There will probably be few surprises or outlandish trends in 2003 - just great wearable clothes, a reflection of the conservative mood of the designers and the country in general, says Dr. Marcy Koontz, assistant professor of clothing, textiles and interior design in The University of Alabama College of Human Environmental Sciences.

Both design and color are classic, with a twist, and they will offer plenty of wardrobe pieces to create individuality, she says.

Due to consumer demand for stability in cloudy economic times, the main focus of fashion this coming year will be on the concept of offering "foundation-building" apparel items, classic in style, color and fabrication, Koontz says.

"It is believed that consumers will be more discriminating this coming year when purchasing apparel and will focus more on the styling and fabrication aspects of apparel in terms of longevity instead of a particular fad," she says.

There will be a few trends offered this year including artistic freedom that will be reflected in "apparel being offered adorned with messages that reflect the wearer's thoughts, hope, and dreams and, in such as way that it evokes interaction with others," Koontz says.

Examples of this trend include blue jeans with complete verses emblazoned down the entire front of the pant leg, graphic images of political, economic and personal agendas depicting global reactions and events screen-printed on the front of T-shirts, she explains.

Cultural trends include rich fabrics such as cashmere in muted colors, suede and leather, gold and silver infused fabrics printed with Asian, African and European motifs. And, vintage trends will include a variety of apparel items inspired from the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s and 1960s.

Even though fashion will be centered on foundation-building this year, the
belief is that consumers will continue to individualize their wardrobes with a few, carefully selected pieces from the various trends. Fashion, as it has been throughout history, is reflective of the "mood of the times," Koontz says.

As for color, she says that "blues will again be in the forefront of design — whether safe and grounded, watery or atmospheric, blues invigorate and enliven. One of the primary influences this coming year on color will be special color effects, new directions in metal colorations and technology."

Educated Guesses 2003 | Full Listing