Today, it is very important for a brand to be flexible in the future and be able to keep up with the fast-moving trends if it is to have a place in the present among the contemporaries. Zalando collected five macro-trends that are the main source of the design, defined the tastes of consumers, as well as took product storytelling to a higher level in a way that no one had ever done—from among more than 50 million customers in Europe.
Escape from the Present through Nostalgia and RomanceIn an environment laden with volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, Gen Z finds fashion as a source of escapism. A strategy to create opportunities for brands to take advantage of the potential of this particular generation, e.g., include them in the sustainability of their brands. The major Victorian trend can be seen through the Victorian style that has reappeared. It mainly featured shadowy silhouettes, heavy embroidery, and also came with nostalgia hits like corseting and pearls.
What makes it largely significant for the future of the so-called "Victorian Decorum" aesthetic is the perspective of the modern times, which goes far beyond a mere imitation of the past. Corsets and bow ties brought together with the contemporary are a way for the modern brand to give the people the emotions that are associated with the present; this is done to evoke history and place together with history.
Business attire is growing in relevance as a way to diversify modern wardrobes, although it raises more issues than just the fact that the physical workplace is making a slow return; it makes the point that living in an insecure and dangerous world, people crave more certainty. In a situation where economies are no longer homogeneous and the society shall change the priorities for the consumers, the strong acts are not only ABOUT THE SHIFT of lasong but also it is a need to NEGOTIATE trust and adaptability in a changing life. It turns into a symbol of security, professionalism, and commitment to a non-fleeting style.
Gen Z refuses to conform to society's standards and uses fashion as a way to communicate this and show off their storytelling. The trend 'Supreme Self', which is a part of the larger macro trend, is marked by eye-catching styles like 'Playful Proportions', which play with irregularities in shape and, thus, each article feels as an integral part of personal identity - it's like wearing yourself on your body.
The introduction of 'Playful Proportions' brings revolution to aesthetic norms by the addition of over-sized units, weird cuts, and adventures with form. For example, can you imagine padded coats embracing the body with the use of sculptural silhouettes, thus creating a feeling of protection, and offering a lot of room for print designs, flare leg pants with a twist or rather those tops with soft and delicate textures?
By mixing dissimilar fashion materials, such as ripped denim, prints of embossed florals, and pastel-colored rabbit fur, fashion turns into a field of never-ending experimentation wherein aesthetic extremes are yet another mode of storytelling about an individual's being.Another trend of this main one is 'Sheer Confidence'—an' interpretation of sensuality and self-confidence where boldness in wearing trends becomes a manifesto.
The laces and see-through clothes, which are characteristic of this aesthetic, not only help to see but also help in seeing beauty from a different angle and therefore breaking the traditional beauty standards that have been set means that writing the concept of eroticism over acanthus is related to consumers' yearning for multiple functions stuck in one item that exudes classic luxury but also offers coolness. Thus, companies that embrace this philosophy can become the main suppliers of affordable luxury to the customers.
Zalando's 2025 Trend Forecast: Five Macrotrends Shaping the Future of Fashion.
Jan 16, 2025