Table of Contents
Executive Summary
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- Top takeaways
- Market overview
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- Figure 1: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of men’s and women’s clothing, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 2: Men’s and women’s clothing outlook, 2022-27
- Opportunities and challenges
- Inflation sits at the top of a long list of concerns that are plaguing shoppers
- Highlight value in marketing and messaging
- Invest in tech to improve fit
- Adjust for changing dynamics in the workplace
- Embrace emerging forms of shopping
- Key consumer insights
Market Size and Forecast
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- Despite pandemic volatility, recovery is underway
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- Figure 3: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of men’s and women’s clothing, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 4: Total US retail sales and forecast of men’s and women’s clothing, at current prices, 2017-27
Segment Performance
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- Men’s sector grows at faster pace than women’s despite being about half as big
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- Figure 5: Total US retail sales of men’s and women’s clothing, by segment, at current prices, 2020 and 2022
- Men’s clothing set to continue expanding at a faster clip
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- Figure 6: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of men’s clothing, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 7: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of women’s clothing, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 8: Total US retail sales and forecast of men’s and women’s clothing, by segment, at current prices, 2017-27
Market Factors
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- Record high inflation has tanked Americans’ confidence in economy
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- Figure 9: Consumer Sentiment Index, 2010-22
- Figure 10: Consumer Price Index change from previous year, 2020-22
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- Figure 11: Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers: apparel in US city average, 2021-22
- Money isn’t going as far as it used to
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- Figure 12: Inflation and wage growth, 2019-22
- Figure 13: Financial health, 2022
- Consumers speak up about the impact of inflation
- While inflation is the main concern, it’s not the only one
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- Figure 14: Consumer concerns, 2022
- Obesity rates keep expanding, bringing more demand for extended sizes
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- Figure 15: Age-adjusted prevalence of overweight and obesity among people aged 20 or older, 2001-02 to 2017-18
- Figure 16: Prevalence of obesity among US adults aged 20 and over, by gender and age and gender and race and Hispanic origin, 2017-18
- 35-44 year olds will be key to watch
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- Figure 17: Women aged 18 or older, by age, 2016-26
- Figure 18: Men aged 18 or older, by age, 2016-26
- Multicultural population on the rise
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- Figure 19: Women by race and Hispanic origin, 2016-26
- Figure 20: Men by race and Hispanic origin, 2016-16
- Lifestyle changes causing style changes
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- Figure 21: Style change due to lifestyle change, by gender and age and from home status, 2022
- Consumers speak up about dress code shifts at work
- Fabric Act will bring positive change to the industry
Competitive Strategies and Market Opportunities
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- Most consumers have positive attitudes toward clothes and the clothing industry
- Embrace inclusivity
- Extended sizes
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- Figure 22: Attitudes and behaviors toward extended sizing, by gender, 2022
- Figure 23: Look for extended sizing, by gender, age, race and Hispanic origin, 2022
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- Figure 24: Dia & Co announces acquisition of 11 Honore
- Figure 25: Otera caters to men 5’10” and under
- Gender-neutral options
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- Figure 26: Attitudes toward gender in products and marketing, by select generation, 2022
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- Figure 27: Attitude toward gender-neutral clothing lines/items, by key demographics, 2022
- Consumers speak up about their interest (or lack thereof) in gender-neutral clothing lines/brands
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- Figure 28: Gender-neutral clothing brands express themselves on Instagram
- Adaptive clothing
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- Figure 29: Tommy Hilfiger and Zappos offer adaptive clothing options
- Highlight value to help cautious shoppers make smart decisions
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- Figure 30: Attitudes/behaviors related to price/value, 2022
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- Figure 31: Attitudes/behaviors related to price/value, by gender and age, 2022
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- Figure 32: Shapermint includes gift cards in its promotions
- Figure 33: Nordstrom promotes its Anniversary Sale
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- Figure 34: Givenchy and Disney team up on The Wonder Gallery collaboration
- Figure 35: Adidas x Gucci collaboration
- Explore emerging forms of digital commerce
- Social media including livestream shopping
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- Figure 36: @Andy_Lobos TikTok video about Abercrombie & Fitch’s logoless hoodies
- Figure 37: Abercrombie & Fitch promotes jeans on TikTok
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- Figure 38: Sweaty Betty’s Instagram shop allows consumers to natively shop products within its profile
- Metaverse and NFTs
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- Figure 39: DressX will provide outfits for Meta’s avatar fashion marketplace
- Figure 40: Dolce & Gabbana launches DGFamily NFT community
The Consumer – Fast Facts
Shopping Frequency and Seasonality
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- People have been buying clothes more frequently
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- Figure 41: Shopping frequency, 2020-22
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- Figure 42: Shopping frequency, by gender, 2022
- Place of work and income impact clothing purchase frequency
- Place of work
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- Figure 43: Shopping frequency, by work from home status, 2022
- Household income
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- Figure 44: Shopping frequency, by household income, 2022
- Black Non-Hispanic and Hispanic shoppers likely to gravitate toward affordable clothing indulgences
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- Figure 45: Shopping frequency, by race and Hispanic origin, 2022
- Young men buck seasonality norm
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- Figure 46: Shopping seasonality, by gender and age, 2022
Affinity for Clothes Shopping
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- Most people enjoy shopping for clothes
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- Figure 47: Affinity for clothes shopping, 2022
- Younger generations have a higher affinity toward clothes shopping
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- Figure 48: Affinity for clothes shopping, by generation and gender, 2022
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- Figure 49: Attitudes toward clothing for personal identity, by gender and generation, 2022
- The more someone likes clothes shopping, the more often they will buy
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- Figure 50: Shopping frequency, by affinity for clothes shopping, 2022
Important Attributes
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- Fit matters most
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- Figure 51: Important attributes when clothes shopping, 2022
- Fit is most important to women; men under 55 more likely to take all aspects into consideration
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- Figure 52: Important attributes when clothes shopping, by gender and age, 2022
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- Figure 53: Important attributes when clothes shopping, by Hispanic origin and gender and gender and race, 2022
- There are correlations between important attributes and affinity
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- Figure 54: Important attributes when clothes shopping, by affinity for clothes shopping, 2022
- Form places an integral role in expressing one’s sense of style through fashion
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- Figure 55: Attitude toward clothing for personal identity, by important attributes when clothes shopping, 2022
Retailers Shopped
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- Most consumers do not buy clothing at clothing stores
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- Figure 56: Retailers shopped, by channel, 2022
- Retailer preference varies by gender; will continue as traditional gender norms blur
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- Figure 57: Select retailers shopped, by gender, 2022
- Age and race also influence where consumers shop
- Young men and Black male fashion aficionados shop around the most
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- Figure 58: Retailers shopped by men, by age, race and Hispanic origin, 2022
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- Figure 59: Retailers shopped by men – Index versus all, by age, race and Hispanic origin, 2022
- Women under 55 drive the category; multicultural women have a few favorite places
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- Figure 60: Retailers shopped by women, by age, race and Hispanic origin, 2022
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- Figure 61: Retailers shopped by women – Index versus all , by age, race and Hispanic origin, 2022
- Value-driven retailers are a lifeline for financially strapped consumers
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- Figure 62: Retailers shopped, by household income and financial situation, 2022
Method of Shopping
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- Vast majority of adults use stores and digital means interchangeably when shopping for clothes
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- Figure 63: Shopping method, 2022
- Online is the future
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- Figure 64: Attitudes/behaviors related to online clothes shopping, 2022
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- Figure 65: Shopping method, by gender, 2022
Items Purchased
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- Penchant for casualization and comfort still defines popular items
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- Figure 66: Items purchased, by channel, 2022
- Activewear is a lifestyle, not a trend
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- Figure 67: Attitudes toward activewear, by gender and age and work from home status, 2022
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- Figure 68: Vuori activewear
- Figure 69: Walmart launches Love & Sports activewear line
- Gender does play a role in items purchased
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- Figure 70: Items purchased, by gender, 2022
- A closer look at what men are buying
- Younger men have the most well-rounded closets
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- Figure 71: Items purchased by men, by age – Index versus all men, 2022
- Hispanic men are stepping up the fashion
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- Figure 72: Items purchased by men, by race and ethnicity – Index versus all men, 2022
- A closer look at what women are buying
- Young women want it all
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- Figure 73: Items purchased by women, by age – Index versus all women, 2022
- Multicultural women are more fashion-oriented
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- Figure 74: Items purchased by women, by race and ethnicity – Index versus all women, 2022
- Consumers speak up about their favorite wears
Reasons for Buying Clothes
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- “Need-based” reasons may drive purchases as fun and discretionary reasons take back seat
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- Figure 75: Reasons for buying clothes, by gender, 2022
- Women like to keep it casual and occasionally treat themselves
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- Figure 76: Buying for everyday casualwear and self-treating, by gender and generation, 2022
- Pandemic prompts changes in body size
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- Figure 77: Buying due to change in body size, by gender and generation, race and ethnicity, 2022
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- Figure 78: Eshakti offers style and fabric customization
- Figure 79: Lifestyle and fashion blogger review of Amazon Made for You customization service
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- Figure 80: Men’s Wearhouse launches Contactless Fit
- Consumers speak up about why they buy clothing
Shopping Behaviors
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- Consumer behaviors reflect their desire for convenience and ease of shopping
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- Figure 81: Shopping behaviors, 2022
- Brand ethics matter to men
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- Figure 82: Shopping behaviors, by gender, 2022
- Consumers speak up on their use of tech and services
- Shifts in shopping behaviors
- Nearly a third of consumers are dressing up as pandemic threat weakens; young men lead the way
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- Figure 83: Approach to dressing up in light of COVID-19 improvement, by gender, 2022
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- Figure 84: Dressing up in light of COVID-19 improvement, by key demographics, 2022
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- Figure 85: Dressing up in light of COVID-19 improvement, by work from home status, 2022
- Preowned clothing market is still emerging; will see boost in current economy
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- Figure 86: Propensity to buy preowned clothing, by gender, 2022
- Figure 87: Buying more preowned clothing, by key demographics, 2022
- Rental market also seeing spikes; men under 55 particularly interested
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- Figure 88: Attitude toward rental clothing options, by gender and age, 2022
- Brand ethics matter, and consumers are paying more attention to DEI
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- Figure 89: Impact of retailer/brand DEI initiatives when shopping for clothes, by gender, 2022
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- Figure 90: More likely to be impacted by retailer/brand’s DEI initiatives when shopping for clothes, by key demographics, 2022
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- Figure 91: Brands showcase their commitment to DEI in various ways
- Consumers also directing more of their purchases toward eco-friendly brands
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- Figure 92: Impact of retailer/brand sustainability initiatives when shopping for clothes, by gender, 2022
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- Figure 93: Impact of retailer/brand sustainability initiatives when shopping for clothes, by key demographics, 2022
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- Figure 94: Everlane forms The Next [Collective] to address sustainability challenges
- Figure 95: Uniqlo outlines sustainability priorities
- Consumers speak up about sustainability in fashion
Sources of Inspiration
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- Shoppers are online looking for inspiration
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- Figure 96: Sources of inspiration, 2022
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- Figure 97: Kohl’s uses social media influencers and livestreaming to engage shoppers
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- Figure 98: Sources of inspiration, by gender and generation, 2022
- Consumers speak up about trying new brands
Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations
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- Data sources
- Sales data
- Forecast
- Consumer survey data
- Consumer qualitative research
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Terms
Appendix – The Market
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- Figure 99: Total US retail sales and forecast of men’s and women’s clothing, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
- Figure 100: Total US retail sales and forecast of men's clothing, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
- Figure 101: Total US retail sales and forecast of women's clothing, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
- Figure 102: Average annual household spending on men's and women's clothing, 2017-22
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Appendix – The Consumer
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- Qualitative research
- Attitudes and behaviors toward clothes shopping
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- Figure 103: Attitudes and behaviors toward clothes shopping, 2022
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