Ask An Expert: Which Runway Trends Have Made It To The Mall This Season?

A look from Lanvin resort 2010, via Style.com

In this new series, I ask my best sources to offer up insider knowledge.

Brian Sozzi isn’t afraid to admit that he likes to shop…at the mall. The equity research analyst covers retail for boutique firm Wall Street Strategies. When he’s not crunching numbers, he’s in the stores researching trends, consumer behavior, product selection and quality. This season, he likes what’s available: “Broadly speaking, I happen to think fashion in the malls is the strongest I have seen in some time.”

Why is that? Well, consumers haven’t been buying, so retailers diversified product, listening more to the messages designers send down the runway. Here are some of the high-fashion inspired trends that Sozzi thinks will sell well in the stores:

Latin America. (As seen at Michael Bastian spring 2010; Lanvin resort 2010)  Anthropologie’s embroidered patchwork tunic adds a vintage flair with mismatched floral prints.

Military. (As seen at Haider Ackerman spring 2010, Chloe spring 2010) Old Navy’s cargo pants are back as are fatigue jackets, available at J.Crew.

Plaid. (As seen at DSquared fall 2009, Richard Chai spring 2010) The Gap is big on plaid this season, as are Uniqlo, American Eagle, Topshop and of course, Abercrombie & Fitch.