Style, practicality and ease of wear not only coexist in everyday fashion today — they are in high demand.

Clothing and accessories are becoming more prevalent in gift shops across the U.S. as retailers find success with products that exude comfort while being à la mode and giftable.

Here we present the latest trends, products and 2025 predictions for apparel and accessories across all ages and genders.

WOMENSWEAR

Comfort remains key for women’s apparel, and coordinated sets continue to perform well in retail boutiques. Simply Southern’s signature cheerful style is apparent in current clothing lines, and the company has responded to the increasing demand for women’s co-ords by appealing to a variety of age groups.

“Our buttery soft collection features cropped and waistline tops paired with wide-leg leggings or bootcut loungers, perfect for younger clients,” said Jourdain Foster, sales and customer service manager at Simply Southern. “Additionally, our pearl and rhinestone sets include four different top options to suit all age groups.”

2024 was undoubtedly the comeback year for the bow across fashion and even home/holiday décor. For 2025, Simply Southern predicts a rise in floral patterns as well as those ultra-feminine accents across women’s clothing.

“Still trending is the ‘grandma chic’ approach to style, which features clothing that prioritizes comfort over structure, embodying a boho aesthetic,” Foster added. “Simply Southern is known for its preppy lifestyle, which is making a strong comeback with an emphasis on bows, ribbons, and bright, colorful designs. It makes us feel right at home.”

Town Pride concurs that customers continue to look for comfort when shopping for clothing. The company is seeing a shift away from fast fashion and toward timeless, durable garments that are made responsibly. Clothing that is size inclusive also performs well in specialty retailers as customers can purchase clothing gifts for others with the peace of mind that the item won’t need to be returned due to not fitting properly.

“Retro design elements like stripes on everything from ringer tees to crewnecks to baby knits are getting more and more attention,” said Jean Jasanello, vice president of sales at Town Pride. “Comfort is still key. Soft fabrics and unrestricted body styles that flatter all shapes is our winning combination.”

GIFTABLE ACCESSORIES

Accessories that are merchandised well and easily giftable are on the rise, especially as the retail industry looks ahead to the 2024 holiday season. Simply Southern is incorporating eye-catching packaging for its accessories to meet this demand.

“We are enhancing our product line with attractive packaging and convenient grab-and-go items to meet the demand for giftable options,” Foster said.

Additionally, the company has expanded its collection of hair ties, bows and clips — adorned with bows and pearls — to align with the trending preppy lifestyle seen also across apparel.

A standout item for Simply Southern during the 2024 winter market season was its new Simply Roll Tote, a foldable rolling bag that fits in a car’s back seat or trunk and can carry up to 66 pounds.

“It’s an innovative solution perfect for teachers, crafters, college students and anyone who enjoys an easy grocery haul,” Foster said.

HYDRATION IS KEY

Hydration is 2024’s hottest accessory. The craze around reusable water tumblers has seized the gift industry, and My Bougie Bottle proves that they can make for a stylish accessory.

Juliet Pearson founded My Bougie Bottle with a goal of creating a sustainable, utilitarian drinkware brand that catered to women practically while appealing to their sense of style and elevating their outfits. Pearson draws inspiration for the designs from both nature and her daily Vogue and fashion readings.

“I wanted to prioritize style with aesthetically pleasing designs that celebrate nature,” Pearson said. “So there is a lot of floral and fauna in our designs. I wanted to do something that was really high end because I felt like reusable bottles are such an important part of our daily lives. I thought that they should be more inspiring than what we often see out there.”

My Bougie Bottle certainly has its signature look — full of detailed botanicals, birds and tropicana. But Pearson also caters to the trends of the moment while staying true to her desired look. Right now, toile is big as well as some pastels and flatter graphics, which she introduced into her designs to cater to the more trend-focused retailer.

The bottles are stainless steel and lead free, and come in luxury packaging for merchandising purposes. They’re also free from condensation, sweat proof and leak proof — and they fit in car cup holders.

To further elevate the look and purpose of the bottle, My Bougie Bottle introduced stylish, 38-inch slings in pink and black that act as a crossbody water bottle holder. It’s designed to keep the user’s hands free while also accessorizing their outfit.

“We’re inspired by the thought of when you’re staying at the Four Seasons Resort and how you’re going to accessorize, what you’re going to look like when you’re walking through the resort,” Pearson said. “You don’t necessarily want to have a whole bunch of bulk on you.”

KIDS & BABIES

Parents are increasingly prioritizing the quality, history and sustainability of the items they are using for their little ones. Soft, comfortable and durable fabrics that can be both played and snuggled in are in demand.

Town Pride has offered kids’ items for years, but it just recently launched its new baby collection with a variety of sweaters complete with knit pants and throws.

“We found it quite difficult to find baby knit items made in the USA and decided it was time to really expand our line,” Jasanello said. “… We hear all the time from customers that baby sections in gift stores are often lackluster and not special. These heirloom- quality products are perfect to offer high-quality products for baby gifts.”

As part of its giveback initiatives, the company has now tagged its baby and kids’ knits with a special callout explaining that the purchase of that item helps the fight to end childhood food insecurity in the U.S.

MENSWEAR

Simple products that fulfill a practicality while remaining on trend do well in men’s fashion. Robert Barakett founded his namesake brand out of Montreal and has designed a modern sportswear collection that is designed to be easy to wear — with a sophisticated color palette.

The brand began with its iconic tee but has expanded into a wide array of “updated casual clothing that can be worn at the office or on the weekend,” said Franklyn Price, COO of Robert Barakett. The brand’s bestseller is the Barakett Pima Cotton Tee, a knit top designed to be versatile enough that it can be worn in a casual setting or under a sports jacket.

“With Robert Barakett, it is not about following fleeting trends; it is about cultivating your personal style, finding garments that make you feel content, comfortable and effortlessly stylish,” Price said.

For 2025, the brand expects “dress-up sportswear” to do well in men’s apparel, as well as layering pieces — think overshirts and knit jackets — presenting a stylish yet relaxed alternative to dress shirts and sport jackets.

“As life continues to become more casual, Robert Barakett addresses this with elegant casual wear that can be worn in more formal settings. Our tee has a slight luster, giving it a dressier appeal,” Price said. “Fine-gauge knits are extremely important in polo and henley styles and secondary knit pieces.”