Déjà Vu: Reflections of Conformity Cover

TREND FORECAST FALL / WINTER 2026

adobe creative suite

• project management

• forecasting

• data analysis

• runway analysis

• textile analysis

• trend forecasting

• historical research

• public speaking

• presenting

• adobe creative suite • project management • forecasting • data analysis • runway analysis • textile analysis • trend forecasting • historical research • public speaking • presenting •

DÉJÀ VU

In our day-to-day we are stricken with déjà vu; reflections of situations, coming back to haunt, remind, or affect us, and it is our job to meditate upon those outcomes and hone to how we may grow from it. With a mix of todays political and economic climate it seems as though society is, again, mirroring itself, running us through this course that we are having to experience again and again.

Déjà Vu: Reflections of Conformity forecasts the tension between corporate-driven homogenization and the rebellious nature of those who choose not to conform.

From that theme, curated projections of colors, textiles, prints/patterns, trims/details, and hand picked looks from fashion week to street style were displayed and presented in front of an audience of VCUarts Fashion faculty, students, and real-world forecasters.

THE ASK:

As this forecast was used as a final forecasting project for my Fashion Forecasting class, my team was tasked with curating a short-term forecast that reflects upon the current zeitgeists, using research on trends in all sectors to back up our standing. We were to identify key cultural, social, technological, and economic shifts that stood out to influence the consumer behavior and style of 2026.

THE SPARK

An edited section of an interview between Maverick Carter and Tyler, the Creator sparked our interest in the idea of homogeny. Through Tyler, The Creators various examples of musical artists being themselves and having their own individual styles. In this, we thought, “If this is possible within one sector of art, how may this concept reflect into fashion?” access the full interview here!

Each group crafted a mood board to visually represent their forecast, using images and illustrations to reflect the core theme. The process of selecting and refining visuals fostered collaboration and a shared understanding within the team.
The team explored historical context and current media to ground the theme in relevant influences. Challenged to find strong representations, we relied on extensive research and collaboration to ensure the theme was clearly and accurately conveyed.
To tailor the theme to a target market, the team examined its evolution—past, present, and future—to identify who would resonate with the project’s style. This involved digging into both demographic and psychographic data, revealing key insights into the audience’s lifestyle, interests, and aesthetic preferences.
In addition, the group carefully selected key terms that best reflected the theme, providing thoughtful reasoning behind each word’s relevance to the overall concept.

THE PROCESS

Establishing a cohesive color story early on was essential, as it helped shape the visual direction of the project. The team was tasked with the curation of a master color palette mood board and refining those colors into two separate stories, ensuring each hue aligned with the theme and remained consistent across looks and key items.
Textile selection became a dynamic exploration of contrast, balancing materials that echoed corporate conformity with those that expressed rebellion. Through structure, texture, and finish, the fabrics captured both restriction and individuality, deepening the project's narrative.
Building on our textile choices, we selected patterns and details that echoed corporate conformity while subtly hinting at rebellion. This phase became second nature to the group, as identifying theme-aligned elements started to flow like clockwork, refining the project's final layers.
Developing looks and key items required full team effort, diving into global fashion weeks as far back as F/W 2023 to find pieces aligned with recurring subthemes. As the final step in the project, this process not only tied together every element but also showcased how far the group had come in shaping a well-rounded, globally resonant forecast.