HAS FASHION BEEN INSPIRED BY THE ECONOMY?

Photo credit: Lucas Jackson for Reuters

As New York Fashion Week begins we look forward to the upcoming designs on the runways under the tents of Bryant Park. Of course, we like the drama and fashion forward designs that can appear on the runway. But this season, there seems to be a global consensus in the fashion community of making designs more accessible to appeal to consumers wary of the economic climate.

The conditions currently underway in the U.S. with the housing slump and value of the dollar seems to have trickled into the minds of designers. Without anyone wanting to publicly say the “R” word, designers seem to have toned down theatrics and edgy designs for designs more suitable to a cautious consumer.

David Wolfe, creative director of NY-based trend forecasting company the Donegar Group, tells Reuters, “In this environment designers have to push the envelope more toward desirability, not sensationalism.” We expect a return to more classic designs that will stand the test of time. Retail buyers and consumers alike will be wary to buy too trendy items that will date after a season.

We’ve already seen a return to classic’s on the runways of Milan and Paris, and this morning at Perry Ellis, as designers embrace traditional fabrics. Jayne Mountford, of Stylesight (a trend reporting company), confirms this telling Reuters that, “Men’s fabrics in particular — flannel, pinstripes, herringbone, tattersall checks, plaids and tartans — will be key this season.”

We’ve seen the influence of the Plaid Mafia on nearly every runway from Milan to Paris and now New York.

But this brings a dilemma because if designs are too cautious and nothing fresh come to market, then what incentive does that give consumers to buy.?

NY Fashion Show to Take Inspiration from Economy [Reuters]