Frequently Asked Questions

Honestly, it’s chaos—everyone’s after plain white tees, ribbed tanks, and jeans that don’t wrinkle in five minutes. Pattern trends jump around like squirrels, and retailers act like “unprecedented demand” is a hurricane or something.

What basic wardrobe essentials should every woman have right now?

“Non-negotiable” is a bit much, but seriously, every stylist I know says: straight-leg jeans, neutral big blazers, plain white tees, and black or beige bodysuits. (Weirdly, my dermatologist mentioned bodysuits under SPF hoodies—practical but confusing.) Some people ditch prints, but ribbed tanks—beige and chocolate—sold out at my last pop-up.

Uniqlo and Everlane keep restocking tanks and trousers like crazy this spring. That’s something. I saw a survey: 68% of shoppers would rather buy a “basic” than a one-off statement top. Fair enough. Who’s arguing with the herd in this economy?

How have current fashion trends shifted consumer demand for basic apparel?

Trends loop, as always, but now everyone’s obsessed with mix-and-match. Layering is the new panic move—less about “styling,” more about not freezing in the office when the AC is cranked. (I wore three shirts to a meeting last week. Nobody blinked.)

A fashion buyer told me TikTok’s “quiet luxury” killed logos and pumped up earth tones. The numbers back it up—basics (cotton tees, blank hoodies) are selling way faster than last year’s neon puffers. Maximalism? Scroll through actual basics demand if you want the real story.

Which fashion trends are dominating this season for women?

Okay, so apparently navy crewnecks are the new oxygen? Or maybe ballet flats—depends on who you ask or, honestly, what side of TikTok you woke up on. I saw a stylist at some press thing, just layering twinsets like the ghost of Parisian chic had possessed her, and she was dead serious—claimed the “French girl” thing is quietly steamrolling everything. Meanwhile, right next to her, someone was stomping around in hot pink metallic pants. Did that make sense? Absolutely not. Did it match any trend report? Nope. But there it was.

Cargo skirts, boxy shirts, chocolate brown tanks—yeah, those are all over my feeds. I checked this so-called “trend dashboard” (which sounds way more official than it is) and it claimed 44% of Google’s top women’s fashion searches this spring started with “how.” Like, “how to wear baggy jeans without looking like you gave up?” or “how to style a chocolate tank?” If you’re into data rabbit holes, here’s the Exploding Topics link, but honestly, it’s a lot of noise.

What items are considered must-haves for a trendy, up-to-date closet?

If I hear “capsule collection” again I might actually combust. But sure, you’re supposed to already own high-rise jeans (two colors, minimum, for reasons nobody can explain), a black slip dress—because allegedly you can wear it to brunch and then just, what, log onto Zoom?—and an oversized structured blazer. Baggy jeans too. Even if you swore, on your last pair of skinny jeans, that you’d never go back.

But here’s the joke: I bought a “timeless” white button-down because everyone said it’s essential. Two washes later? Looked like I borrowed it from a sad ghost. And why is every TikTok person buying five of the exact same tank top? Are they building an army? I don’t get it. If you want to look “current,” just find a cut that doesn’t make you hate yourself in the mirror and ignore the microtrends. Or don’t. Who’s keeping score?

How do trend hunters identify and predict the next big thing in fashion?

People act like it’s some secret algorithm, but honestly? The so-called “analysts” I know just doomscroll Instagram at 2 a.m., counting how many brown mesh tops they spot in Paris versus LA, then cross their fingers and hope TikTok doesn’t kill the vibe before stores can even stock it. Supposedly there’s “AI-powered predictive analytics.” Sure. It spits out a bunch of unreadable graphs. Pattern recognition sounds fancy until you realize the same expert who “predicted” cargo pants last year also said faux fur jumpsuits would take off. Yeah. Didn’t happen.

My actual advice? Ignore the runways and watch what the style interns are wearing at fittings. They’re like canaries in the trend coal mine. Oh, and this panel I sat through claimed 58% of “next trend” calls happen after somebody sees a viral post that’s already two weeks old. So is it all just a game of catch-up? Probably. Makes you wonder why we bother.

What are the top trending patterns that are influencing the apparel industry today?

So, checkerboard knit sweaters—still alive? I mean, I literally watched someone grab six racks like it was a Black Friday deal. Wild. Florals? Sure, but apparently the weirder and more abstract, the more people want them. Polka dots, though—who keeps bringing them back? It’s like they’re allergic to disappearing. I keep hearing “versatility” from buyers, but honestly, that just seems like code for “we have no idea what’s next.” Stripes? Only if they’re wide enough to look like you did it on purpose. Micro-dots? Good luck noticing those on a blurry Zoom call.

Honestly, basics still crush it. If you’re curious (I was, for five minutes), check out demand patterns across apparel here. But, okay, can someone explain why tie-dye is back? Didn’t we all agree to leave that in 2020? Or did I miss another memo?