STITCH FIX RELEASES ITS FIRST-EVER STYLE FORECAST REPORT

Online retailer Stitch Fix has released its inaugural Style Forecast that reveals key trends for 2022, including “Business Comfort” as the new workwear category, growth in versatile athleisure styles, bold colors and patterns and the resurgence of categories such as jeans. The report also highlights frustrations people have with traditional online shopping, like not knowing the fit before buying and spending hours scrolling to find what they want.

The forecast integrates Stitch Fix sales and shopping insights from 4.2 million clients and thousands of Stitch Fix stylists, combined with consumer surveys and industry data to provide a look into what’s trending in real life fashion.

“From the very beginning, Stitch Fix has brought together advanced data science and a human touch to transform the way people find the clothes that help them look and feel their best. From this data, we also gather insights into broader style trends in the market and what’s motivating these trends–which has been particularly important over the last two years to navigate changing consumer preferences in an uncertain time,” said Elizabeth Spaulding, CEO, Stitch Fix. “We hope the Style Forecast offers fashion perspective beyond the runway trends to help people and our brand partners better understand what’s trending in everyday life as we head into the new year and embrace a ‘new normal’ together.”

Among the report’s key findings re menswear, two-thirds of consumers (67%) plan to replace one-third of their wardrobe, with 33% planning to replace at least half–and nearly four in five millennials (79%) are likely to refresh their wardrobe.

Style preferences have changed: 53% of Stitch Fix men’s clients said their look changed during the pandemic, and they expect those changes to continue in the near term.

Harry Styles is the most stylish celebrity of the year, as requests mentioning the fashion icon shot up 160% from 2020 after his “Love on Tour” shows kicked off.

Meanwhile, Stitch Fix clients are also turning to TikTok influencers for style guidance: client request notes with “TikTok” increased 75% year over year, with some of the hottest looks including Y2K, Cottagecore and Dark Academia.

Nearly one-third (31%) of consumers say they would rather take a 10% pay cut than dress up for work every day. Nearly 4 in 5 Americans (77%) have sworn off at least some business clothes for good, with nearly half (45%) of people dying to ditch business suits and a third (31%) wanting to ditch dress pants. Over half (51%) of Boomers say they will never wear a business suit again.

Athleisure remains Stitch Fix’s fastest-growing category, while performance-driven active sales are also growing (Men’s 100%+ year over year) as people have picked up new sports like tennis, golf and hiking. Trending styles for the category are bike shorts, hiking shorts and performance polos.

The full report can be read here.