In our previous blog, we explored Grandiose, a trend forecast centred around intentional design, quiet confidence, craftsmanship, and emotional connection.
One of the biggest misconceptions about Grandiose is that it means extravagant or excessive design. In reality, it represents the opposite. Consumers are gravitating towards pieces that feel considered, timeless, and meaningful rather than trend-driven and disposable.
Nowhere is this shift more visible than in outerwear.
As we reviewed the FW27/28 Jackets & Coats forecast, three standout trends immediately caught our attention. Not because they were the loudest, but because they embody the values behind the Grandiose movement.
Let's take a look.
For years, parkas have been associated with functionality first and fashion second.
The FW27/28 City Parka changes that.
This silhouette retains everything consumers love about a parka, practicality, comfort, and versatility, but introduces a more elevated and considered approach through cleaner construction, refined details, and stronger proportions.
This is Grandiose in action.
Rather than creating something completely new, designers are refining something familiar.
The focus is no longer on adding more features. It is on making every feature feel intentional.
The Grandiose consumer is looking for products that:
Solve a problem
Last multiple seasons
Feel thoughtfully designed
Offer versatility
The City Parka delivers all four.
Instead of chasing novelty, it elevates an existing wardrobe staple through better execution.
For brands developing this style, details become incredibly important:
Hardware quality
Pocket placement
Fabric selection
Hood construction
Internal finishing
Consumers may not consciously notice these details,
but they absolutely notice when they're done well.
One of the strongest examples of Grandiose within the report is the Statement Fur Collar Overcoat.
What makes this trend interesting is what it doesn't do.
It doesn't reinvent the overcoat.
The silhouette remains classic, tailored, and timeless.
The transformation comes through a single dramatic detail: an oversized faux fur collar.
This perfectly reflects one of Grandiose's core ideas.
Rather than creating visual noise, designers are creating focus.
A familiar silhouette becomes emotionally engaging through craftsmanship, texture, and thoughtful design.
The trend forecast speaks heavily about emotional connection and investment purchasing.
The Statement Fur Collar Overcoat delivers both.
It feels:
Luxurious
Timeless
Memorable
Special
Without becoming difficult to wear.
The result is a piece customers can imagine owning for years rather than one season.
This trend relies heavily on execution.
Success comes down to:
Faux fur quality
Collar scale
Weight distribution
Construction methods
Fabric pairing
When the design itself is relatively minimal, quality becomes the statement.
The Cinched Utility Jacket may be the most commercially relevant trend in the entire report.
At its core, it is an evolution of the bomber jacket.
The familiar shape remains, but the silhouette is transformed through:
Waist shaping
Utility-inspired details
Elongated proportions
More sculptural construction
This reflects another key Grandiose principle.
Consumers are looking for functionality, but they don't want purely functional products.
They want pieces that feel beautiful and purposeful at the same time.
The Grandiose movement embraces thoughtful complexity.
Not complexity for the sake of being different. Complexity that improves the product.
The Cinched Utility Jacket does exactly that.
Every design feature serves a purpose while also contributing to the overall aesthetic.
This style requires careful development.
The success of the silhouette depends on:
Pattern making
Drawcord placement
Pocket proportions
Fabric structure
Fit testing
Small adjustments can dramatically change how the garment feels and performs.
At first glance, these three outerwear trends appear very different.
One is utility-inspired.
One is tailored.
One is a modern bomber.
But they all share the same underlying philosophy.
They prioritise:
Longevity over novelty
Craftsmanship over excess
Emotional value over trend value
Investment dressing over impulse purchases
This is exactly what Grandiose is about.
Consumers are becoming more intentional with what they buy.
They want fewer pieces.
Better pieces.
Pieces that justify their place in a wardrobe.
For fashion brands, this creates a huge opportunity.
The brands that will thrive are not necessarily the ones creating the loudest products. They are the ones creating products with the most meaning, purpose, and longevity.
The City Parka, Statement Fur Collar Overcoat, and Cinched Utility Jacket are more than just outerwear trends.
They are examples of how the Grandiose movement is beginning to influence product design across fashion.
Each trend takes something familiar and elevates it through better proportions, stronger craftsmanship, and thoughtful detailing.
And that's perhaps the biggest lesson from Grandiose itself.
Consumers aren't asking for more.
They're asking for better.
