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Fashion Trend Forecaster

What They Do

Insider Info

Fashion forecasters work for companies trying to anticipate trends. They give the companies advice on what will be the season's hot sellers.

To do this work, fashion trend forecasters study market conditions and consumers' buying behaviors. They evaluate designer collections. This can mean analyzing market data, statistics and socio-economic factors.

Fashion trend forecasters have to know their customers. Someone studying fashion trends for businesswomen would look for different apparel ideas than someone targeting the teen market.

Fashion forecasters also follow general trends in the industry, tracking shifts in colors and styles. They attend fashion shows, scan the daily newspapers, watch fashion television, listen to the radio and chat with people to hear about clothing and lifestyle changes that could bring about changes in fashion trends.

For example, a fitness craze could mean that fashion forecasters might bring in more casual and sportswear for shoppers.

Fashion forecasters plan short-term strategies for stores. They also devise long-term plans. They can work as company employees at a department store or as private consultants for manufacturers, retailers and designers.

Depending on the type of forecasting being done, a person can spend time in the office. Or they could be out traveling, visiting fashion shows and giving presentations to clients. Most of this work can be done during regular office hours. But it can also mean some evening and weekend work.

"The computer has sped everything up," says Wendy Carmona. She is a fashion forecaster in Los Angeles. "It's meant that we have to work harder and faster to get information to our clients."

Travel to fashion shows and to events is one of the physical requirements of living in the fashion world. "Travel is a big part of the job," says Carmona.

At a Glance

Predict what will be hot

  • You have to know your customers so you can cater to their tastes
  • Expect to travel a lot
  • Programs in fashion merchandising, marketing, sociology, anthropology, economics and social studies are good

Contact

  • Email Support
  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

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