Hair clips, chunky trainers, bias-cut skirts: 2019’s hottest trends at Asos

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Jan 20, 2020

2019 was a year of fun accessories, creative styling and curated product edits, according to the Asos Retail Report, which looks at the most popular products on the online platform and the best initiatives from the retailer to determine the standout moments of the year.

Popular with Millennials and Gen Z for its vast array of brands and products, Asos is a key location to spot trends as they start to go mainstream after taking root across social media apps like Instagram.

This is reflected in the sheer number of products sold by the shopping destination. For instance, its satin bias-cut skirt in 2019 sold over 120,000 units in all sizes and ranges, including Maternity, Curve, Tall and Petite.

Hair clips also had a massive moment last year, with the company selling 150,000 of them. Faux-pearl hair accessories proved particularly successful, and Asos predicts that the trend will get bigger this year.

When it comes to footwear, chunky trainers came first in 2019 with customers buying a whopping 78,000 pairs. Meanwhile, the growing popularity of the Cuban heel sent sales of this style surging by 140% last year. 

Other popular accessories included bucket hats (more than 45,000 sold), 90s mini bags, and harness bags -- the next iteration of a belt bag. 

With a vast inventory of 85,000 products from over 200 brands, Asos launched several edits and this paid off as the company said many brides chose to wear Asos wedding dresses last year, with a particular crop-top design acquired by 3,500 shoppers. The Modest Edit, launched in April 2019, was also a hit, with a maxi dress selling nearly 9,000 styles, while Collusion, the new Asos label launched in October 2018, sold more than 4 million pieces.

In line with a wider industry shift, it also introduced a 'responsible' edit, providing a one-stop destination for all the environmentally conscious clothing and accessories available on the site. The edit features more than 120 brands, including Asos Design. 

Finally, the company continued to improve the sustainability of its packaging by working with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the United Nations. By 2025, Asos expects its packaging to be 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable.