the ask
Create a full fashion forecast for Fall/Winter 2027 incorporating cultural shifts and emerging trends that align with the predicted Zeitgeist of 2027.
The Team
Adair Breeden
Ella crowe
maggie devine
cara swisher
angel wright
Trend Analysis
communication
key skills
research
collaboration
storytelling
creative direction
the process
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Each team was instructed to develop a theme serving as the foundation of their forecast. The theme was then supported by an overall moodboard, research from at least 15 varied sources, and trend forecasting theories and methods. It needed to tell a full story and be justified through presenter notes with in-text citations.
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A research map of influences had to extend beyond fashion figures and influencers, incorporating cultural, political, artistic, and technological drivers that shaped the theme. In addition, the group carefully selected key terms that best reflected the theme, providing thoughtful reasoning behind each word’s relevance to the overall concept.
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To tailor the theme to a target market, the team examined its evolution—past, present, and future—to identify who would resonate with the forecast. This involved digging into both demographic and psychographic data, revealing key insights into the audience’s lifestyle, interests, and aesthetic preferences.
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Establishing a cohesive color story early on was essential, as it helped shape the visual direction of the forecast. The team was tasked with the curation of a master color palette mood board and refining those colors into two separate stories, ensuring each hue aligned with the theme and remained consistent across looks and key items.
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Each team was instructed to research 9 fabrics, 3 patterns and prints, and 3 trims and details that align directly with their theme. With visuals to support each used in looks within the past year.
Textile selection became a dynamic exploration of contrast to further showcase the duality within The After Party. Each fabric was intentionally selected to portray a different emotional layer of our theme. Each fabric provides silhouettes that breathe and change, reflecting the performance-to-authenticity transformation. Our selections included two theme-based fabrics, two cotton fabrics, and two innovative and trademarked fabrics.
Building upon our textile choices, our print, pattern, and trim and detail direction for The After Party: The End of Pretend, we sought to encapsulate the theme's fundamental duality, the conflict between performance and authenticity, illusion and emotion. Each selected print embodies an aspect of this transformation, linking to the transforming culture as customers pursue both visual representation and emotional authenticity. -
Developing 3 street-style and runway looks as well as 3 key items justifying our theme required a full team effort. We were instructed to dive into global fashion weeks to identify pieces that aligned with our theme. As the final step in the project, this process tied together every element and showcased how far the group had come in shaping a well-rounded, globally resonant forecast.
The after party
Our group began with an in-depth discussion on the spirit of the times and what we see in the world around us, in which we landed upon our theme, “The After Party.”
What does “real” even mean anymore? As we scroll through our feeds of curated lifestyle influencers, deepfakes, and fake news, society's perspective of reality is beginning to deteriorate. We’re living in an era defined by oversaturation, overconsumption, and burnout. What happens when the show is over?
Unlike the main event, there’s no dress code at the after party. The performance stops, the pressures fade, it’s no longer about being seen but being present. The After Party captures that moment, the collective awakening, after years of perfection society is beginning to remember what it feels like to live again, unfiltered and imperfect.
Beyond its aesthetic, The After Party captures the cultural shift that comes after years of performance, the pause after the spectacle. It’s where identity stops being curated and starts being explored, because, as Ahmed (2025) claims, “the world does not need another replica.”
color story
Our color forecast allows for bold and bright colors to be worked into clothing and is grounded with neutral and classic colors, creating an easy way to integrate eye-grabbing pieces into an “adult” wardrobe. This color forecast is split into 2 color stories, including our daytime color story “Golden Hour Hangover" and our nightlife color story “Glitter, Guts, & Glamour.” Each selected color was specifically researched based on their color psychology and how it propels the story of our forecast.
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Our daytime color story, Golden Hour Hangover, includes bright warm-toned colors with earthy shades of green and brown. Some of the colors include “call the cab” and “emerald ash." These colors are tried and true, feeling comforting and nostalgic while still communicating power and luxury.
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Glitter, Guts, and Glamour is our nightlife color story, including cool-toned night sky colors with classic black and white. Some of our key colors include “aprium” and “neon ego”, which are reclaiming nostalgic feminine colors. These six colors inspire a feeling of mystery and creativity, with deep cool tones that feel electric without overstimulation. They can be combined to create a sense of calm energy or an authentic chaotic creation.
textiles
When choosing our fabrics, we aimed to further showcase the duality within The After Party. Our fabrics were carefully chosen from natural, structural, and innovative materials. Each fabric, whether luxurious, grungy, nostalgic, or futuristic, was intentionally chosen to portray a different emotional depth of The After Party. These fabrics provide silhouettes that move, shine, breathe, and change, reflecting FW27's performance-to-authenticity transformation.
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This heavyweight cotton twill shifts into structure and confidence. Its 3x1 right-hand weave provides durability, rich texture, and sculptural form, ideal for statement outerwear or denim-inspired outfits. The diagonal twill patterns catch light in a striking, urban, nightlife-ready way.
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Polyurethane-based vegan leather is constructed by applying a liquid polyurethane coating to a fabric backing, which is then treated to create the texture of leather, reflecting The After Party's rebellious side.
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Lurex brings the party to our forecast, using aluminum-coated polyester threads to create dazzling fabrics. Lurex embodies irony and boldness, connecting with our theme of unrestrained self-expression.
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This lightweight plain-woven cotton has a delicate feel and matte texture. It’s perfect for layering pieces or printed tops without overwhelming the silhouette.
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Seacell provides a quiet luxury to the After Party. Made from seaweed and eucalyptus fibers, it's one of the most eco-friendly fabrics due to its closed-loop production process, reflecting the FW27 consumer's desire for wellness and sustainability.
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Silk charmeuse is a satin-weave silk with a glossy face and matte reverse. The glossy surface represents curated beauty and our ‘on-stage’ identities, while the matte underneath represents vulnerability and intimacy.
looks
When selecting our looks for this forecast, we aimed to encapsulate the way that our diverse target market will approach self-expression in and out of the workplace, styling mature garments in a way that feels authentic.
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C*nty Corporate encapsulates the shift as Gen Z begins adulthood and moves into the corporate world. This look reflects a generation redefining what sophistication means to them and eventually to society. It’s now less about fitting in and more about feeling authentic and in control of their own image. To Gen Z, sophisticated clothing should look professional while still staying true to who they are, not who they’re expected to be. Their evolved sense of style, is portrayed in c*nty corporate’s versatility, with pieces that move from day to night, since looking fabulous should never be confined to a specific setting.
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Punky Plaid represents the unapologetic return of rebellion in modern street style, channeling the raw, expressive energy that once defined punk culture and reworking it through Gen Z’s lens of individuality and irony. This look captures a generation that thrives on contrast, mixing chaos with curation, nostalgia with newness. It’s not about dressing to provoke but dressing to express. This look perfectly embodies our forecast’s spirit, where the performance ends but expression continues. It is that moment when structure falls away and only truth and energy remain. Punky Plaid celebrates the chaos after the calm, blending the anarchy of vintage punk with the intentionality of modern style. It proves that punk’s classic legacy still pulses through the streets, now smarter, sharper, and louder, a fearless reminder that rebellion never really dies but instead reinvents itself.
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Sleek and Sleazy captures the balance between polish and provocation. This generation is redefining what it means to look sexy by trading the polished, predictable looks of the past for something that feels real and raw. This embodies the evolution of The After Party, where the night slows down but the energy never fades.
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No Closure provides a solution for the people who refuse to let the weather impact their expression, allowing possibilities for more unique combinations while keeping it easy and quick to throw on and off. The overall zeitgeist of Fall/Winter 2027 is authentic and easygoing, without fear of trend breaking and the ability to play with new pattern, color, and texture combinations without judgment. This look is chic and fun yet efficient, with each coat hanging open without buttons or clasps, keeping the wearer warm while allowing the small and playful dress under it to still be seen. The After Party centers around the idea that there are no set expectations on how someone should look or dress, allowing this group to truly feel free to let a little loose with their choices for the first time in their adult lives.
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During our search for runway looks, we discovered numerous elevated designs that incorporated sequins in recent shows. This discovery led us to the concept of "sneaky shimmer." The After Party is directly correlated with sneaky sequins and metallics, as they are in alignment with our theme of transitioning from day to night and shedding layers of performance to disclose one's authentic self. Within The After Party, sequins function as a remnant of the performance, an echo of the spotlight. Placing sequins within more tailored looks directly connects the bridge between the curated and the authentic. (Mountford). Consumers are seeking garments that are versatile from day to night and that are still emotionally expressive. Therefore, sneaky shimmer is key here, as it delivers utility and sensorial richness.
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Whimsical Winter reflects where fashion is heading over the next two years. Right now, people are beginning to experiment with their self-expression with louder and eccentric elements. However, unconventional styling is difficult to sustain long-term, especially for Gen Z, who are moving into the workforce and are looking for clothing that reflects their individuality while still being sophisticated. This look brings a touch of fantasy back into everyday outfits, allowing individuals to reconnect with their creativity while still aligning with their evolving style and maturity.
the outcome
It’s time to stop pretending. The After Party: The End of Pretend captures the shift happening as society steps away from constant performance and back toward what feels real. After years of digital exhaustion and curated identities, people are craving nostalgia, tactility, and emotional honesty. The After Party reflects that moment when the lights fade and the pressure drops, when clothing becomes expressive and lived-in rather than perfect. In a world full of replicas, it embraces what can’t be duplicated: presence, emotion, and authenticity. In the end, the question isn’t, “What does real mean anymore?” It’s how we find our way back to ourselves once the performance ends. The After Party is our answer.
In the end, our forecast was presented to VCUarts’ Fashion faculty and students. My team was awarded Critics’ Choice from industry forecasters at Future Snoops, which led to a direct opportunity to intern with their team. This recognition validated the strength of our concept and solidified my interest in forecasting and consumer-driven trend analysis.
