1、1 20262 2026This report provides a practical playbook for fashion companies looking to serve the US consumer in 2026 and beyond.Data and interviews come from BoF Insights,the advisory arm of The Business of Fashion.66%of consumers say value for money is their number one priority when shopping for fa
2、shion,significantly higher than trendiness at 10%.26%plan to spend on fashion as a top discretionary category in 2026,ranking it fourth behind experiential categories such as dining out,travel,and fitness.92%plan to change their shopping behavior if fashion prices rise due to tariffs,including delay
3、ing purchases,spending less,or trading down to off-price retailers.64%cite size and fit as their top concern when buying fashion,presenting a barrier to online and in-store conversion,but also an opportunity for brands and retailers who can improve the experience.43%shop for fashion to meet function
4、al needs,the leading reason for purchase.Occasion-led purchases rank second,while sales and discounts play a lesser role in decisions.Executive summary3 2026Delivering value for money does not mean discountingOur survey of 1,032 US consumers reveals that value means multiple things to shoppers today
5、,including product durability,quality,and brand desirability.Discounts play a lesser role than they once did in motivating purchases and can even undermine perceptions of value.For fashion brands and retailers,this means limiting blanket promotions and shifting towards more loyalty-driven incentives
6、 to drive repeat sales.1.Fashion brands face increased competition from other discretionary categoriesExperiences continue to grow in importance as signifiers of identity and worth,intensifying competition for share of wallet with discretionary categories like fashion.Fashion players should examine