If, like us, your interest in winter wear is long over, and you’re already looking to prep your wardrobe (aka shop) for spring, it helps have some intel as to which pieces are projected to sell out first this coming season. Why? Because those are the ones worth buying now. Let me explain further: Since they’re expected to quickly sell out, that means they’re also the least likely to go on sale, so you lost nothing by securing them now and ensuring that you actually get your hands on your garments of choice. As for other pieces, you’re safer to wait until spring has actually begun in hopes of a markdown or promotion, since they’ll likely still be available. So, with all this in mind, we reached out to Katie Smith, senior retail analyst at retail data company Edited, to share the company's forecasts on which spring pieces are already flying off the shelves.
Scroll through to read about (and shop) Edited's findings!
"Spring 2016 can be defined by a body part: the shoulder. Designers in New York, London, Milan, and Paris all agreed on the revealing of shoulders, showcasing shoulder-revealing dresses, tops, blouses, and jackets. It will be the standout piece for S/S 16. Nearly 1000 garments have already arrived online at U.S. retailers since January 1, a 220% increase from the same time last year. And they’re selling fast: On average, new arrivals are selling out in just 10 days. Move quickly!" — Katie Smith
"The '90s theme ran through many S/S 16 collections, including Sibling, Lacoste, Alexander Wang, Rag & Bone, and Chloé. Given their already hot retail status, bomber jackets will rocket even further under this theme. Bomber jackets that arrived online between December and January took just 20 days to sell out. That’s sped up dramatically from 45 days in October–November. For spring 2016, shoppers can update their bomber with mesh fabrics, in silk or with embroidered styles." — Katie Smith
"Another icon of the '90s theme, slip dresses in a simple, understated '90s palette, will be great base layers for the trend-led market. What’s more, slip dresses currently online are predominantly retailing in the luxury market (63% of current products), which shows the mass market is only just warming up its love affair with the shape. Around 211 new slip dresses have arrived online in the U.S. since January 1 (a 130% increase from one year ago), despite the cold weather, so you can imagine how much more dramatically this will ramp up once the garment becomes seasonal!" — Katie Smith
"Michael Kors, Tibi, Altuzarra, and DKNY all decree that the skirt of 2016 is a wrap. Their presence on the U.S. market is already up 90% this year from a year ago, and wrap skirts currently online are taking an average of eight days to sell out. Paired with a white shirt, this will be your workwear look sorted for spring!" — Katie Smith
What's your first spring purchase been? Let us know in the comments box below...
Opening Image: Phill Taylor
