Casual lifestyle designers are going back to the future for fall with inspiration from the groovy Sixties, sleek Seventies and urban street trends from the Eighties to now.
The cultural kaleidoscope includes hoodies; maxiskirts; tunic tops; leggings; easy sportswear separates; denim trouser pants; longer, fuller dresses, and a portfolio of floral, abstract and geometric prints.
Outerwear is all about layering lightweight fashion items sparked with exotic trims. Many designers are ramping up the use of eco-friendly textiles such as hemp, bamboo and soy, along with organic cotton and silk.
Little details definitely mean a lot. Citing a move to show collections that are closer to need, many vendors are showing more seasonless styles and are adding more layering pieces such as long-sleeve knit tops and lightweight hoodies.
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For fall, they’re adding exotic, folk, ethnic and vintage-inspired embellishment such as crystals, wooden beads, frilly and sexy lace and delicate ribbon to give styles a novelty edge. The fall palette is a kaleidoscope of harvest and earth tones such as maize, vanilla, pumpkin, red, moss, gray and chestnut, along with classics such as copper, gold, silver and black.
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Designers are going retroactive as they transition into fall with inspiration from the past and present.
“There’s a strong Sixties and Seventies vibe in our dress collection in both length and styling. We’re showing cotton and georgette maxidresses and tunic blouses in abstract, geometric and ethnic prints. Our demographic targets are misses’ and plus-size consumers. They want to be stylish and trendy, but don’t want garments that are too tight or revealing,” said Andy Mahtani, owner of New York-based India Bali Imports, in business 21 years. Wholesale prices are $12 for a printed cotton top to $29 for a long cotton dress.
Shiny acetate fabrics, loose and easily draped styles, tunics and leggings are a few of the flashback trends at A Touch of Class Clothing in Irwindale, Calif., said Nina Tolentino, president, designer and co-founder of the 23-year-old business, where wholesale prices run from $18 for a basic tank top to $69 for a three-piece casual sportswear or dress ensemble.
Fun, stylish and sometimes Old Hollywood drama are the buzz words at Los Angeles-based Mademoiselle Designs, which makes coordinating spa- and beachwear ensembles that transcend the seasons such as one- and two-piece swimsuits, oversize robes, headbands and turbans for women as well as matching styles for dogs, said Nina Moshiri, owner of the five-year-old business.
“Seasonless and lightweight layering pieces cut from earth-friendly sustainable textiles are the staples of our collection and can be styled by women to achieve a range of looks,” said Ronald Kukuchi, executive account manager at Los Angeles-based Lotus Springs, which launched in August 2007. The line includes sportswear and outerwear; wholesale prices are $42 for a soy jersey top to $500 for a silk cashmere sweater, though most items are in the $70 to $100 range.
Shimmering crystals, brightly colored wooden beads, exotic lace and ribbon, fake fur trims, elegant black and silver jet are favorite embellishments for early fall.
“Embroidery, ethnic beading, vintage-style patches and delicate trims of organza and lace help convey the soft feminine mood for the transition from late summer into fall,” said Mahtani at India Bali Imports.
“Our cotton sheeting and cotton voile dresses and long tops are detailed with lace and other softly feminine trims such as organza,” said Gobind Nankani, vice president at 28-year-old Fashion Fuse, a New York-based company with wholesale prices of $14 for a cotton top to $22 for a long cotton dress.
“Embellishment such as beads, lace and embroidery are details that give late summer and early fall styles a casual and fun feel, including tunic and tank tops, dresses and pants,” said Haresh Patel, owner at five-year-old HP Trading Co. in Los Angeles, where wholesale prices are $6 for a cotton top to $10 for cotton pants.
Fall’s color code includes rich harvest, earth and jewel-tone brights along with metallics and classics such as red, white and black. Prints include animal, abstract, geometric, ethnic and small florals.
“Exotic and lush colors that take inspiration from nature and global cultures have never been more important for fall, including Turkish coffee brown, pumpkin orange, moss green and a range of blue tones,” said Tom Williamson, vice president of sales at Aventura Clothing out of Sparks, Nev.
Wholesale prices for fall are $12.50 for an organic cotton camisole to $125 for a suede jacket. Three-year-old Aventura will show more than 100 styles for fall, many of which are seasonless and less weather-dependent to give women’s wardrobes more versatility and longer lives. Aventura continues to increase its use of sustainable fabrics with nearly 75 percent of its fall line cut from eco-friendly textiles such as bamboo, hemp, soy and cotton, among others.
“Our customers tell us emphatically that they want color and we’re giving it to them, including what we call new year-round brights such as purple, teal, ivory, black and gold, among others. And our proprietary prints include a total of more than 30 abstracts, florals and an expanded range of animal prints,” said Tolentino at A Touch of Class Clothing.
Katina Marie in Los Angeles offers over 30 early fall styles including small floral, ethnic and abstract-print cotton T-shirts and matching stretch cotton denim jean jackets that wholesale from $19.50 for cotton printed T-shirts to $36 for stretch cotton denim jean jackets. “Our styling and subtle seam detailing emphasize a generous and full fit for women,” said Howard Suh, marketing director at Katina Marie, in business seven years.
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– Flashback fashions like maxidresses, tunic tops, leggings and Seventies-style loose and easy sportswear.
– Crystals, wooden beads, exotic coins and colorful lace and ribbons are important novelty trims.
– Rich harvest, earth and jewel-tone colors along with metallics.