The fashion landscape for women’s footwear and accessories is continually evolving, and the Spring 2024 season brings forth intriguing trends and consumer behaviors. The report by Sidney Morgan-Petro and Quinlan Yeung, using WGSN’s e-commerce and search data combined with in-store insights, offers a comprehensive analysis of what’s shaping the market.
Table of Contents
Key Drivers and Trends
Sustainability: The emphasis on eco-friendly products is expanding across various categories. From sustainable sunglasses to recycled metal jewelry, retailers are increasingly attracting consumers with consciously made products. This trend is not just a passing phase but a significant shift in consumer preferences towards sustainability.
Jewelry Services: There’s an uptrend in jewelry services, which is boosting in-store foot traffic. Permanent jewelry services, where bracelets are welded onto the shopper, are becoming particularly popular, as indicated by rising Google searches.
Travel Accessories: Luggage has emerged as a top-performing category, indicating a strong consumer interest in travel-related purchases. This trend is reflected in both the US and UK markets, showcasing a continued investment in travel as a lifestyle choice.
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Dominant Fashion Trends
Western Influence: Despite the popularity of Western trends in pop culture, certain key items like Western boots are underperforming. However, there is an opportunity to expand casual Americana styling into other categories, such as bandanas, Western belts, and denim bags, to capture a broader audience.
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Bag Trends: Hobo bags are performing well in both the US and UK markets. These bags, often seen in slouchy leather designs, are set to be a key look moving into Autumn/Winter 2024/25. The versatility and casual elegance of hobo bags make them a consumer favorite.
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Jewelry Trends: The report highlights a strong performance in cuff bracelets and chokers. Silver is highly sought after for bracelets, while gold remains the preferred choice for necklaces. This bifurcation in material preference shows distinct consumer tastes that retailers can cater to.
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Performance Analysis
E-commerce Insights: Data from WGSN’s e-commerce barometer shows that bags saw the largest increase in purchases across the UK and US. In particular, hobo bags and straw baskets are notable performers. The trend of straw baskets adopting crafty and colorful updates has helped elevate their appeal beyond just beachwear.
Full-Price and Markdown Dynamics: There’s a significant rise in full-price out-of-stocks (OOS) for hobo bags in both regions, suggesting high demand. However, markdowns have also increased slightly, indicating that while these products are popular, retailers may be managing excess inventory through discounts.
Global Retail Highlights
City-Specific Trends:
- Lisbon: Known for its handcrafted leather goods and footwear, Lisbon showcases sustainable brands like Nae, which focus on bio-based leathers.
- Milan: Luxury footwear and bags dominate, with playful designs from Chiara Ferragni and Golden Goose making waves.
- Shanghai: A hub for edgy accessories, trends here include puffy shapes in footwear and galactic silver jewelry.
- Atlanta: The city’s strong BIPOC community influences inclusive fashion trends, with local brands like Bombchel and Hairbrella gaining attention.
- Singapore: A key destination for global luxury brands, Singapore also highlights local brands like The Paper Bunny for lifestyle bags and AnotherSole for comfort footwear.
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Emerging Themes
LowKeyLuxury: The trend towards understated luxury is evident in the preference for soft, slouchy leather shoulder bags and hobo bags. This “quiet luxury” movement aligns with a broader consumer desire for subtlety and sophistication in fashion.
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Permanent Jewelry and Piercing Services: The increasing interest in these services is driving foot traffic to physical stores. This trend is an example of how experiential retail can enhance customer engagement and loyalty.
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Galactic Silver: This futuristic trend is making its mark across bags, footwear, and jewelry, with a notable increase in searches for silver accessories. The appeal of galactic silver lies in its modern and eye-catching aesthetic.
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In conclusion, the Spring 2024 season for women’s footwear and accessories is marked by a strong emphasis on sustainability, a resurgence of Western-inspired styles, and a growing interest in experiential retail services. Retailers who can adapt to these trends and consumer preferences are likely to see success in the evolving fashion market.
Also Read-Spring 2024 Women’s Apparel Trends: A Comprehensive Analysis
Women’s Footwear and Accessories Trend 2024 at a Glance:
The below table captures the essential insights of women’s footwear and accessories trend 2024, providing a clear and concise overview.
| Category | Trend/Insight | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainability | Emphasis on Eco-Friendly Products | Sustainable sunglasses, recycled metal jewelry, and other eco-conscious items are gaining popularity. |
| Jewelry Services | Increase in Permanent Jewelry Services | Permanent jewelry services like welded bracelets are boosting in-store foot traffic, with rising interest as shown by Google searches. |
| Travel Accessories | Strong Performance of Luggage Category | High consumer interest in travel-related purchases, reflected in the performance of luggage in both US and UK markets. |
| Western Influence | Mixed Performance of Western-Inspired Items | Western boots underperforming, but opportunities exist in casual Americana styling with bandanas, Western belts, and denim bags. |
| Bag Trends | High Performance of Hobo Bags | Hobo bags, particularly in slouchy leather designs, are popular in the US and UK, expected to remain a key trend into Autumn/Winter 2024/25. |
| Jewelry Trends | Strong Demand for Cuff Bracelets and Chokers | Silver is preferred for bracelets, gold for necklaces, reflecting distinct consumer tastes. |
| E-commerce Insights | Bags Leading Increase in Purchases | Hobo bags and straw baskets showing notable performance, with straw baskets gaining appeal through crafty and colorful updates. |
| Pricing Dynamics | Increase in Full-Price Out-of-Stocks (OOS) for Hobo Bags | High demand for hobo bags indicated by full-price OOS, though slight increase in markdowns suggests inventory management through discounts. |
| City-Specific Trends | Highlights from Lisbon, Milan, Shanghai, Atlanta, and Singapore | Lisbon focuses on handcrafted leather goods; Milan on luxury footwear and playful designs; Shanghai on edgy accessories; Atlanta on inclusive fashion; Singapore on global luxury and local brands. |
| Emerging Themes | LowKeyLuxury, Permanent Jewelry and Piercing Services, Galactic Silver | Trends towards understated luxury, experiential retail driving foot traffic, and a futuristic appeal of galactic silver accessories. |
FAQs on Women’s Footwear and Accessories Trend 2024
1. What are the key drivers of trends in women’s footwear and accessories for Spring 2024?
- The key drivers include a strong emphasis on sustainability, the rise of jewelry services, and a high consumer interest in travel accessories. These factors are shaping consumer preferences and retail strategies.
2. How is sustainability influencing the women’s footwear and accessories market?
- Sustainability is significantly influencing the market, with a growing demand for eco-friendly products such as sustainable sunglasses and recycled metal jewelry. Consumers are increasingly prioritizing products that are environmentally conscious.
3. What is the current trend in jewelry services?
- Jewelry services, particularly permanent jewelry such as welded bracelets, are gaining popularity. These services are driving more foot traffic to physical stores as consumers seek personalized and unique jewelry experiences.
4. Which categories are performing well in the travel accessories market?
- Luggage is a top-performing category, indicating a strong interest in travel-related purchases. This trend is evident in both the US and UK markets.
5. Are Western-inspired items popular this season?
- While Western boots are underperforming, there is potential in expanding casual Americana styling into other categories like bandanas, Western belts, and denim bags, which may capture a broader audience.
6. Which bag styles are trending in Spring 2024?
- Hobo bags are particularly popular, with a notable performance in both the US and UK markets. These bags, often made of slouchy leather, are expected to remain a key look into Autumn/Winter 2024/25.
7. What are the current jewelry trends?
- Cuff bracelets and chokers are performing strongly. Silver is highly sought after for bracelets, while gold remains the preferred choice for necklaces, indicating distinct consumer preferences.
8. What does the e-commerce data reveal about consumer purchasing behavior?
- E-commerce data shows that bags have seen the largest increase in purchases, especially hobo bags and straw baskets. The trend towards crafty and colorful updates in straw baskets has enhanced their appeal.
9. How are full-price and markdown dynamics affecting the market?
- There is a significant rise in full-price out-of-stocks (OOS) for hobo bags, suggesting high demand. However, a slight increase in markdowns indicates that retailers are managing excess inventory through discounts.
10. What are some notable city-specific trends in women’s footwear and accessories?
- Lisbon: Known for handcrafted leather goods and sustainable brands like Nae.
- Milan: Dominated by luxury footwear and playful designs from brands like Chiara Ferragni.
- Shanghai: Focuses on edgy accessories with trends like puffy shapes in footwear and galactic silver jewelry.
- Atlanta: Influenced by the strong BIPOC community, with brands like Bombchel gaining attention.
- Singapore: A destination for global luxury brands and local brands like The Paper Bunny for lifestyle bags.
11. What emerging themes should retailers focus on?
- Retailers should pay attention to trends such as LowKeyLuxury (understated luxury), the increasing popularity of permanent jewelry and piercing services, and the futuristic appeal of galactic silver accessories.