Fashion
Trends & insights
Published on May 16, 2023

Spring 2023 Trend Alert

From hemlines to fabrics: Inside this season's leading trends

Retviews Article Spring 2023 Trend Alert Fashion Linen Womenswear Summer Outfits

Key takeaways

  • This summer, the sunset effect is making its way into brand collections as Retviews’ data show orange as the hottest color in the mass market’s newest arrivals.  
  • ZARA is setting the tone for summer fabrics by increasing its denim and linen assortment by 43% and 10%, respectively, in its bottoms collection. 
  • Maxi dresses are outperforming mini styles this summer, as longer bermuda styles are also gaining in popularity. 

In the midst of spring, what are the trends that are standing out in leading brands’ collections? Data show that bold and vibrant colors have reappeared once again, with neon shades and sunset effects with flamboyant dip-dye shading showing up as some of this season’s hottest trends, as stated by Vogue. 

Retviews’ data reveal that orange is the most popular hue this season, its assortment share increasing by 8% within leading brands’ collections, throughout the spring season, from March to May.  Vibrant shades of pink, red, and green, as well as shades of denim blue have showcased a 7% increase in assortment share. Has your brand maximized the potential of vibrant colors in spring-summer collections? Although neutral shades of beige and white have also showcased a prominent increase in brand collections, as is the case throughout the year, their presence is largely overpowered by brighter hues this season. 

Retviews Article Spring 2023 Trends Alert Fashion Linen Womenswear Summer Outfits  Colour Color Mix Blue Green Natural Orange Pink Red White Sunset Effect New Ins Brands Zara Uniqlo H&M Mango New Collection

Saying goodbye to sweaters and hello to dresses

The return of warmer weather also means the widespread return of shorts, skirts, and dresses. However, considering the faster-than-ever pace of trend cycles, what are brands putting forward in collections this season?  

Diving deeper into the most popular categories in the mass market, Retviews’ data indicate that shorts are leading the way, their share of assortment increasing by a strong 39%, with summer on the horizon. As per usual, dresses and skirts have also exhibited a strong increase in assortment share, at 25% and 20%, respectively.  

The hemline battle continues for dresses and skirts. Retviews’ data have previously shown that longline maxi skirts established themselves as the strong hitter this past fall. Has the maxi-focused trend persisted this season, or has it shifted?  

Retviews’ data show that dresses have undergone a shift within the past year, both in ZARA’s assortment and throughout the European mass market. Data show an overall decline in mini dresses, with the market experiencing a 17% drop. Taking a closer look at ZARA, the Spanish brand exhibited a significant increase in maxi dresses, making up 26% of its dress assortment, from around 3% in 2022. Considering the brand’s trend-setting status, should we expect a more extensive hike in maxi styles through the end of the summer? Retviews allows brands to access this data in real-time and speed up their time to market on hot trends. 

Retviews data shows that both Mango and ZARA have positioned themselves in the mid-to-high range of the mass market, for maxi and mini dresses. Mango takes the top spot for the highest price tag in both categories, with the most expensive maxi and mini dresses priced at 240€. Mango also stands on the higher end of the spectrum in terms of average price, when compared to ZARA. Meanwhile, ZARA's highest-priced mini and maxi dresses come in at 149€ and 179€, respectively. As both brands are tapping into the premium market with collaborations and limited-edition collections, they are able to reach a higher price point comfortably.  

Diving deeper into the split between shorts styles, the popular category could be split between two main styles, mini shorts and bermudas. Bermudas, also including oversized and popular cargo styles, are dominating the mass market, making up 63% of the total shorts’ assortment. Although the bermuda trend is present in key mass market players Mango and ZARA, they still have a wider selection of mini shorts within their assortment.  

Retviews Article Spring 2023 Trends Alert Fashion Linen Womenswear Summer Outfits Top Categories Dresses Jumpsuits Polos Shirts Blouses Shorts Skirts Trendy In Style À la Mode  New Ins Brands Zara Uniqlo H&M Mango New Collection
Retviews Article Spring 2023 Trends Alert Fashion Linen Womenswear Summer Outfits Top Categories Dresses Jumpsuits Polos Shirts Blouses Shorts Skirts Trendy In Style À la Mode  New Ins Brands Zara Uniqlo H&M Mango New Collection Maxi Dresses Mini Dresses 2022 2023 Market Assortment Comparison Hemline Index
Retviews Article Spring 2023 Trends Alert Fashion Linen Womenswear Summer Outfits Top Categories Dresses Jumpsuits Polos Shirts Blouses Shorts Skirts Trendy In Style À la Mode New Ins Brands Zara Uniqlo H&M Mango New Collection Maxi Dresses Mini Dresses 2022 2023 Market Assortment Comparison Pricing Price Structure Maximum Price Minimum Price Average Price Hemline Index
Retviews Article Spring 2023 Trends Alert Fashion Linen Womenswear Summer Outfits Top Categories Dresses Jumpsuits Polos Shirts Blouses Shorts Skirts Trendy In Style À la Mode  New Ins Brands Zara Uniqlo H&M Mango New Collection Maxi Dresses Mini Dresses 2022 2023 Market Assortment Comparison Hemline Index Bermuda Mini Shorts

The great fabric battle for summer: denim or linen? 

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.  

Retviews Article Spring 2023 Trends Alert Fashion Denim Linen Womenswear Summer Outfits Top Categories Dresses Jumpsuits Polos Shirts Blouses Shorts Skirts Trendy In Style À la Mode  New Ins Brands Zara Uniqlo H&M Mango New Collection Maxi Dresses Mini Dresses 2022 2023 Market Assortment Comparison Hemline Index Bermuda Mini Shorts Bottoms Evolution Share of Fabrics Premium

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