Some of the most satisfying moments in life are when something you’ve predicted — against a crowd of non-believers — actually happens. It’s when a certain sneaker style turns from lame to cool over the course of a summer. Or when a creative director prematurely leaves his post at a legacy fashion house, catching everyone by surprise (except you). In an industry that’s characterized by a crushing pace of newness and novelty, prediction-making is a fun sport: Things play out at a speed that’s unlike many other industries, which means you can have the satisfaction of having called it first, faster.
If there’s anything that defined 2015, it was that big news moments became the norm. Huge business upheavals, major industry controversies, and bold trends that took guts to wear (ahem, naked dresses), became commonplace. What happened this past year set the stage for 2016, which we think is going to be as chock-full of major moments, retail shifts, and clothes that really reflect the times. Read through to see what we’re placing our bets on — and make sure to leave yours in the comments. You’ll need a paper trail to cash in on the bragging rights later.
Kanye will be announced as the creative director at Gap.
It’s not a secret that Kanye West is obsessed with Gap. Not only has he worked there in his youth (there’s an origin story!), but his recent initiatives with high fashion at A.P.C. and Adidas have shown that he’s got an eye for really well done basics, which is essentially what Gap should be. The American retailer recently found itself splitting from its creative director, Rebekka Bay, and has been flying sans pilot since then. It’s time for the brand to reinvigorate its product line, which makes being creative director there just the kind of smart, high-stakes, lucrative role that only someone with something to prove would take.
Creative tights will become a trend again.
Every 10 years or so, tights as an accessory make a major comeback. Whether led by Patti Smith, Siouxsie Sioux, or Karen O, pristine black tights take a backseat to technicolor pairs, ripped fishnets, and patterned stockings. After they appeared on the spring and pre-fall runways at Sacai, Chanel, and more, expect to find yourself digging in the back of your sock drawer for those pairs you haven’t touched since Taylor Momsen was a thing.
Abercrombie & Fitch is going to make a comeback.
It’s no secret that the once-ubiquitous outfitter of the popular kids has been struggling of late. While most people agree that the Bruce Weber-shot, milk-fed American Adonis and Aphrodites are passé these days, they were incredibly cool during its heyday. With an entirely refreshed creative team, a new anti-mean girl philosophy and brand identity, the retailer is in its beginning stages of re-entering the retail scene. And considering the really-love-it-or-really-hate-it vibe of its past incarnation, A&F 2.0 should feel just as iconic.
Snapchat will replace Instagram as the go-to app during Fashion Week.
It’s not just your kid cousins who are obsessed with Snapchat. Brands, publications, and advertisers are, too. Snapchat’s built-in engagement and ephemeral feel seems to be made for moments like Fashion Week, so it's much more suited for chaotic runways, backstage melees, and news-making moments than the flat images on Instagram ever could be. Though, its ubiquity comes at an expense: Alber Elbaz recently lamented the fact that clapping at shows has gone by the wayside, as most people are busy recording.
Grandma shoes will be the new ugly sandals.
It’ll never happen, they said. They're ugly, they said. Well, folks, Birkenstocks happened. Ugly sandals — shower shoes, Jesus slides, Velcro strap-ons — became a high-fashion accessory in the past few years, replacing the dainty pairs that used to fill our closets. For 2016, expect to see grandma-style shoes start taking off. Think low block heels, almond-shaped toes, sensible pumps, and cap-toed slingbacks start becoming a blogger favorite.
This will be the year of the plus-size model.
Don’t be surprised if the names Candice, Ashley, and Tess become as familiar as Gigi, Kendall, and Cara. Major strides were made last year with plus-size models landing headline-making gigs and shooting memorable campaigns. Amateur personalities, too, like Kylie BFF Jordyn Woods are garnering a legion of Stans. We predict that the next year will only bring about more opportunities, more high-profile platforms, and a more diverse range of faces that’ll launch plus models into a whole new fashion stratosphere.
Nonsensical holiday sales will start losing favor.
There’s been a recent backlash against the constant beat of sales that capitalize on national holidays, and it’s not because people aren’t interested in deals anymore. While it might feel fine to celebrate the Fourth of July or Black Friday with a trip to the mall, something feels off about honoring Martin Luther King Jr. or our nation’s veterans with a doorbuster. With so many international shopping-focused holidays, like China’s Singles Day, that you can participate in digitally, at your desk, during lunchtime, there's good reason to replace some outdated sales days with new ones.
A mass retailer will adopt “smart” changing rooms.
Experimental high-tech dressing rooms at flagship shops, like Ralph Lauren and Rebecca Minkoff, are trying to figure out how to apply e-commerce strategies for getting you to spend more money in brick-and-mortar stores. As online shoppers, you know that it’s a lot easier to add things to your cart than it is to go into a store to buy — and that has a lot to do with convenience and discovery. Stores are using technology to get you to try on more in the dressing room without getting frustrated, by helping you know how to wear what you like (and providing those complementary pieces, too). Of course, this gets you more of the good stuff, and gets them more of your money.
We’ll retire the mean-girl fashion boss persona.
Some of the most shared, read, and talked about fashion business stories of the year have had to do with exposing the kind of bosses that seem like they were written for The Devil Wears Prada. From reports on the executive teams at places like Rent the Runway and ShopJeen, the idea of a dogmatic, high-strung, petty boss seems to be a target for media reporters. And it's become clear that, though it makes for some entertaining reading, no one actually wants or expects businesses to be run like that. We're betting that 2016 will see the rise of the benevolent — but badass — boss.
The modeling industry will finally be regulated.
It’s absurd to think that, in 2015, we’re still trying to shine a light on the fact that there are major labor rights infractions happening with child workers in one of the most high-profile industries. There are a litany of issues that plague models, involving mental health, sexual harassment, wage enslavement, and health abuse. With organizations like The Model Alliance working to expose the dark underbelly of the modeling industry, we hope that 2016 is the year where major institutional change actually takes place.
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