The Ask

My team was assigned to forecast the Fall/Winter 2025 Fashion Trends based off the Zeitgeist. This brings us to our 2025 fall winter Womenswear forecast, Revisioning Americana: Turning despair into an aesthetic. It is a take on turning something that is heartbreaking, into something beautiful, powerful, and romanticized.

THE PROCESS🎀🥀🖤⛓️🚬

The Zeitgeist

We first began researching all over the internet and social media world events to identify the zeitgeist of our time in order to determine what the upcoming trends would look like.

We identified that America has sold this idea of an “American dream”, where you can be whatever you want to be, to citizens and prospective citizens for decades. However, today’s society has come to terms with the fact that is not all completely true. Society as of now is numb. American citizens are at their most normal point since the COVID-19 pandemic. Post-pandemic, Americans are looking for a new sense of control through workforce strikes and advocating for social justice and human rights, even supporting small businesses as a method of seeking unity. Individuals are using and embracing their struggles to reshape the aesthetic of America. With the image of the American flag putting a bad taste in people’s mouths, a revolution of using different imagery to represent independence is rising.

Color Stories

The colors of our forecasted palette represent the romanticized ideas in American culture which are intentionally used with the goal of shifting the traditional narratives associated with them into something more empowering.

Cherry Bomb features a mixture of rich red and deep gray seen in American Pie and Ash Tray which elicit feelings of energy and power. These are paired with the more delicate tints seen in Cream Soda and Princess which lean into the feeling of innocence and goodness. This mixture of colors creates for the perfect juxtaposition of femininity and power. Cherry Bombs color palette is also reminiscent of the all American experience with the nostalgia of bright red fireworks on the 4th of July, drinking milkshakes from the local diner that are tiled with checkerboard flooring, and the pastel pink neon lights that light up the room.

Force of Nature primarily features cool temperatures, such as Blue Ridge and Colorado. Blue Ridge is a tinted blue color which incites feelings of tranquility due to its association with the stillness of water. The mood of the toned green color, Colorado, is growth, balance, and nature. The calming, earthly nature of these cool colors is intentionally contrasted with the warmer colors of Canyon and Tumbleweed. The warmth of these orange tones and tints give off feelings of joy and action. The contrast of color is in alignment with the contrasting Western and dainty details seen throughout our theme. These colors and themes are reminiscent of the reimagined American experience, combining different aspects of traditional American details.

Fabrics

Our six textiles are revisioning American staples. We have our versatile textiles seen in everyday wear like rib knit and jersey, innovative trademarked textiles that produce a sustainable circular fashion such as Circulose and activated silk, and our American classics, denim and lace that balance out femininity and masculinity relating to pop culture references such as old Hollywood, western cowboys, and punks.

Rib knit fabric can be referred to as “a versatile textile renowned for its unique construction and exceptional stretchability” (Digital Journal, 2023). It is a fabric that can be seen in most closets across the country. Rib knit offers comfort, stretch, and forms to the body. This fabric is most commonly used for athleisure wear. Sweaters, cardigans, and leggings are all included in this category. However, PH5’s Fall Winter 2023 line introduced an innovative rib knit maxi skirt. This demonstrates the versatility that this textile has in the fashion industry. Rib knit will definitely be seen everywhere for Fall Winter 2025 as a source of comfort and diversity in textiles.
Jersey knit fabric is a staple in most wardrobes. The close knit structure of this material provides an opacity that can be used for a multitude of garments. Additionally, the stretch ability of jersey knits makes the material perfect for a bodycon fitted style with a soft, flowing drape for skirts or bell sleeves. This was seen across many runways in 2023 such as Rodarte and Blumarine for Fall. Rodarte used the material for sleek, flowing floor length gowns and dramatic sleeves, whereas Blumarine used the material for skin tight silhouettes of skirts, pants, and long sleeve tops. The versatility of jersey knit fabric is essential to a fashion show.

Re:newcell, the creators of Circulose, state that the textile is made from “100% textile waste with high cellulose content such as worn-out cotton jeans and cotton production scraps” (2023). John Sims from The Ethicalist (2023), calls it the new material closing the fashion industry loop. Last November, Re:newcell opened its first industrial commercial plant and has signed with a manufacturer, Tangshan Sanyou, to supply 175,000 tons of materials with H&M, Levi’s, and Inditex on board. “By the end of the decade it hopes to produce around 360,000 tonnes of the pulp that is used to create Circulose – that’s enough, remarkably, to make some 1,800 million t-shirts” (Sims, 2023). This innovative trademarked textile is on track to help decrease production of new fabrics, and increase recycling old fabrics sustainably with household brands in the next few years. s here
Evolved by Nature’s CEO and co-founder tells Zofia Zwieglinska (2023) at Glossy that “‘To meet higher degrees of performance and achieve a variety of different styles, leather has become reliant on fossil fuel-derived petrochemistry and synthetic polymers.’” This takes away the biodegradable properties of leather which should be a natural material. The biotechnology company, Evolved by Nature, is developing a new finishing system for leather without the use of plastic, so that leather can once again be biodegradable. They created Activated Silk ™ L1, a coating made from natural silk proteins. This is only one example of how companies are beginning to find more environmentally ethical ways of producing fashion. In the coming years we will be seeing this on a larger scale. Even now, this new way of using the leather material with Activated Silk ™ L1 was seen in four garments on Patrick McDowell’s Fall/Winter 2023 runway show in the designer’s collaboration with Evolved by Nature.

Blue jeans are an American classic, becoming a popular Western wear dating back to the 1920s and 30s, continuing to become a successful staple throughout the decades leading up to today, as stated by Renoon on Medium (2023). However, companies are now trying to find solutions to make environmentally friendly decisions, resulting in the next trend for denim, which is hemp denim. A biodegradable, compostabile, and recyclable textile that requires less water and pesticides, looking to grow at a steady rate of 17.1% through 2023 to 2030. Additionally, 64% of consumers are interested in hemp-based clothing and the market is expected to reach $1.2 billion by 2030 (Srivastava, 2023). The fabric has been seen to dominate in the majority of styles. As in the past, its influence will continue throughout the decades, while also paying homage to the styles of Westerns and 1950s bad boys.
Kristen Bateman (2023) explains that lace for Fall in 2023 is used for layering and to add subtle femininity with grunge and girliness in a look. This romantic element is being used to create a new look of femininity in fashion. Lace is being used in a multitude of styles and will continue to be expanded upon in the coming years. It is typical to see lace used in trims and details but this new trend for lace is its usage for full dresses, tops, and even skirts. Lace is a romantic element being used to exemplify femininity, being seen on the more scandalous side by having the ability to conceal and reveal simultaneously. Elena Kanagy-Loux, a historian and lace maker says “lace’s trend ties to a desire to wrap oneself in beauty, and embodies both a pleasingly feminine aesthetic and a history of skilled women's labor that has long been undervalued, it makes perfect sense that in an era of hyper-fast fashion, people would be drawn to incredibly time-consuming practices like lacemaking” (Childs, 2023).

Prints, Patterns, Trims & Details

Our prints, patterns, trims, and details were all researched from runway shows and street styles in the year 2023, utilizing the trickle down, up, and across theory. These 9 were seen repeatedly throughout our in depth analysis, forecasting what’s next for the mass majority.

Checker print is a timeless pattern that is said to have originated in Scotland but today is often associated with the flooring that covers American Diners. Checkers can also be associated with grunge or even skater style with the help of Vans. Jordan Erb for Business Insider (2023) say that “Checkerboard print is to Gen Z what chevron was to millennials”. With that being said, Checker print today is a big trend across multiple industries including fashion and home decor.
In an article by Ian Barron on Bellatory (2023), “the Realtree camo trend is an extension of the military hype we’ve been feeling since 2017”. Usually, this type of camouflage has been associated with hunters or military influence, but now streetwear brands like Supreme, Stussy, and Nike have collaborations with Realtree. What has once been a “hillbilly” look is now trickling across to the mass, re envisioning a staple Southern print to an iconic high fashion print.
Floral spot prints are described by History Repeating (2023) as “a sweet, romantic pattern type consisting of simple sprig or bouquet motifs, evenly distributed across the repeat, either in a non-structured (scattered) manner, or in a structured layout (straight, diagonal, half-drop or brick).” This type of print brings out delicateness as flowers are symbols of beauty and fascination. In the Victorian age, they were used to deliver messages that could not be spoken aloud, as stated in an article by Catherine Boeckmann on Almanac (2023). For this reason, floral spot prints coincide with our romanization of American themes, as said before, turning something heartbreaking, into something powerful.

In an article written for Vogue by Kristina Rutkowski (2023) she says “Polka-dot-printed fashion is about as iconic as it comes, but we’ve seen a new resurgence of the timeless favorite”. The polka dot pattern feels feminine, chic, retro, and adds a touch of playfulness to an outfit. Polka dots originally saw popularity in the 1840’s due to the rise in polka music. Since then polka dots have come in and out of fashion with icons like Marilyn Monroe and Twiggy keeping the pattern relevant. This year we are seeing the resurgence of black and white polka dots and they’re dominating the runway.
For decades stripes have been classic; they make a bold statement while being very versatile and have become a staple within both women's and men's wardrobes. Stripes also inherently bring a sense of patriotism, as they are a prominent feature of the American flag. In an article written by Lauren Wicks for Veranda (2022) she says “the pattern represented liberty and new ideas”. With that being said, the reconstruction and romanticization of the American image would not be complete without the use of stripes as a defining pattern.
The gingham pattern is one that has thick roots in the war time era of the 30’s and is often associated with farmlife. Over time, Gingham has slowly made its way into the wardrobes of the royal and now onto the runways. In 2023, Gingham is predicted to be a hot topic with Florrie Alexander for who what wear (2023) saying “gingham has had a rebrand of sorts and has been pushed to centre stage again.” Gingham comes in a variety of colors like the iconic red, blue, and black. This perfectly striped pattern adds the perfect amount of southern sweetness that is crucial in setting the tone of the new American image.

Embroidery offers a comforting sensation, which ties into today’s zeitgeist of nostalgic emotions. Think about going to your grandma’s house, and she is wearing an oversized crew neck with an embroidered floral arrangement on it. This method of stitching died down for a few years after the early 2000’s, but has been regaining popularity within the past year. Britannica states that “Embroidery in 17th- and 18th-century North America reflected European skills and conventions, such as crewel work, although the designs were simpler and the stitches were often modified to save thread; samplers, embroidered pictures, and mourning pictures were the most popular” (Britannica, n.d.). Embroidery has been seen in many shows such as Dior’s Fall Winter 2023 Couture Set, which took “480,000 Hours to Hand-Embroider” (Cohn, 2023).
Chrome and metallics have made a huge comeback this season. Celeste Polanco defines the finish as “the true it-girl of the summer. We can’t scroll through our social feeds without seeing another person excited about their new silver outfit” (Polanco, 2023). This can be attributed to events such as Beyonce’s Renaissance World Tour, and the popularity of music festivals in general. Chrome evokes thoughts of military aircrafts, flagpoles, nightlife, and expensive jewelry.
Flappers, cowboys, and hippies all wore garments that were detailed with fringe. It is a trim that has been present throughout every decade, so it is not likely that fringe will die down anytime soon. In 2023, everybody is adorning some sort of fringe on their body whether it be in the form of a bag, shoes, or a vest. According to Victoria Montalti at Refinery 29, there will definitely be a surge in fringe dresses, vests, and jackets (Montalti, 2023). Fringe as a detail on a garment, can contribute towards thoughts of fireworks, cowboys, and free movement. All of these would fall under the New Americana umbrella.

Outcome

After our work was evaluated and critiqued by the Fashion Snoops team, we were honored to receive the Critics Choice Award for first place. This project honed my skills in team management, collaboration, and critical research to predict upcoming trends. Through weekly extensive research across news outlets, social media, runway shows, and streetwear looks, we successfully identified the key trends in colors, fabrics, and details for the next two years.