The lazy days of summer are swaying consumers towards easy and simple fashion. Recent data by global fashion search platform, Lyst, sheds light on how on consumers are searching online for fashion that requires minimal thought and maximum comfort.
Terms such as “oversized” and “loose-fitting,” are more widely used in searches lately, Lyst reported.
Whether it’s mainstream fashion finally catching up to the extra-big silhouettes that designers like Balenciaga and Vetements have touted on the runway the past several years, a solution for the “quarantine 15” or a reflection of the demand for comfortable fashion, the shift to looser garments raises questions about the success rate that F/W 20-21’s tailored garments will see.
The season was poised to mark the return of tailoring, structured materials like leather and the act of dressing up after several seasons that centered around sneakers, streetwear and deconstructed denim.
Interest in loose-fitting garments, however, may bode well for the designers focused on soft tailoring. Demand for wide-leg trousers as well as slouchy tailored trousers was up collectively 43 percent this month, Lyst said, while searches for linen blazers are up 15 percent and linen shirts up 30 percent month-on-month, respectively.
The linen pieces may be an indicator on how the coordinating sets trend will evolve, which continues to gain traction in the market. Searches for matching sets is up 13 percent month-on-month, Lyst reported, with consumers looking for coordinating pieces that have a pajama and silky look.
In fact, silk shirts in men’s wear have been particularly popular lately, with searches rising 9 percent month-on-month. Slim styles with exaggerated lapels add swagger to the ’70s trend that has washed over men’s fashion as of late, while looser silhouettes speak to Gen Z’s discovery of ’90s street style.
Meanwhile, the summer footwear season is finally kicking in with demand for flip-flops ramping up. Searches for the summer staple increased 53 percent since June.
Brazil’s Havaianas remains the most-wanted brand, with demand rising a whopping 89 percent month-on-month, Lyst reported. Crocs, Nike and Superdry flip-flops are also generating interest. Consumers, Lyst added, are looking to elevate their flip-flop wardrobe as well, with the term “leather flip flops” trending lately.