From the Runway
Get a jump start on future business and your eyewear buying plans with a sneak peek at the fashion trend predictions for Fall/Winter '05/'06
By Erinn Morgan

Looking ahead can help you solidify your buying plans for the upcoming seasons. Understanding the fashion forecasts can help you choose colors, silhouettes, and technical features when attending trade shows and visiting with vendors.

How do the soothsayers see so far into the future? "We work far in advance," says Carolyn Egan, a fashion analyst with Tobé Associates. "But it's not mystical--we speak with retailers to see what is trending or downtrending. We get information from the runway shows. And we also follow the top-end designers who are really advanced and challenged to come up with the newest stuff."

The cyclical nature of trends also helps predictions. "Right now, we are in a fabric- and color-driven cycle," she says. "We see it in frames with crystals and bling-bling things," she says. "There is lots of texture with frames looking like stone and animal prints. There is a visual texture, even if there is not a surface texture. And right now, color is really explosive in both frames and lenses."

Why look so far ahead into the trend machine? "Many retailers really start testing trend items now for next year," says Egan. "Testing gives you a direction on where the rest of your business is going. Even the savvy retailers use our reports as a guideline to what they missed or a confirmation on what they've done right."

DOWN WITH DRESSING DOWN

One of the main trends of the upcoming Fall/Winter season relegates sweat suits and khaki pants to home turf. "There is a move away from Casual Friday," says Egan. "Interestingly, in a bad economy, people start moving towards better dressing."

This includes more sophisticated and zipped-up looks, such as belted cardigans, menswear-patterned trousers, tweed suits, and dressmaker skirts.

This return to the art of dressing also bodes well for eyewear sales.

"The mentality is that there are certain pieces you want to spend a lot of money on, like shoes, handbags, and eyewear," says Egan. "You can buy an expensive pair of eyewear to wear every day and no one will say, 'Oh my gosh, are you wearing that again?' So they are a wise investment."

AMERICAN PRINCESS

With a nod to dressed-up style, this trend embraces the look of fashion icon Grace Kelly. "People want to look a little more dressed up now," says Egan. "This is a return to classic American sportswear. It is saleable and wearable and easy to understand."

This look includes feminine suits, fitted outerwear, flirty skirts, and leggy looks. Red will rule the roost with navy in second command.

Feminine lace and velvet eveningwear is accented by brooches. Eyewear follows suit with Jackie O shapes and scarlet hues.

GREAT SCOT

This trend encompasses authentic kinds of clothing--rustic, almost Scottish looks. "It includes natural earthy colorations and designs," says Egan. "Forest green, beige, brown, there is a real desire to feel autumnal at the beginning of the holidays."

Clan plaids, pleated skirts, tartan shirts, and argyles spice up the season. Other key items include blanket jackets, unique linings and inside details, sheer evening blouses, and clerk skirts.

Eyewear accents this trend in tortoise hues and aviator shapes.

HIGH COOL

This irreverent trend is modern and young. Mixing everything up is key--skirts over pants, lace and chains, bright colors and pop art.

Trendy pieces include padded outerwear, flight suits, granny wraps, and neon and cotton candy colors on clothing and fur. Details include chains and metal trim, menswear patterns, and gold embroidery.

Eyewear is sleek and bold with color and rhinestone accents. Notes Egan: "New eyewear materials will be featured. This is for the young customer who is testing everything."

20TH CENTURY FOX

Glamour girls from the early 20th century are the inspiration for this holiday trend. "There is lots of velvet, lace, and stretch fabrics, plus shiny satins," says Egan. "It's about beautiful and special holiday fabrics in great prints and patterns."

Pieces are sequined and beaded, some with a Russian or Tyrolean influence. Other key items include trumpet skirts, printed coats, knitted fur, and Asian patterns.

In eyewear, there are the kind of glasses you could wear out to dinner. "They are slightly smaller, and decorated with pearls, crystals, an interesting color, or animal skin treatment," Egan says.

MENSWEAR MOVEMENT

The season also holds something new and dressed up for men. "It is a clean, elegant look," says Egan. "It is more put together, and suits are returning."

The look is preppy and tailored, often accented with brightly colored items like a shirt or tie. Patched jackets will also be prevalent, along with tweed items and a slimmer, European silhouette. Eyewear gets dressed up, too, with sophisticated, intelligent looks in tortoise and black.

Special thanks to Carolyn Egan, fashion analyst, and the Tobé report for the trend information included in this article. For more information on the Tobé report, visit the Website www.tobereport.com.

a model during Fashion Week in Silhouette eyewear shows off the trend for citrus colors	Paul Smith style PS-183 has a pen clip on the temple for a uniquely male styling
a model struts at the Vision Expo West Safilo fashion show in Gucci gear including sunwear style 2515/s	Pearls provide elegance with the HANA Collection's style HANA style 603 for Sans Pareil
Sleek and bold, Safilo's Valentino style VAL 5377s reflects today's youth movement	an updated classic, the warm tortoise tones give a cozy feel to these Calvin Klein aviators, style ck 3033s for Marchon