Trend 2010

RAPAPORT... As we ready to move into 2010, Rapaport Diamond Report talks to trendcasters, futurists and style mavens to find out what to expect in the coming year.

In Design
Debbye Strickler, creative director, Trend House, New York City, finds these top design trends for 2010:

• Reassurance. People are looking for the familiar in these sticky times. In terms of product, they want something that has vintage spirit, a naïveté and innocence, something comfortable with a clean, fresh look.
• Sensual Minimalism.  Think the Galactic Goddess. Metallics stay important; Lucite, gloss and crystal are also strong. Everything is pared down and simple, but with a human element, not robotic.
• Eclectic. The world is global. We’re all impacted by one another. It all comes together in a fusion; no one hybrid society comes through in design.

Lani Nguyen, fashion blogger, Sugarrockcatwalk.blogspot.com, notes the next big direction in jewelry style:

• Statement jewelry is an emerging trend right now and will definitely be in full effect by next season.  There’s a big wave of understated, effortless chic on and off the runways. Ladies are wearing “the perfect tee” and dressing it up with jewelry and accessories. Think jeweled bib necklaces, stacks of bangles and oversized cocktail rings.

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute and creator of the websites morealivewithcolor.com and colorexpert.com, points to turquoise as the go-to color for spring/summer 2010.

• Spring and summer naturally evoke feelings of calm ocean waters and tranquil beach vacations summed upin cool, vibrant turquoise. This soothing hue from the blue-green family conjures up feelings of escape.
• Now, more than ever, women are vigilant when it comes to spending. Instead of reinventing their wardrobe at the start of each season, consumers want pieces to complement what they already own. Pairing a bold color with a basic piece or freshening up their look with bright accessories addresses the need for practicality, as well as fun.
• Key colors for the season: Amparo Blue — warmer than navy, with a bright energetic attitude.  Violet — lends a romantic air and a distinctive touch to any wardrobe. Aurora — a slightly greenish yellow adds a bold infusion. Fusion Coral — an inviting orange that connects directly to Tomato Purée, the season’s classic red; pair it with turquoise for a retro look.
• Neutrals: Thoughtful, cautious neutrals provide a dependable backbone to the brights of spring.  Pink Champagne —the season’s newest neutral. Pink Champagne with Tomato Purée and Amparo Blue is a fresh take on classic red, white and blue.  Tuscany — a warm beige hue provides a perfect backdrop for more dynamic accent colors. Dried Herb — the ultimate green neutral. Eucalyptus — the eternal practical gray; add brightly colored exclamation points of accessories.

In Life And Business (Consumer Behavior) Jennifer Jarratt, principal, Leading Futurists, Washington, D.C., makes these observations on lifestyle trends:

• Low-Carbon Hedonist.  These are people who are creative and can find pleasure in finding out how to lower their carbon impact and still enjoy life. It’s not just about denial.
• Overconnected.  There is too much information. What do we pay attention to — cell phone, text or tweet? It will take a few years to figure out how to sort, interpret and use them all in a way to avoid feeling overconnected. It is difficult to be selective. If you have a message to get out there, you have to figure out how to get past the noise. That’s what the digital world is doing now, trying to find friends, do transactions and get information by building relationships.
• Value is Big. It’s not about lowering lifestyle, it’s about being more selective. A recession spurs individual creativity. People are trying new things and trying to find pleasurable new ways to save money.

Andrea Toochin, founder and editor, Trendcetera.com, has this to say:

• Social Responsibility.  There will be more organic, green and sustainable products. Fair trade with a third-party seal to verify it will become stronger. There will also be more moves to ecofriendly manufacturing.
• Gold for Investment. Even though there are reports that say the economy is stabilizing, unemployment is not getting better.  There will be more gold purchased for investment. Investing in gold is a hedge against inflation.

Lisa Bodell, chief executive officer (CEO), futurethink, previews postrecession consumer behavior:

• Life to Go. Companies will continue to win if they capitalize on an already growing trend — life on the go. Time is the new luxury and no one seems to have it. The ability to offer products/services that give people more time or let them do things faster, with more mobility, will win.
• Sensible Luxuries. As we emerge from a recession, people will ache to splurge, but with a sense of caution. People will feel shy about overspending with the economy still in flux, and they will be hampered by knowing that a gauche display of consumption isn’t politically correct. Consumers will look for sensible luxuries — those that give them a feeling of consumption satisfaction and the feeling of doing something for “me” while not being over the top — noticeable but not flashy statement pieces for jewelry, new accessories or upgrades to a car or home.
• Pent-Up Consumerism.  As the recovery emerges, spending will resume anew — with the same vigor it had in recent years. Those who like to spend will quickly begin to spend again, giving themselves the material goods they denied themselves while the economy was bad. Companies most likely to come out ahead when addressing this trend will do so by satisfying not only the material level, but the emotional level as well.
• Return to Prerecession Values.  The reality of the recession, as it relates to consumer spending behavior, is that it might not change much after it is over. People will go back to previous habits when the economy improves. While some people will be forever changed by events that transpired during tough times,  others will go back to previous spending patterns with a sense of relief. The result will be a craving for more individualized, unique pieces that don’t just scream expensive, bigger, better. 

Article from the Rapaport Magazine - December 2009. To subscribe click here.