Hats, jewellery, watches, accessories — and the greatest of these will be hats! At least according to the organisers of the Tendence Fair at the Frankfurt consumer goods show at the end of August, who say that fashion-conscious consumers will be moving into the autumn season with a cry of 'on with your hats!'

Tendence (27 to 30 August 2016) is Germany’s biggest order fair for consumer goods in the second half of the year with an extensive range of products in the home, furnishing, decorating, gifts, jewellery and fashion accessory segments. Brands present their Christmas trends, giving the retail trade the opportunity to place orders. They also show collections for the coming spring and summer.

At this new-products platform, top brands and key players present their Christmas trends thus giving the national and European retail trade the opportunity to place follow-up orders for the Christmas season. At the same time, they show their collections for the coming spring and summer.

Tendence director Bettina Bär said: "In future we will be showcasing fine and costume jewellery and handcrafted pieces, as well as watches and leather goods, such as bags and belts, and fashion accessories, such as scarves, shawls, caps and hats, in the newly created 'Accessories & Jewellery' area. This will enable us to create synergy effects for exhibitors and visitors alike.”

In Association with

Top Hat

And even among hats, there is a top hat. This season it’s the fedora — a style made of felt, with a broad brim that is commonly embellished with a narrow hat band.

But beyond hats, Bär is predicting that bags will be smaller, rucksacks are cooler, and floral motifs will be big when it comes to jewellery. It is earrings, though, that are the protagonists here. Whether they are hoops or long dangly earrings, the main thing is that they are striking.

Less militant femmes will be happy to know that for autumn and winter watches will be more delicate and feminine. Straps will be a bit narrower and watch faces rather more elegant. By way of contrast, men’s watches will remain large, perhaps even a touch larger than before.

The fair’s Jewellery and Fashion Academy will offer lectures tailored to the jewellery and fashion accessory trade. The lectures aim to provide retailers with insights into the art of selling, including tips for putting together a product range, the internet as a sales channel, and consumer behaviour when buying jewellery.

Tendence place at Messe Frankfurt, at almost 600,000 sq m one of the biggest exhibition spaces in the world, owned jointly by the city of Frankfurt and the state of Hesse.

Aer Lingus is currently quoting a return Dublin/Dusseldorf fare of €128 for a journey departing Saturday August 27 and returning Monday August 29.