The Monthly Fashion Trend Report highlights the top growing and emerging 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 that shows which fashion trends are growing fastest and which are just emerging. 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 searches pattern growth over the past three months. Then, the team analyzes total search volume compared to the month prior. The result is an earlier emerging trend prediction. For more data, please see the Xcel Brands x Coresight Research Monthly Fashion Trend Data Report. These are some of the trends we found that are growing and emerging. Top Growing Trend: Oversized Blazer A growing trend is defined as one that has high search growth volume year over year, and month over month. Oversized Blazers are a growing trend based on social media buzz and online search patterns over the past three months. The menswear trend has been growing in popularity as designers incorporate men’s suiting elements into womenswear. As tailored bottoms continue to increase in popularity, blazers serve as the perfect complement to the growing trouser trend. Oversized blazers had the highest search rate growth, an average of 5,512 searches per week, up 136% compared to last year, according to Trendalytics data. [caption id="attachment_99149" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: Trendalytics[/caption]   Social Media Retailers and influencers have picked up on the menswear trend and the oversized blazer in particular and are posting pictures of themselves on Instagram wearing them with matching pants, worn over dresses or graphic T-shirts, or worn loosely over a hoodie, sweater or bustier. [caption id="attachment_99150" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Missguided; Aritzia, BooHoo
Source: Instagram[/caption]   Price Points  The oversized blazer is no stranger to the higher end market, with 72% of products over the $250 price point and 76% priced at full price, this chic trend is expected to grow and will be seen as a way to elevate the wardrobe. See the Monthly Fashion Trend Data Report for more detailed information on growing and emerging trends. [caption id="attachment_99151" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: Trendalytics/Xcel Brands[/caption]   Growing Trend Insights: Oversized Blazers Below are key insights for each functional business unit.

• Planning: High searches for oversized blazers are predicted to continue as this trend has been dominating the season for its versatility of pairing with a wide variety of bottoms (even matching pants). Menswear is trending up for women, and we expect this trend to continue with over 76% of products priced at full price and more than 28% of items priced over $1,000, this trend has traction.
• Design: Explore luxe fabrications including leather, suede, wool blends and jacquards, and design for the ready-to-wear market. Pique interest with new patterns and colors, including menswear plaids and checks that can range from classic to modern and bold, and warm neutrals such as camel, mocha and chocolate brown and shades of grey moving from fall/winter into spring.
• Buying: For Fall 2020 buy at all price points and channels of distribution. Offer customer quality over value as oversized blazers offer trend as well as versatility and longevity. Expect this trend to stick around and remain a constant wardrobe staple.
• Merchandising/retailers: Displaying impactful and seasonal oversized blazers in statement and impact colors such as red or fuchsia will help differentiate and attract attention as a must-have fashion piece.

A Top Emerging Trend: Ruched Mini Dress 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 runways. Emerging trends generally have low search volume but high search growth. The ruched mini dress is a relatively new trend gaining traction: A short dress with ruched, gathered fabric most often found in body conscious silhouette. This trend originally gained traction in more contemporary markets and is now starting to expand into higher price points. Well represented by the SS20 runway presentation, the ruched mini dress topped emerging trends for the second month in a row, with the highest rate of search growth compared to last year, up 267%, with 1,094 searches per week, according to Trendalytics. [caption id="attachment_99152" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: Trendalytics[/caption]   Social Media The ruched mini dress is popular on social media as it is body conscious and available in various colorways and patterns. [caption id="attachment_99153" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Ruched Dresses: Saloni, Skylar Rose; LuLus
Source: Nordstrom; Asos; LuLus[/caption]   Price points The ruched mini dress is available at nearly every price point. Trend prices are moving up slightly from October’s contemporary/fast fashion pricing: Last month, 37% of items were priced under $49. This month, 33% were under $49, showing that this trend is beginning to expand to a wider range of consumers. [caption id="attachment_99154" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: Trendalytics/Xcel Brands[/caption]   Emerging Trend Insights: Ruched Mini Dress Below are key insights, by functional business unit.

• Planning: The ruched mini dress is gaining traction and is expected to accelerate through the Fall/Winter 2019 season and into 2020. Offered in a variety of colors, prints and fabrications, this sliming silhouette is ultra-feminine and a wardrobe must-have.
• Design: For Fall 2020, design in solids and printed knits, considering trend details such as soft billow or puff sleeves and off-the-shoulder or deep v-necklines to increase relevancy. Design with a color palette that can swing from fall into the holiday season. Consider subtle shine and metallics for a true statement piece.
• Buying: This trend will continue to become more competitive, with 58% of items priced under $100. Buy for Fall 2020 at all price points: This is a trend that can cross over all price points and demographics.
• Merchandising/retailers: The ruched mini dress is an occasion piece, so highlighting fun holiday colors and metallic details are effective in attracting eyes.

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 trend prediction engine that analyzes consumer demand by triangulating data across social media, online searches and e-commerce product data.