Trendwatch: February 2017

As we ease into 2017, ‘messaging’ – aka slogans on tees – is big news. The SS17 catwalks were littered with T-shirts declaring everything from feminist sentiments to eye-poppingly rude suggestions, all of which is fantastic news for T-shirt printers.

A milder version of this trend can be seen in Todd Lynn’s Pretty in Punk T-shirt from Debenhams. This long length, heather tee quietly combines a number of this season’s trends: 80s punk glam, pink and slogans. Pink, from fuchsia to softer, dusty pinks, was a top colour at the shows, along with yellow and stone. For those looking to recreate the look, Stanley & Stella’s Stella Wants (STTW028), an organic cotton, round neck T-shirt, is a great starting point.

Keeping with the pink and 80s themes is River Island’s grey colour-blocked sweatshirt with crew neck and ribbed trim. The B&C Set-In (WU600) crew neck sweatshirt, available in heather grey and steel grey, is an excellent match with its modern cut and ribbed collar, cuffs and hem.

Equally retro are Topshop’s jeans with screen painted faces on one leg. The new Katy Straight Jeans (SD011) from So Denim by AWDis are a good imprint pair and we predict the trend of decorated jeans, which kicked off with embroidered jeans last year, will continue throughout 2017.

Stripes are another big trend for the coming season. Big stripes, narrow stripes, multi-coloured stripes – customers want it. Happily, a number of printwear brands now offer striped garments, including Disley with its striped 55% polyester/45% cotton LL410 shirt – an ideal garment for those who hanker after Long Tall Sally’s embroidered, longline stripe shirt.

The fashion world is adept at surprising its followers, so our jaws shouldn’t have dropped quite so much at the news that some designers are using bathrobes as a new type of funky outerwear. Seen by some as an extension of the athleisure trend – think glamorous poolside robes thrown over wrap dresses before stalking out for a cocktail – it’s an unexpected trend that we’re following with interest if not quite in action. We could, however, possibly be persuaded to wear the rainbow-coloured Stan Hooded Bathrobe from Missoni Home at Amara on a night out. Decorators can start trying out the look with Towel City’s 100% ringspun combed cotton Ladies’ Robe (TC050).