The Monthly Fashion Trend Report highlights the top growing, emerging, and mature fashion silhouettes and print trends consumers are searching for in dresses, tops, pants and sweaters. Brand management and media company Xcel Brands compiles a trend lookbook as part of the Monthly Fashion Trend Report using multiple resources, including data from Trendalytics, a visual analytical tool, social media influencer posts and analysis of visual social media images. The result is a report showing the top growing, emerging and maturing fashion trends. The data is provided to retailers and brands to inform decision makers along the supply chain in design, production, purchasing, merchandising, forecasting and planning. First, the team analyzes search patterns, looking for growth in specific areas this year compared to last year, then search pattern growth over the past three months. Second, the team analyzes total search volume compared to the month prior. The result is earlier emerging trend prediction. These are some of the trends we found that are growing, emerging or maturing. A Top Growing Trend: Reflective Pants A growing trend is defined as one that has high search growth volume year over year, and month over month. Reflective Pants are a growing trend based on social media buzz and online search patterns over the past three months. The reflective materials that are ever-present in the activewear industry as safety details and accents have evolved to have a more focal and attention-grabbing presence. Once a patch or trim, reflective materials are now statement fabrics used in pants, tops and outerwear. Reflective pants had the highest search rate growth in May 2019, with over 5,470 searches and volume growth of 339% compared to last year, according to Trendalytics’ data. [caption id="attachment_91856" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: Trendalytics [/caption]   Social Media Retailers and influencers have picked up on the reflective pants trend and are posting on Instagram. [caption id="attachment_91826" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Reflective pants worn by social influencers
Source: Deathbydolls/Boohoo [/caption]   Price Points Analysis shows that over 50% of reflective pants are priced at $51-100, which lends itself to contemporary retailers. Please refer to the Fashion Trend Monthly Data Report for more detailed information regarding growing trends, emerging and mature trends. Some 68% of reflective pants sold at full price online in May. [caption id="attachment_91827" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: Trendalytics/Xcel Brands[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_91829" align="aligncenter" width="700"] “Lulu’s Eyelet Puff Sleeve Top” (left) and Anthropologie “Ida Puff Sleeved Wrap Top” (right)
Source: Anthropologie/Instagram [/caption]   Growing Trend Insights: Reflective Pants Below are key insights for each functional business unit.

• Planning: High searches for reflective pants are predicted to continue into spring/summer 2020 as reflective materials find new prominence in activewear with the continued success of athleisure and versatile clothing that takes the wearer from day-to night-to-workout.
• Design: For summer 2020, the ready-to-wear market design focus will be on adding reflective details to pant pockets, trims and graphics. For an eye-catching look, explore innovative, reflective fabrics that feel both technical and luxurious.
• Buying: For spring 2020, reflective pants will continue to trend at all price points and channels of distribution. Reflective pants are a new trend and consumers are willing to invest in something that feels special – but which has not yet saturated the retail landscape.
• Merchandising/Retailers: Reflective materials are infiltrating the ready-to-wear market, are eye-catching for store display windows and pair well in with an understated item to make the pants “pop.”

A Top Emerging Trend: Puff Sleeve Top An emerging trend is defined as a top trend identified by high growth and high volume. Emerging trends are seen on early adopters such as social influencers and on the runways. Emerging trends generally have low search volume but high search growth. Puff Sleeve Tops are feminine tops and dresses with volume sleeve details. Puff sleeves are an established trend that lives on. In May 2019, there were over 3,825 online searches for this trend, a growth delta of 203% from last year and 152% from three months ago. [caption id="attachment_91855" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: Trendalytics [/caption]   Social Media The puff sleeve top is popular on social media with many variations – off the shoulder, tiered puffs, and large exaggerated cap puffs. [caption id="attachment_91830" align="aligncenter" width="700"] SHEIN “Marie Sleeve Shirred Crop Top”
Source: Sugarlips/Instagram [/caption]   Price points Puff sleeve tops are represented at every price point, with a concentration in the $25-49 range: Some 29% of retailers sell in this range. The trend has been around for a few seasons, but 55.4% are still sold at full price. [caption id="attachment_91831" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: Trendalytics/Xcel Brands[/caption]   Emerging Trend Insights: Puff Sleeve Top Below are key insights, by functional business unit.

• Planning: Search volume for puff sleeve tops is expected to continue into spring/summer 2020 as this established trend evolves into another season with fresh fabrics, necklines and silhouettes.
• Design: For summer 2020, the emphasis will be on natural fabrications of cotton and linen in an off-the-shoulder silhouette or with a square neckline. If designing for a contemporary market, incorporate cropped tops with a puff sleeve detail.
• Buying: For spring 2020, competition will be fierce at every price point, since the trend has been around for a few seasons. Look for new necklines, a more dramatic puff and summer fabrics to offer a fresh take on a familiar trend.
• Merchandising/Retailers: Puff sleeve tops offer retailers the opportunity to merchandise around one signature piece in a window. The tops are attention-getting on social media – especially those with exaggerated sleeves and in interesting colors and patterns.

Mature Trend: Dusty Pink A mature trend is defined as one that is beginning to see market saturation, as defined by declining growth volume year over year, and month over month. Mature trends are still top searches as the landscape is competitive, but statistics show the rate is slowing and the market is potentially saturated. Dusty pink is a mature trend that has declined 5% year over year although it grew 56% from three months ago. Dusty pinks are on the downward trend as they evolve from past seasons of greyer tones to cleaner, vibrant and more powder-like hues. This shift in hue allows plenty of opportunity to incorporate feminine shades into a range of silhouettes that can transcend casual to formal and day or night wear. This trend is expected to decline. We recommend mature trends be offered at competitive prices, with new patterns and details. About Xcel Brands and Trendalytics Xcel Brands is a brand management and media company engaged in the design, production, licensing, marketing and direct-to-consumer sales of branded apparel, footwear, accessories, jewelry, home goods and other consumer products. Trendalytics is a product intelligence platform that analyzes consumer demand with data across social influencer buzz, online searches and e-commerce product data.