion week. Other key bags of 2916 were the Gucci Dionysus, Loewe Puzzle, and Simon Miller Bonsai.
October : Backless loafers and mules
Alessandro Michele could not have foreseen the demand for his fluffy Gucci Princetown backless loafers. When this style first hit store in Spring it was an instant sell-out, and six months later when Gucci launched its metallic backless loafer styles they went on to sell-out as well. Unsurprisingly, the highstreet was quick to adopt this trend, with retailers from Asos to Zara offering their own backless, furry loafer styles, which led to 4,000 more pairs of backless loafers and mules launching online for sale in comparison to 2015. In fact, in the month of October, ‘backless’ was the most searched-for term within the flat shoes category on Lyst.
WINTER
November: Puffer jackets
This winter saw a return of the ‘puffa jacket’, reimagined by Demna Gvasalia, who took the quilted jacket to the next level at fashion house Balenciaga. Oversized and off the shoulder, this winter jacket became the definitive style for winter 2016. Searches for puffer jackets increased 300 percent from September to December on Lyst, as retailers ranging from Urban Outfitters to Zara launched their own version of the cozy, quilted jacket.
December: Velvet dreams
One key fabric making its return to our wardrobe this winter in velvet - so be prepared to see a number of velvet dresses and jumpsuits at Christmas parties this month. In the UK alone, searches for velvet clothing and accessories increased 45 percent from August to December on Lyst, as velvet boots trended in October. In November, velvet overtook lace was the most searched for winter-dress look in London, as consumers embraced all types of velvet, from crushed to chiffon.
Homepage: JP Yim / Getty Images North America / AFP
Photo 1: Vetements, AW16, website
Photo 2: Vans Old Skool, website
Photo 3: H&M All Black Collection Bomber Jacket, courtesy of H&M
Photo 4: Zara Off The Shoulder Dress, website
Photo 5: Gucci metallic skirt, Lyst
Photo 6: J W Anderson’s Pierce Bag, website
Photo 7: Gucci Princetown backless loafers, website
Photo 8: Zara Puffer jacket, website
Photo 9: Asos, Facebook