Fashion trends to don or drop, according to the average American: poll

Is it time to upgrade your wardrobe? A new study has revealed what’s warming up, what’s hot, and what should stay in the back of your closet.

The poll of 2,000 US adults found many are predicting future fashion trends to focus on a rise for tie-dye (35%), shirt pockets (33%) and portrait photography (33%). 

Meanwhile, the best current trends when it comes to custom apparel are to have clothing featuring either quotes (32%), bright colors (31%) or logos on the front (31%).

More than half (58%) agreed a person’s choice of clothing suggests a lot about their personality and for 57%, it’s done best through customized garments. Almost half of those surveyed (45%) like to express themselves through customized apparel.

Especially for younger generations — combined, 54% of Gen Z and millennials surveyed buy custom clothing to reflect their personalities. Nearly as many (53%) Gen Zers and millennials do it to support small businesses.

Commissioned by VistaPrint and conducted by OnePoll, the study also found the things people are flat-out avoiding in their wardrobe: swear words (38%), a photo of themselves (34%), pictures of strangers (33%), well-known phrases or slogans (33%), animal prints (29%) and innuendos (29%). 

Branding expert Clare Alexander helped reveal the rules of designing your own clothing, be it for a music festival or bachelorette party. 

The top 10 list of things to avoid also includes using someone else’s image without permission and not to overcomplicate things by using too many graphics or details. 

She also offered advice to businesses considering merchandise or uniforms, including make your logo colors stand out and make sure no competitor has similar tones — handy tips, considering that 57% show support for small businesses via their merchandise. 

A quarter (26%) agreed they’re more likely to remember a business if employees wear branded apparel and if they owned a business 55% would sell labeled merchandise. 

Of those who are employed (86%), six in 10 (62%) agreed having a customized uniform would make it easier and quicker to get ready for work and 77% would be proud to wear apparel representing their employer. 

“Customers and businesses alike deserve to represent themselves in any variety of ways, from celebrating occasions, selling merch, or making staff look good and consistent. Creating custom apparel, like T-shirts, feels good, looks great and gives them a chance to celebrate their individuality,” said Llorenç Sola, General Manager of VistaPrint Promotional Products, Apparel and Gifts.

“T-shirts are by far the most popular item of personalised apparel, but we know it can be tricky to get it right — from style and color preferences to what image or logo to feature.

“We hope the do’s and don’ts list helps both individuals and important business owners when designing their own garments – know your audience and do your research into competitors before ordering.” 

The survey also found T-shirts are the most popular item of personalized clothing people have owned (51%), followed by polo shirts (46%) and hoodies or sweatshirts (46%).

Reasons for having ever owned personalized items were for events such as a bachelorette party (50%), for work (54%) and to support a small business (52%). 

Occasions Americans have bought or worn such items for included graduation (28%), concerts (28%) and for their birthday (28%). 

More than two-thirds (68%) are willing to spend more money on customized clothing, because they know they can’t buy anything similar somewhere else (47%) and it evokes memories (47%). 

“Who doesn’t have a favorite T-shirt? Wearing artwork on clothing is an established fashion tradition, but graphic tees are perhaps the most literal form of this,” said Clare Alexander.

“Through prints, you can express yourself in visual form by representing places you have visited, favorite tunes, television shows, films, or designers. 

“Most graphic tees also serve as a platform for showcasing brands, expressing loyalty for the creators and it is a unique and modern medium for creative expression and graphic tees make a stylish statement.

“There has never been a better time to start your own customized T-shirt brand and accessibility to resources has never been better – all you need is a laptop and an idea to get started.”

TOP 10 DESIGN DO’S AND DON’TS 

DON’T

1.Overcomplicate things: Don’t overcomplicate your design with too many graphics or details. Often, the simplest designs are the most effective.

2. Use copyrighted material: Avoid legal trouble by making sure you have the right to any images you may use. 

3. Use too many colors: It’s best to stick to a maximum of three colors as that way, your message won’t get lost and your design won’t become too distracting. 

4. Be offensive: Steer clear of offensive language, graphics, or images when creating your designs. Let’s make sure we to keep things respectful and inclusive for everyone.

5. Use hard-to-read fonts: It’s best to avoid using fonts that are hard to read, as this can make your design challenging to understand, even when viewed up close.

DO

1. Keep it simple: Sometimes the simplest of designs are the most effective ones – use clean lines and bold fonts that are easy to read and catch the eye.

2. Use bold colors: A bright and bold color scheme can make your T-shirt design pop and grab people’s attention.

3. Choose the right style: The style of T-shirt can affect the overall look of your design so make sure to consider the fit, shape and quality before you start designing.

4. Be original: You want something unique that stands out so avoid using clip art or stock images that have been seen before, and if you’re not confident in your design skills, think about outsourcing to a professional designer to help you create a killer design.

5.Stick to current trends: Think about incorporating current events, pop culture or trending topics into your design as this will make your T-shirt design more relatable.