Spring 2023 Trend Alert

• The sunset effect is making its way into brand collections, with orange emerging as the hottest color in mass market new arrivals according to Retviews’ data.
• ZARA is setting the tone for summer fabrics, increasing its denim and linen assortment by 43% and 10%, respectively, in its bottoms collection.
• Maxi dresses are outperforming mini styles this summer, while longer bermuda styles continue to gain popularity.

Among the leading trends this season, bold colors are making a strong comeback. According to Retviews’ data, orange is the standout shade, with its assortment share increasing by 8% from March to May. Pink, red, green, and denim blue have each grown by around 7%, confirming the popularity of vibrant color palettes.

While beige and white remain important staples, their growth is overshadowed by brighter shades, highlighting consumers’ appetite for colorful spring-summer collections.

The return of warmer weather also means the widespread return of shorts, skirts, and dresses. But with trend cycles moving faster than ever, what are brands putting forward this season?

According to Retviews’ data, shorts are leading the way, with their assortment share increasing by 39%, while dresses and skirts have grown by 25% and 20%, respectively.

The battle of hemlines continues. Retviews’ data show a decline in mini dresses, with the market experiencing a 17% drop. In contrast, ZARA has significantly increased its focus on maxi dresses, which now make up 26% of its dress assortment, compared to around 3% in 2022. As a trendsetter, ZARA could further accelerate the rise of maxi styles throughout the season.

Looking at pricing, Mango and ZARA are positioned in the mid-to-high range of the mass market for both mini and maxi dresses. Mango holds the highest price points, with dresses reaching 240€, while ZARA’s most expensive mini and maxi dresses retail at 149€ and 179€ respectively. Their growing focus on collaborations and limited-edition collections is helping both brands justify higher prices.

Within the shorts category, the market is mainly split between mini shorts and bermudas. Bermudas, including oversized and cargo styles, dominate the market, accounting for 63% of total shorts assortments. However, both Mango and ZARA still maintain a wider selection of mini shorts within their collections.

With the revival of the 90s and Y2K fashion trends, it's no surprise that denim remains a leading trend. Next to that, linen has been gaining popularity for its lightweight and breathable qualities, becoming the hottest trend of the spring-summer season, year after year. So how are brands incorporating these trends?

Taking a closer look into the bottoms department, Retviews data shows that denim has remained steady in popularity while linen has seen a significant 20% increase YoY on the market. Mango has responded to these trends by decreasing their denim assortment from 10% to 6% in 2023 while maintaining their linen offerings. ZARA has capitalized on the demand for denim by increasing their denim collection by 43% and their linen collection by 10%, thus suggesting that the lightweight and breathable fabric is the go-to for shoppers. Has your brand capitalized on the trend?

With the help of Retviews your brand can master its assortment strategy each season, keeping track of your competitors' strategies and dropping relevant collections at the right time.

Want to stay ahead of the latest fashion trends? Wondering which runway styles will become popular in mainstream brands' collections, and how exactly to incorporate them into your own assortment? With Retviews, leading brands are gaining a competitive edge by using real-time data to perfect their collections each season. Considering the fast-paced nature of fashion trends, AI market intelligence can help you stay ahead of these shifts and adapt your offerings accordingly.