Fall Trend Forecasts

Head of Paris trend forecasting agency Trend Union, Li Edelkoort predicts seasonless dressing (wearing scarves, sweaters and hats on a year-round basis) and the blurring of gender boundaries for fall. "Society is in dire need of fiction," Edelkoort said. After current economic and political woes have been surmounted she reasoned, consumers will favor rich hues, such as beetroot red and blueberry, and soft romantic shades, like rosy pink and mushroom beige, rather than vivid colors. While winter and summer palettes have been bright in recent seasons, Edelkoort suggested fashion brands should use restraint when working with color. "We won't want [fashion] to be too bright," she said. The forecaster also predicted heavy knits and layering will be important and embellishment and three-dimensional patterns in cotton, wool and jersey will be key elements this fall.