Ladies Career Fashion:
Career has become a separates business. The new “suit” includes a variety of options including pants with stretch or flirty patterned skirts on the bottom. These are paired with feminine blouses or tunic tops. The tunic is a longer blazer, usually worn untucked, hip to duster length in a variety of fabrications. Trends: Treatments on tops and skirts include: crochet edging or inserts. Blouses have ruffles, lacking, flutter cuffs, embroidery, and double mesh inserts. Skirts vary in length from above to below the knee. Most are printed and have feminine shapes (flutter or lettuce hem, cut on bias). Fabrics include linen, polyester, silk, silk georgette and cotton twill with stretch in both tops and pants. Colors blooming for spring are white, pink and dusty pastels. Polka dots are emerging, as well as stripes and floral prints from a size range starting at ditzy and going to dramatic.

Casual Sportswear:
Embroidery is a key trend for spring, appearing on shirts, capri’s, pants and skirts. Peasant blouses and sweaters continue with drawstring waists, sleeves and necklines. Woven shirts are stylish with stretch, bell sleeves, eyelet cutouts, pin-tucked looks, bias striping, funky buttons and ruffle treatments. You’ll see colors like white and blue, but also meanswear striping and glenplaid patterns. Dressier blouse/shirt looks can be paired with jeans and heels for an updated look. Capri’s remain a must-have in unique floral patterns and stripe prints. This year they’ll be a bit longer in length. We’ll see prints, stripes and cargo details including pockets (in a variety of locations), drawstrings and zippers. Pants are important as well, in cotton twill, canvas, denim, linen and sateen fabrication. Jeans have embroidery, piping, fun pocket looks in either boot cut or flared styles. Skirts are seen in flirty, peasant styles, stripes and floral prints in lengths above to below the knee. Linen(tops, pants, capri’s skirts, etc.) will be an important fabric late spring-summer.

Sweaters:
Feminine looks reign for spring with crochet trims, lace and mesh touches, embroidery and placement floral prints. Sweaters are primarily fine-gauge knits and fitted, chunky looks are out. Twinsets are still a wardrobe staple with updated detailing like pleated sleeves and puckering or shirring. Another trend in knits and wovens features contrast color on cuffs and collars. Strings and tie necklines are another feminine touch. The athletic trend continues in french terry with coordinate groupings of hoodies and capri’s. l Top colors include white and turquoise blue along with usual spring colors.

Ladies Shoes
The feminine trend continues with ruffled looks, flower appliques, laser cutouts and grosgrain ribbon. Heels are both skinny and wedged. You can also choose from slides, mules, thongs and slingbacks. The wedge heel is still popular, reinvented with nifty adaptation and more feminine, less clunky styles. You’ll see wedges in both cork and wood. Bare looks continue with thongs and ankle treatments. Other styles include Bohemian beaded looks, espadrilles (both flat mules and heeled), canvas slides, laceups and mules. Evening sandals (worn with jeans and dresses) with rhinestones and satin fabrications continue throughout the season. The Eurocasual look is updated in Mary Jane and ballet slipper styles. Colors of the season include white, black, brown and camel, of course, as well as shades of blue, light apple green, red and pink. Super casual/beach-style thongs continue in mostly flats and medium wedges with suede, embroidery, and fringe detailing.

Dresses
Hems go to all lengths and include asymmetrical angles, layers or ruffles. Sleeves are fluttered, split, or flared. Necklines are draped cowls, ruffled or strappy. The look evokes a vintage style with Victorian and 1940’s inspired patterns. Fabrics are soft silks and linen with treatments such as laser cuts, eyelets and embroidery. For the most up-to-date look, wear something ruffled, flouncy, matte jersey, beaded and of course, a sexy, baring silhouette. Hot colors include white, coral, and turquiose with brown.

Accessories:
Handbags, leather, straw and quilted fabrics are the top picks for spring. Top colors
include white, shades of camel/sand/bone as well as some color tot he usual black and brown. Colored suede (blue, mint green , taupes) is another trend. Accents take you from western looks (fringe, roping) to the beach (turquoise beading and shells). Wood is also another popular accent for spring. Pieces get larger to a more formal look with sophisticated beading.
Belts: Still being worn mostly below the waist, slouch-style, over tops, the newest is western/beachy combining fringey, roping, with shells, beading and wood appliques. Very creative and rough hewn looking. Colors are natural tones primarily. Embroidery also continues in popularity.
Hats: Straw and straw looks (paper) as well as canvas are the top fabrics. Cloche styles, crushables and also the wider, flapper brim are hot. Neutral colors prevail, although there will be some all-over color. Roping and leather accent the hat, usually in another color. Some stores (150 per chain) will carry the super high-end millinery styles in fancy Kentucky Derby looks.
Scarves/Wraps. For spring, we’ll see 95% wraps...very little silk/poly scarf business. Wraps are either very dressy (beading, sequins) or funky and casual with fringe and shell looks dangling from the wrap.

Women’s Swimwear Makes a Splash:
Ruffle trims on tops and bottoms add a frilly, feminine look. Also new and now...belts on bathing suits in one or two piece styles. Halle Berry brought back the Ursula Andress James Bond 60’s mod look. Pair a tankini top or triangle top with a skirted or pareo bottom for an updated look. Tops come in a variety of styles including the halter top, tiebacks, lace up and wrap around. Several patterns emerge from the pool including retro Hawaiian, preppy, wide rugby stripes, stripes in all widths, nautical and denim inspired prints. The must have color: solid brown or brown prints.

Activewear:

Activewear is yoga-inspired with a peaceful, flowing fit. Terry cloth tops and bottoms, some with hooded jackets, all carry the same feminine embellishments as wardrobe pieces. They come in relaxing, peaceful colors, too. The worlds of running, spinning, cycling, kick boxing and the popular Pilate’s inspire functional pieces for spring workouts. Fabrics are mesh, breathable and have moisture wicking technology. As the warm weather beckons the winter meltdown is greatly anticipated after one of the coldest winters in recent history.

The Femme show featured a beautiful trend analysis entitled LEGACY hosted by Lisa Minardi, Director of the American Trend & Color Committee. Each aspect of the seminar was assembled by a different trend expert and the aspects were devoted to the ethereal categories emerging for Fall/Winter 2004. Each category is highlighted below with the person who compiled the trend category.

Fall/Winter 2004 will be familiar and fresh, vintage yet modern. Gifts from posterity, crafts from indigenous cultures and archival references are part of the heritage we honor, respect and take forward with new modern approaches.

Enduring by Robert di Mauro (VP Promotion and Communication, ESP Trendlab – Robert is distinguished in the forecasting industry. Acknowledged as a coummunicator and synthesizer of ideas, Robert frequently addresses business and trade conferences. He has appeared on CNN, MetroGuide, the BBC (UK) and RAI (Italy). He has been profiled in Sportswear International and quoted in such media outlets as Women’s Wear Daily, Daily News Record, Esquire and GQ. He sits on the Executive Board of the School of
Fashion Industries, the Advisory Board of the American Trend & Color Committee, the Advisory Board for Academic Affairs at F.I.T., serves on the critic jury for Pratt Institute and is a member of professional organizations, including the Fashion Group Internatinal and Fashion News Workshop.

Robert reports:
After everything we’ve been through in the last year, there is a desire for that which will endure. Call it premature nostalgia, it is belief in the magic we have lived through and we hold dear in our emotional memory.
The highlights – Industrial looks enter the picture, but this a warm industrial story. Very feminine industrial.
-- Important cool grays are balanced by the continuation of the warm metals.
-- As with possibly every other story, TEXTURE is a crucial player
-- Hard working fabrics are washed and technically treated for better drape and wear.
-- We dip into our pasts for a look at hard-working design, which includes reliable classic tailoring.
Archival by Sharon Graubard (Vice President and Creative Director of ESP Trendlab is well-known for her intelligent and ironic presentation style. Sharon accurately pinpoints and predicts shifts in color and silhouette through analysis of street, runway and culture. Prior to joining ESP, Sharon co-founded TobéNEXT, a trend and color service, as was Creative Director at Donegar Design Direction, where she created youth culture reports. Her artwork for fashion and beauty has been published in Self, Mademoiselle, Seventeen and Vogue.
Warm yellow-cast shades are the newest neutrals.
-- Winter whites work in “unbleached” fisherman knits.
-- The fur vest is a key item, whether real, faux or loopy year “furs.”
-- Suedes and leathers work in camel, coffee or cordovan tones
-- For day, use in supple corduroys, moleskins, enzyme-washed woolens and shearlings.
-- For evening, use silky jerseys in Greco/Roman draped silhouettes metallic golds accent in accessories and Klimt-inspired prints.


Inherited by Roseanne Morrison

Symbolic of folklore and festive colors of tribal civilizations; inherited represents artisan elements.
-- Rich hues interplay easily together and form harmonious mixtures in embroideries and prints.
-- Woolens especially Loden cloth is the base for spirited embroideries with Austrian & Swiss influences.
-- Earthy and natural tones from woodlands, especially warm wood grains and textures.
-- Nature’s elements such as flowers.
-- Object d’art of a contemporary vein especially in the reds and blues.

Cherished by Pat Tunsky
Feminine midtones are innocent, nostalgic and sensuous
-- Prints : shabby chic roses, autumnal florals, vintage florals, leaves, figuratives, tone-on-tone prints, end-on-end, irregular weaves, and blurred effects.
-- Fabrics: chiffons, brocades, jacquards, tapestry weaves, cotton upholstery, printed bark cloth, textured weaves, washed satins and crinkled gauze
-- Knits: ;hand knits, lacy knits, intricate intarsias, striped knits, fleece, delicate openwork and crochet
-- Finishes: soft and supple hands, silkiness, surface interest and texture
-- Touches: worn effects, imperfections, mending stitches, collage effects, crystal pleats, flounces, ruffles, over embroideries and subtle beading.

Mystic by Roseann Forde
Ethereal hues are cool with their multiple tones of white, gray and lavender or warm with tints of yellow, peach and pink. They are translucent, cosmetic and soft representing peace and purity.
-- They can be aged and show off crackled textures, or young and hip, clean and modern
-- They show off intricate textures and surface effects
-- Fabrics: sensuous satins, delicate floaty sheers, damasks, soft wools and cashmeres, velvets, pannes, velveteens, textured knits/cables and laces
-- Conducive to printed fabrics and yarn dyed patterns, they blend easily with each other or act as perfect backdrops to highlight stronger hues.
-- In the home they are serene and comforting to color an entire room or act as decorative accents.

Mythic by Paul Pelssers
In a story of seduction, highly sophisticated and majestic darks are introduced thanks to innovations in fiber and fabric blending. Rich, deep, mysterious shades add theater, drama and a sense of fantasy to a season where the individual is key.
-- Deep dark tones have appeal in both highly satinized, sheen finishes as well as plush lush surfaces
-- A juxtaposition of high contrasts – downy with glossy, mate with high shine, aged with technical while cordurouy, velveteen, brushed and sueded moleskins dominate in casual wear.
-- When it comes to fantasy, dense rich viscose and silk chenille returns along with decorative ideas in ribbon and tape acetates, viscose blends, iridescent yarns and precious metallic effects.
-- Velvet, velour and panné qualities – plain, printed, devoré and embroidered – are the cornerstone of seductive feminity.





Catherine Schuller
CEO & Founder
PO BOX 5516 New York, NY 10185
800.759.7747 office
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cschuller@curve-style.com
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