SA consumers followed the bends and trends of 2014

© Andrey Kiselev - Fotolia.com

Fashion trends

• Casual skater dresses
  
• Pencil skirts
  
• Floral shorts and mini skirts
  
• Wrapped hoodies
  
• Knit and mesh combo tops
  
• Harem pants
  
• Classic black court shoes
  
• Quilted boots

Over and above these top sellers, the star of 2014 was denim, with a growth of denim sales coming in at 864%.

"The numbers prove that South Africans are very much on-trend and that providing trend reports and style guides is paying off, as they are shopping according to the latest trends. One trend that stood out for us this year was the African print skater dress as everyone has fallen in love with it," points out Chris Viljoen, Spree Fashion Director.

With 2014 coming to a close, Marieke Merts, fashion content producer at Spree, reviews the year. "With street style continuing to reign supreme, we've seen sneakers transition from the curb to the catwalk, we've seen athletic-inspired ensembles transition into office friendly attire and the rise and rise of designers such as The Row and Alexander Wang that continuously quench our thirst for newness. While certain trends will surely be left behind, or at the very least reinterpreted, we've narrowed down the top trends of the year, as to what you should be holding on to for 2015 and beyond," says Merts.

Top suggested trends

• Floral - Flower power took over the fashion sphere this year, with everything from orchids to orange blossoms adorning every type of garment imaginable. Hold on to: flowers against dark backgrounds will still be huge in 2015, as will any flower with a 70s feeling. Think florals in shades of rich mustards and retro browns and any flower paired with a little fringing.
  
• Sports luxe - Everyone was a team player this year, with style inspiration being drawn from the court instead of the catwalk. Joggers, sweaters, sneakers, you name it. The sportier, the better. Hold on to: sneakers, while more toned down, pairs will be the top point of trendy next year, it still remains the most stylish shoe to be seen in.
  
• Monochrome - The beauty of black and white is lost on no one and this year the two-toned way of dressing spilled into other trends, with bold blooms and sporty separates all getting the black and white treatment. Hold on to: grid prints and op-art inspired graphics that will effortlessly slot into the new season's sartorial mindset. Stripes are also ensured to be a key player in the style sakes.

The site's other product categories also had some top performers with the most purchased item from kids being Babygro, nail polish for beauty, storage products from home décor and toys under the gifting section.

For more information, go to www.spree.co.za.