#trendcasting

Let’s face it- what’s hot today might be old news by tomorrow, which is exactly why as a brand you always have to stay on top of the latest trends and create new designs to fit what consumers are looking for. 

Though navigating the fashion world may seem like a daunting task at first, it’s actually quite simple: just do your homework! 

What’s trending right now: 

Spring

Spring’s go-to color pallet? Pastels and soft, muted tones! You can never go wrong with floral prints either. This season is best known for its fresh blooms after all.  

We’ve also noticed that festival friendly looks (think seventies hippie meets Coachella) have been a hit in the media lately and your brand can get a piece of the action too. Run wild with paisley prints, elephants, and lace. 

Summer

Sunny days are ahead! Shoppers are looking for warm-weather essentials now so create and upload new summer-ready designs ASAP.  

We don’t know about you but we’ve been seeing all things tropical practically everywhere. Palm leaves and hibiscus prints are totally in right now and will continue to be throughout the summer. 

And just like that, this summer’s trends are also taking us to basically the opposite end of the climate spectrum: the desert. For the hip and trendy crowd, cactus and succulents are a must-have. 

Summer wouldn’t be summer without nautical favorites like stripes, anchors, seashells or sea creatures. Also take note that colorful geometric and abstract designs are back and here to stay! 

Prints and patterns not your thing? Go for quotes that scream summer instead with themes surrounding travel or adventure for example. 

Tip: Stay close to bold, vibrant colors that POP! For laid-back vacay vibes, pair shades of blue + white together. 

Beyond

So not that you’ve got your bases covered for this season and next, here’s how you can spot trends yourself the next time around:

1. Study influencers 

Immerse yourself in the world of fashion bloggers because these influencers are at the forefront of fashion and set trends for their millions of fans that are sure to follow in their footsteps. 

A quick Google search will set you in the right direction. There’s a huge variety of bloggers like artsy types, moms, hipsters, girly girls and street stylists. Find a few that stick out to you and relate to your brand and follow them on their social media. Pick up on what they style, as well as study what their fans are saying about it too.  

They’ve basically done the hard work for you by figuring out what looks good, so get inspired by not what just they wear but what they say in their captions as well. 

For example, refer to our photo below. Blogger Aimee Song of Song of Style (left) was one of many who showed off the marble trend and Casetify artist Natalie Liao drew inspiration from this by designing a white marble case (right). 

Tip: Visit websites that are dedicated to reporting on the latest trends like Who What Wear or magazine publications like Elle or Glamour. Study your favorite brands and see how you can emulate that style into your own designs. 

2. Stay current

Pay close attention to what’s going on in the media so you can reference pop culture the next time you’re coming up with something new. 'Don't Worry Be Yoncé, anyone? 

Keeping your finger on the pulse of what’s fashion-forward can inspire an entire collection of designs. Follow these tips and see for yourself how they can grow your sales! 

3. Plan ahead 

Stay ahead of the curve by keeping in mind upcoming holidays or significant life events. For example, we’re in the midst of graduation season and Father’s Day will be here before you know it.  

Tip: Align the rollout of your new designs accordingly and promote these at least a month in advance of the actual holiday so it’s on people’s radar. 

TrendCasting - Dear Wantering Gift Guide 

10 holiday gifts for the most stylish woman in your life

Your most fashionable friend is no longer the hardest to go holiday shopping for. We’ve scoured Wantering to find gifts that even the most discerning sartorial eye will fall in love with. From stunning pieces of jewelry to cozy must-haves for winter, check out our Dear Wantering Gift Guide with Kay Jewelers, Kate Spade New York, and Club Monaco.             

Chic Baubles with Kay Jewelers

When figuring out what type of jewelry to surprise her with, think of her everyday style and look for something that will fit into her wardrobe. Before you select a piece of jewelry for a woman, think of when and where she’ll wear it. For the perfect gift, match her style with our top two picks below.

1) Kay Jewelers’ Love Knot Earrings in Sterling Silver are for the woman who loves to add an easy, classic accent to her outfit. She can go from work to a holiday party without changing accessories. 

2) Kay Jewelers’ Triangle Necklace in 14K Yellow Gold is modern and minimalist, complementing a holiday party LBD or dressed-up jumpsuit.

Arm Candy

Invest in a quality timepiece that she’ll keep for years to come. Gift her a gold or silver watch with a leather strap for timeless staple you she’ll love. Or, if you know she’s more of a risk taker, get her a watch with funky accents, such as rainbow glitter or polka dots. 

3) The Kate Spade Metro Grand Watch is a neutral watch that she can pair with jeans and a t-shirt for an effortless and casual look. 

4) The Kate Spade Rumsey Watch features a polka dot rubber strap, that your quirky girlfriend will rock with confidence. 

5) The Citizen Bangle Watch from Kay Jewelers is delicate and feminine, ideal for the friend who keeps her wardrobe simple and sophisticated.

6) Kate Spade’s Pave Interchangable Metro Watch makes a wrist party statement, adding extra glitter to her look for the next girls’ night out. 

  Winter Whites

When the temperatures drop, there’s nothing better than keeping warm and looking chic. Gift her one of these ultimate winter white must-haves below.

7) The Club Monaco Darci Scarf ties in one of the season’s hottest runway trends: fringe. 

8) Kay Jewelers’ Love Bracelet in 14k White Gold is for the girl who’s a romantic at heart. 

9) Kay Jewelers’ 14K White Gold Hoop Earrings are showstoppers. Their twist rope design makes them a versatile piece of jewelry for any occasion.

10) The Club Monaco Eleta Cashmere Hat is topped off with a shearling pom-pom, perfect for the friend who has a fun and playful style.

Article by Zak Stone

Excerpts: Since last year, [Sean Monahan] and four collaborators--Emily Segal, Dena Yago, Chris Sherron, and Greg Fong, all in their mid 20s--have put out their own, slightly twisted take on a trend forecasting report called K-Hole, a sporadically published free PDF that recently celebrated the release of its third issue.

“The job of the advanced consumer is managing anxiety, period,” declares K-Hole’s most recent issue. Then, it introduces the “brand anxiety matrix,” a conceptual toolkit to help readers impose a makeshift order on the range of emotional disconnects different brands might inspire--from Nike, to Twilight, to Mitt Romney. “At K-Hole we recognize that there will never be any sort of consensus as to why we are anxious. Unlike fear, anxiety is a response to an imprecise threat. Not the knife pressed to your back, but the possibility that everyone knows what you did last summer.”

If you can’t tell whether you’re hearing from an Occupy pamphlet, artist manifesto, corporate strategy memo, or conspiracy theorist blog, that’s the point. Like the name suggests, K-Hole (which refers to the depth-perception muddling experience of taking the tranquilizer ketamine) is operating in murky territory--it’s the output of minds from a generation that recognizes (and is disoriented by) the power of mega-brands, the limits of dissent from outside (and within) the corporate system, and the mixed pleasures of consumption. It’s also, perhaps, what happens when young artists and writers arrive in a recession-era New York, where marketing and tech jobs--and the distinct vocabulary that both industries have spawned--have become the chief means to access and fund a creative lifestyle, as jobs in arts organizations, academia, and publishing dwindle.

The publication has "been a way for us to process that hybrid reality," according to Segal. “We’re trying to show through K-Hole, that there’s a literacy that comes from not just skewering corporate culture in an Adbusters way, but from looking at it in a more nuanced way, where it can be funny, weird, unsettling--all at the same time--so you can gain a different awareness around you.”

The range of things they’re doing has made it hard for commentators to classify them. They’ve been called a "publication," a group, and "an art and design collective."

I'm obsessed with everything orange. Not only is orange totally on trend, it's like the breath of fresh air that every winter season needs. Come at me, color -- I'm not afraid of you! 

You can incorporate orange into your outfit all sorts of ways. From nuanced applications like orange earrings studs or orange nail polish to bolder choices like an orange coat, top or clutch, you can't go wrong. Well...you probably shouldn't wear orange from head to toe. Like any bold textile or color, a little goes a long way.

ModCloth Pumpkin Roulade Top, $75  

Limecrime Lipstick in My Beautiful Rocket, $16  

Inge Christopher Carmen Silk Flap Clutch, $86  

Anna rouched ballet flat, $54

Jenny Jenny Tassel Earrings in Orange, $35  

TOUCH - Polka dot handkerchief, $49.90  

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