Fields Forecasts White Colors and Dresses for Juniors Trends
White will be the new black. Anchor graphics will replace the ubiquitous skull. Ties might be required accessories for juniors. The dress will be everywhere. These juniors-style pronouncements were among the forecasts of the Spring 2007 Fashion Show Seminar produced by the Barbara Fields Buying Office on Oct. 9.
More than 460 executives and buyers from retailers such as Kohl’s, J.C. Penney’s, Lane Bryant, Citi Trends and Wet Seal packed the 13th floor penthouse of the California Market Center for the seminar. They attended to get a front row seat for what Fields believed will be the hit fashions with teenage girls in 2007.
Fabric forecasts included dots. Fields said that dots were a highly popular motif during the most recent New York Fashion Week and the trend will soon seep down into juniors. Gingham checks and prints of fruits also will be all the rage in 2007. Anchors will be the icon of choice on tank tops, sweatshirts and even on charms in bracelets.
The dress will take more shelf space in the upcoming year. Fields specifically recommended that retailers pay special attention to short dresses, shirt dresses and the romper dress. Romper hoodies and bodysuits were forecast to sell well in the activewear category.
Girls should also be raiding their brothers’ and fathers’ closets for fashion inspiration. Pinstripe bottoms, suspenders and vests are forecast to be big retail items, according to Fields. “All you’re going to be doing is seeing ties. So get used to them,” Fields warned.
Russell Orlando, vice-president, fashion director, for juniors at Macy’s East, attended Field’s show and said he believed that the activewear pieces and dresses that Fields discussed would be important retail items for the upcoming year. Orlando said that good timing was especially important with fashion. “If it’s too early, it’s going to bomb,” Orlando said of upcoming trends such as white dresses. “And you can definitely be too late.” —Andrew Asch
