We are the summer-intern newbies at The Trend Curve™, Amber and Allison, and we are excited to be focusing on neutrals and the role they will to play in the future! To get a better feel for what is already out there, we ventured out for our first expedition to the Galleria and the Southdale Mall in Edina, MN (near The Trend Curve’s Eden Prairie offices) to look at what home furnishing and fashion retailers are putting on the floor.
Our trend-spotting itinerary included Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, Gabberts, Crate & Barrel, as well as the boutique Que Sera and took note of what we thought was most popular. For example, Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn were filled with sofas and fluffy beds in neutralized Browns, Tans, Blues and Grays. However, the total picture wasn’t dull or plain…colors could be found in accent pieces and accessories, as long as they were toned down.
Shoppers looking for bright and cheery pieces should head to Gabberts and Crate & Barrel, where color handily overpowered the neutrals. Colors that immediately jumped out were bold Purples, Blues and Reds that can add a pop of color to almost anything. Bright Orange home accessories popped up at Crate & Barrel in pillows, blankets, kitchenware and bath towels that begged to be brought home to spice up any room.
Que Sera will satisfy the need for those who live on the edge and are looking for out-of-the-ordinary gifts or small indulgences. We discovered lots of sparkly pillows, floral-printed bedding and highly embellished goodies. Needless to say, neutrals did not play a big role here!
Even though we saw a lot of variety, we couldn’t shake the feeling that Pink- and Purple-based neutrals are not being given the kind of attention in home furnishings that they will demand 18 months from now. Our trend research so far has caused us to believe that these tones in particular will play a large role in the future of neutrals.
The clothing and accessory stores found around every corner were calling our names. Unable to resist, we had to go in and “do some research.” Walking into the boutiques at the Galleria was like walking into a flower shop – the floral prints and bright colors proved that summer is finally here! Since we are focusing on neutrals, we knew we could count on Gap to have their usual Whites, Blues and Khakis mixed in with prairie floral prints and summer colors. To keep our moms in the loop and in style, we decided to check out what’s being offered at J. Jill. We noticed that earth tones and neutrals stood out, which is no surprise seeing as they focus mostly on basics that never go out of style.
Our first adventure was a thrilling success, and we will keep you posted on our future discoveries!