IT'S ANYONE'S GUESS what you'll find yourself wearing and coveting in 2013. But if anyone can predict these things, it's the people working closely in various aspects of the style industry. Below are the top predictions for the new year from your local experts.

Tito Chowdhury, executive producer of FASHIONxt, fashionxt.net

Fashion will become a bigger part of lifestyle, as [we] seek fashion to enhance our life experiences, make them more interesting and exciting [through] their design, user experience, and coolness factor. Entities/companies, from ready to wear to athletic wear, [and] economies that can facilitate combining their right and left brains together will come out as winners. It will be a gradual process, rather than just next year, but it will arrive a lot quicker than most people imagine. People will be more and more fashion conscious about all aspects of their looks. Not just apparel, but also their personal technology. iPhones will hit a decline in popularity [due to the] staleness of its style [and] look. People will find more unique, exciting styles from other companies (unless iPhone comes up with something quite different).

Independent designers and their followers will continue to be more aware of the real impact of their work, [viewing] their craft as the business of creating a living wage and consequential impact, not just a hobby and [for the] coolness factor... and Marjorie Skinner will be a major factor in elevating that awareness among that demographic.

More clothing boutiques will pop up. Portland is ripe for more large, mid-price, fashion-forward men's clothing stores with large selections (not a few pieces hanging in a 800 square-foot space), so we might see that happen this year.

As newly opened ultra-small apartments in the downtown core/Pearl are making it affordable for younger people to live there, it will create more young, affordable, hipster fashion moments in the scene. Young people in Portland continue to be the poorest and cheapest (compared to previous generations at the same age), and it will be reflected in their style, apartments, and outings. That means don't expect high-end clothing stores, furniture stores, or bar scenes. But I think by the year end, with the economy gaining more momentum, people's eternal craving for the finer things in life will get young people to come out of the funk and nostalgia of the last few years, and start being more proactive in finding higher wages, [being] less attached of the '40s cheap, recycled style, and spending more on lifestyle. Our new mayor's wife, who's well traveled, outward looking in her professional capacity, and a fashion enthusiast, may play a visible role in promoting style. Unless the underachieving, vocal majority of Portlanders don't break her spirit just because she's showing fashion awareness, [since] that threatens their frumpy looks and living. 

Charlotte Reich, owner of Palace, palacestore.com

My hopes for 2013 style: East Coast equestrian, thick wool knits, houndstooth, tweed, leather, raw silk, hats, hand-knit socks, and androgyny. The end of '90s rave, ceramic jewelry, and mandarin orange. For the home: ferns! Also Moroccan rag rugs, stoneware, antique silverware, odd-matching vintage plates, natural light, cedar incense (Paine's), and old oak rocking chairs.

Elizabeth Mollo, fashion show producer, MOD contributor, mod.portlandmercury.com

My hope for 2013 is that people will continue to put pressure on [large clothing] companies, that the companies continue to improve their policies, and for the general public to finally realize that fast fashion is just fucking lame. I also hope that people continue the steady rise of buying local/ethical/independent fashion and choosing quality over quantity.

Crispin Argento, owner of PINO, pinoportland.com

In: metallics (the future is here); fuller-cut pants (think Halston!); mod: Pierre Cardin circa 1960s; sustainability in fashion is not just for hippies and real change is happening, albeit slowly; "Made in Usa" is big; the fashion and art world dating again; Balenciaga and Alexander Wang—brilliant, but scary; clutches; water print, kitten heels; and sheer for women. 

Out: super stilettos; studded everything; giant trash-bag-sized purses; men's jewelry (e.g., 25 seventh-grade-level bracelets polluting arms); the heritage/Americana look; floral for men; and boat shoes—sorry, boys. 

Lindsey Reif, designer and owner of Reif Haus, reif-haus.com

We'll start moving away from the tribal prints and into more geometric prints. I've already seen this happening with some of the new prints from Pendleton's Portland Collection—they are reminiscent of their roots, but taking more of an abstract, geometric shape, and it's great. I'm also looking forward to more minimalist, futuristic looks this year. 

Connie Wohn, fashion show producer

2013 is the year of the fashion umbrella! Thanks, Pendleton Portland Collection. Menswear also seems to be taking a front seat for once. In local design, I think AK Vintage is insanely amazing, and Frances May and Yo Vintage! are both pushing the envelope for retail. Table of Contents is also a great addition to the Portland retail landscape, and Solestruck is smart, active, and doing cool shit.

Sharon Blair, director of Portland Sewing, portlandsewing.com, and designer of Studio SKB, studioskb.com

Think small. Shoppers are looking for the limited and personal. Look for adjectives such as "authentic," "limited," "crafted," "sustainable," and "artisanal" applied to garments and accessories. Boutiques will continue to use words like "edited" and "curated" when talking about the lines of clothing they carry.

Big is small too. Look for the continuing trend of boutiques within department stores. Anthropologie's floor layout is the standard for this look. JC Penney is embracing this look as well. Target does this when it joins forces with Todd Oldham, Missoni, and Neiman Marcus.

Generation gaps are fading. We've heard before that 40 is the new 20. Well, 60 is the new 40. As the US population ages, sellers are finding "gray gold." These folks are retiring young enough and with money enough to stay in shape and enjoy life. In some circles, they are called "LOMLOTs" (lots of money, lots of time). They're fit, healthy, and tech savvy. The only thing they fear is boredom.

Closed loop is the new eco fabric. If you've read my "Sew Green" article in Threads magazine, you'll know that there are drawbacks to the fabrics we often call "eco." Look for the super-synthetics being developed by companies, including Adidas and Nike, to take the place of such things as organic cotton and bamboo. These new fabrics will use, instead of oil, chemicals that are recycled instead of released into the environment. This is called a closed-loop system. Here's a bonus: They'll use nano technology for breathability and comfort. They'll even build up static electricity so you can charge your cell phone while you're on the go.

Marianne Schnell, style blogger, thestyletrial.com

I eagerly anticipate a sleek overall cleanup with a resurgence of pretty pumps, fuller mod silhouettes, and a broadened spectrum of styling with mixed prints and unexpected color palettes. Also nothing will be more trés chic than showing off a well-constructed piece (Pendleton: we meet again). A high level of craftsmanship in your wardrobe will determine who's who more than ever. Sorry, Forever 21. Maybe next year.

Diana Kim, owner of Stand Up Comedy, shopstandingup.us

"Lifestyle" as a convincing selling tool will die a long, prolonged death. Architecture will replace printed material as the overarching, parallel design practice that most influences retail culture. "Fashion" will interpret this as hero worship of the architect; will be wrong. Everyone will continue to love Celine; will be correct. Cult brands will continue to embrace mass retail/revenue; most self-aware practitioners (underground and other) will recede further into the abyss; will continue to not give a shit. Major fashion magazines will give up the masquerade of being anything other than ruthlessly irrelevant advertorials. Celebrity looks will continue to represent the end of the sewage pipe of fashion and/or style. Marketers will continue to push sex appeal and/or traditional femininity as an apex of style; will continue to disgust/bore 90 percent of the buying public. Men's clothing will become much more interesting than women's.

Inspirations: flat shoes, big shorts, athletic looks, real value (to you), quiet jewelry, and repetition.

Marissa Sullivan, blogger, Portland's Pretty, portlandspretty.wordpress.com (and Mercury Account Executive)

Unfortunately in 2012 we lost a truly great artist, and as someone who grew up in the '90s this man was one of my biggest idols and style icons. Adam Yauch aka MCA of the Beastie Boys passed away from a long battle with cancer on May 4. Facebook was flooded with posts of how he'll be missed, bars plays Beasties hits all night, my friends and I chatted about what the Beastie Boys meant to us—hell, I even got a text from my brother (who is not the best communicator) to ask me how I was doing. It was a sad day indeed. So in honor of a great man, and because it's just plain badass, in the Year of the Snake I'll be dressing like I just stepped out of 1992's "Gratitude" video, sans Kangol. Adidas shell toes and Campuses, Phillies Blunt shirts, baggy snowboarding gear, etc. Yup, guys, that's what I'll be doing. Feel free to bite (my style that is) and let's all get ready for a great year while remembering who we lost this past one.  

Bree Goertzen, Odessa, odessaportland.com

Looking forward to Spring 2013, it seems like palettes are toning down a bit: more black and white, with and without pops of color. This is done very well by Phoebe Philo, as seen in the Celine runway show. For amazing color, print, and texture you cannot miss Dolce & Gabbana's Spring 2013 line! Usually I could take it or leave it, but D&G's spring line is beautiful and a bit bizarre. And, of course I always love Isabel Marant! Be it 2012, 2013, or any previous season, I always find too many things that I must have in her collections. She always seems to come up with just what is needed to create the perfect cool á la Charlotte Gainsbourg, my fave style icon year after year. This season she designed some lovely prints that are super pretty and approachable. I'm hoping color sticks around at least a little bit in the year to come. Especially here in Portland we need a little color to contrast with the grey and remind us that summer will actually come each year! Similarly I have been loving color for furnishings and interior flourishes. A little red or turquoise can be the perfect accent with white and wood. And plants, plants, plants! I want a little jungle in my house!!!  

Coco Madrid, promoter/booker/dancer, SNAP! '90s dance party and MOD contributor

OH EMM G!!! I am so excited to replicate the luxe looks from Jeremy Scott's Spring/Summer collection. Snake, giraffe, crocodile, and leopard make up the prints throughout a collection of halter tops, hot pants, jackets, and overalls in leather and silk. Stepping away from the Lisa Frank on Acid collections of the past, "Arab Spring" opts for black, gold, and teal for the Spring/Summer color palette that invokes imagery from MIA's "Bad Girls" video plus a bit of '90s realness. 

Kayla Rekofke, Yo Vintage!, shopyovintage.com, and MOD contributor

2013 feels like it will be more streamlined. Modern silhouettes, skinny pointy toed heels, statement jewelry, and slick classic hairstyles. I personally am moving towards less "trendy" items like my beloved tranny shoes of 2012, and anything too girly. Nail art will be a mainstay, but not as loud as 2012. 2013 has me feeling dark and decadent with pops of fur, pin straight hair, and sexy androgynous looks for night.