Beyond Trends: The New Language of Body Fashion

By MARIACRISTINA RIGHI

At Curve Paris Who’s Next, Jos Berry, the creative mind behind Concepts Paris, introduced A New Language for Body Fashion: Summer 2028, a fresh perspective on lingerie and bodywear that looks beyond trends to explore the deeper human needs shaping women’s lives.

The presentation also introduced Q by Concepts Paris, the evolution of a trend research studio with more than thirty years of experience translating cultural change into commercially relevant design.

For Berry, the challenge is a world increasingly shaped by technology, speed and efficiency, yet seemingly losing touch with what makes life meaningful.

“The world does not need another trend report. Information is everywhere. AI can summaries it, algorithms can predict it, and social media distributes it instantly. Yet as life becomes smarter, faster and more efficient, something profoundly human is slowly disappearing; Touch, Ritual, Beauty, Wonder, Emotional presence, Belonging.”

Her perspective shifts the conversation from what women will want to wear next to what modern life takes away and how thoughtful design can restore it. In a marketplace saturated with information and product choices, brands have an opportunity to offer something more personal and lasting.

“These are not trends. They are human needs.”

Q by Concepts Paris identifies six fundamental longings: Human Connection, the need for belonging; Sensory Reality, the pleasure of touch; Emotional Protection, the reassurance of comfort; Meaningful Femininity, freedom of expression; Emotional Escapism, the desire for wonder; and Unexpected Beauty, the pleasure of discovery.

These motivations inform six creative directions for Summer 2028, translating cultural insight into tangible product possibilities. Each encourages brands to look beyond features and functionality to consider the experience their collections offer consumers.

The Comfort of Beauty explores Natural Performance, combining technical functionality with soft, skin-friendly fabrics. Comfort becomes more than fit or function; it is also about how a product makes a woman feel. Performance and well-being are complementary priorities, bringing practical benefits and sensory appeal together.

Living With Nature draws on botanical influences, natural materials and handcrafted details to bring authenticity and tactile richness to bodywear. Berry poses a question that challenges conventional product development: “When Did Commercial Stop Meaning Memorable?” The challenge is to develop products that engage the senses and leave a lasting impression without sacrificing commercial appeal.

Modern Romance reinterprets romantic lingerie through delicate craftsmanship, expressive shapes and contemporary construction. As Berry suggests, how to wear is becoming as important as what to wear. Lingerie is moving beyond its traditional boundaries, with skirts and dresses entering the bodywear sphere and lace returning as a defining element of the versatile, fashion-conscious wardrobe. Creative styling and multi-wear possibilities give women new ways to embrace femininity on their own terms, making intimate apparel an integral part of personal style.

Fearless Femininity responds to the desire for fashion that transports and surprises. The Return of Delight draws on culture, memory and curiosity, combining technical performance with decorative precision and unexpected details. Fashion becomes an invitation to rediscover pleasure and imagination in everyday dressing.

Joyful Opulence celebrates craftsmanship, expressive color and the power of decorative detail. “The magic is made by people,” Berry says. As she observes, “The most beautiful reds don’t shout passion. They evoke it.” For brands, the potential lies in developing collections with a distinctive point of view and stories consumers want to embrace. “We no longer buy products alone. We buy stories we want to belong to.”

Freedom to Explore reflects a desire for community and authentic experiences. Textured Dynamics combines tactile surfaces and natural materials with contemporary styling and everyday wearability, balancing versatility with a distinctive fashion identity. The result is bodywear that feels relevant to real life while offering a fresh perspective.

Across all six directions, the message is clear: personal relevance and commercial success can work together. Sensory comfort, natural inspiration, romance, individuality and craftsmanship offer brands ways to build a stronger connection between what women wear and how they feel.

For Berry, the future of body fashion is not about producing more trends. It is about recognizing cultural shifts and translating them into materials, colors, silhouettes and experiences women will value. In a world where information is abundant, the brands that stand apart may be those that offer something harder to replicate: a genuine connection with the consumer.

“What modern life takes away, thoughtful design restores.”

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