Quarterly Trend Forecasting
Sales & Merchandising Associate, Phosphene Studio
The full quarterly forecast, start to finish: color direction, pattern and texture, medieval, 70s-80s and western reference, color pairings, then the store-specific buy list and customer analysis it all builds toward.
Inside the deck
- Colors
- Browns return · “cloud” white mixed into creams · more khaki and tan · army green throughout · orange turning burnt orange for fall · burgundy and deep plum continuing · pops of yellow and mustard · red statement pieces · turquoise and teal emerging · sky blue across all of 2026 · hints of sage and jade
- Patterns & Textures
- velvet, chic rather than cheap · cheetah again · paisley as the new print · fur, leather and suede in dark and medium browns rather than black · sheer dresses, tops and skirts · fringe on jackets and bags · silk · lace layered for weather · filet lace and crochet layering · beading on statement tops and skirts · plaid and glen check as a major story · thin pinstripes · pearlescent fabric · small-pleat skirts and dresses
- Past inspirations: medieval
- chainmail · velvet · long gothic bell sleeves · shoulder pads everywhere, shoulders accentuated by layered shrugs · a knight silhouette · tall boots
- Past inspirations: 70s–80s
- corduroy accents · buttoned jackets · neck scarves · flare pants · high-low skirts · color-blocking · structured suits
- Western inspiration
- fringe as the key accent on jackets and bags · suede as a constant · western lined detailing · high necks with neckties · paisley · boho chic · denim on denim
- Colors that pair well
- brown with blue · burgundy with pink
- Also worth watching
- shoulder capes over monochromatic dresses, already selling in store and showing up across categories including bridal · natural hair across runway shows and campaigns, with undone, no-heat and messy updos · hair tucked into turtlenecks, coats, sweaters and scarves
- Specifically for Phosphene
- drop-waist skirts in sheer or crochet · high-neck jackets and coats · shoulder capes and shrugs matching the dress · silk pants · neck scarves worth testing · khaki coats and sweaters · white, cream and pale yellow combinations · army and deep green pieces · suede mixed with leather · light blue sweaters, scarves and hats paired with browns and creams · flats in neutral colors · baggy jeans kept, but dropped to a mid waistline · leather gloves, chic but practical
- Analysis: the Fredericksburg customer
- Fredericksburg is branching into fashion but still prefers minimal styling · Copenhagen and European shapes sell here — long trench coats, thick knit sweaters, straight trousers · pale blue and dark army green could work for this clientele · lace, crochet, silk and suede alongside the store’s usual picks · the market is not ready for a low waist, but mid could outsell the current very high rise · easy add-ons at the till: brow gel, cream blush, lip liners, and thick, good-quality hair ties
- Role
- Sales & Merchandising Associate, Phosphene Studio
- Objective
- Give the store a forward view of emerging fashion, three seasons in advance, tuned to its specific target customer.
- Tools
- Trend ResearchMood BoardsCanva Pro
- Result
- Trend-driven styling and product recommendations that enhanced sell-through on the floor.
Challenge
Forecast what a specific customer will want three seasons out, then make it actionable for buying and styling today.
Approach
Ran quarterly forecasts, distilling runway, retail, and cultural signals into clear color, silhouette, and category directions.
Research
Tracked signals across color, pattern, and texture, then traced where they came from: medieval reference in chainmail, velvet, and shoulder line; 70s-80s in corduroy, flares, and neck scarves; western in suede, fringe, and lined detailing.
Creative Direction
Ordered the deck the way a buyer reads one. Color first, then pattern and texture, then silhouette and historical reference, with a named example beside every call and two slides on which colors were pairing well together.
Execution
Built the forecast out to 13 pages, then closed it with the two sections that make it usable: a store-specific list of pieces to test, and a written read on what the local customer is and is not ready for.
Outcome / What I Learned
Recommendations that fed straight into styling and product decisions, ending in a concrete test list — drop-waist sheer and crochet skirts, high-neck coats, matching shoulder capes, silk pants, khaki and army green, neck scarves — rather than a mood board.
Also in this project
A fall concept board built for Nuuly, assembled from runway, retail, and street reference: midi skirts with tall boots, layered lace, suede and fringe, plaid worn alone or layered under, burgundy again, and belts worn big.
What's on the board
- Fall predictions
- midi skirts paired with tall boots · plaid on its own or layered under · layered lace · large suede bags with fringe · light brown suede jackets, incorporating western inspiration · button-ups and collared shirts · burgundy again · belts worn big · lace, suede and fringe used together, bringing back boho chic