2011 Fashion Forecast: Work wear makes mainstream style

  By Courtney Goldberg, Senior Account Executive, Dallas

2011 Spring Style Snapshot Military influence is here to stay – think cargo, olive tones, unique detailing – but with an added feminine touch Heritage-inspired collections still key Khakis are a player in a big way – colorful, sanded, tinted Skinny-fit jeans The white out continues Distressed denim – gray, ripped or worn in Washed palette – neutral hues, such as taupe, gray, navy and olive green, with pops of color

Here in Texas we’re just dusting off our winter coats and scarves for the unpredictable winter that lies ahead. In the halls of Hearst and Rodale, fashion editors at top trendsetting publications are laying down the spring 2011 fashion styles we’ll be lusting after in the coming year.

Over the past few years, work wear has infiltrated the mainstream fashion scene as more industrial looks and heritage brands have come into the spotlight. Editors mix high-priced designer pieces and everyday labels to play up the diversity of clothing and how contrasting styles can complement each other. Also, the recession has caused an increased focus on budget-friendly apparel and work wear generally falls into this category.

While our Dickies client, a leader in the work wear industry, has always received the occasional nod in mainstream consumer outlets, we’ve seen increased interest in the brand from these fashion editors. On a recent desk side media tour in New York with Dickies, we visited 15 fashion editors at top men’s and women’s consumer and trade publications. During the meetings, we ran through the highlights and top samples from Dickies’ spring 2011 line, and learned more about what each outlet will be focusing on this coming spring.

When it comes down to it, the line between quality and price continues to weigh heavily on consumers in the purchasing process. Editors will continue the look-for-less trend because while spending is expected to increase in 2011, shoppers are projected to continue in a conservative nature.