Fields' Forecasts for Fall '07
Anorak jackets will be all the rage. Printed hoodies will be at the top of every teenager’s wish list. The 1980s and the 1960s will be the retro inspirations for Fall 2007 fashions.
These juniors style pronouncements were among the forecasts of the Fall 2007 Fashion Show Seminar, produced by the Barbara Fields Buying Office on April 11.
More than 460 executives and buyers from retailers including Kohl’s, J.C. Penney, Lane Bryant, Cititrends and Wet Seal packed the 13th-floor penthouse of the California Market Center for the seminar. They attended in order to get a front-row seat to see what Fields believes will be the hit fashions with teenage girls during the latter half of 2007.
Fields’ research said that key prints will be animalinspired designs such as houndstooth and leopard prints. Gold and silver metallic-printed looks will be a key fashion by the end of the year.
The trend of skinny jeans will not be as dominant as it has been in the past couple of seasons. Rather, Fields told the assembled executives that juniors will be seeking a wide array of jean sizes. They’ll range from “elephant leg”—a 24-inch leg opening—to flares with a 20-inch leg opening to boot-cut, straight-leg and 13-inch skinny styles.
Juniors also will be seeking very specific shirt shapes, Fields said. She believes that teens will be specifically interested in tube tops, tank tops, two-fers and turtlenecks.
Puff sleeves will also play a more important role in shirt fashions for the upcoming season. She also forecast “huge business” for businesses selling the thermal shirt.
Russell Orlando, vice president and fashion director for juniors at Macy’s East, attended Fields’ show. He said he believes metallic colors will do well in a fashion milieu where 1970s-style fashions would be popular. “Barbara has a great intuition,” Orlando said.—Andrew Asch
