When you’re a high-volume sender, like today’s top retailers and e-commerce companies, it can be challenging to keep things fresh in the inbox.
Not only do you have to push product and personalize the customer experience, but you also need your emails to be ridiculously good-looking.
Coming up with new email creative around the clock can be a hassle, so we’re here to help. In our latest Retail Lookbook, we collected our favorite design trends from leading brands.
As a sneak peek, we’ll share three in this post:
- Hottest Hues
- Curated Collections
- Partner Promotions
But wait—that’s not all. You can access the essential email campaigns a retailer needs most in the full lookbook. We’ve included inspiration for limited runs, rewards programs and more. Download the lookbook to share with your team.
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Want to know where we found these epic emails? Stay tuned because we’ll be debuting one of our biggest tools very soon.
Top Email Creative Trends in Retail
Hottest Hues
Chico’s Makes Us Blush With Rosy Shades
Women’s fashion retailer Chico’s shows how to celebrate holidays more subtly. Sent on February 9, right before Valentine’s Day, this message captures attention with its subject line, “MADE YOU BLUSH ☺️.”
This “New Color Crush” promotion opens with a gorgeous monochromatic ensemble in pale pink, followed by a collection of items in “heart-stealing hues.” We appreciate how the style tip on the hero image pops against the background as well.
Chico’s showcases how similar shades can be combined to create eye-catching outfits—and emails.
REEF Invokes Spring Break With the Blues
Nothing will make you long for warmer weather than REEF’s sandals promotions. The footwear brand invokes crystal-clear waters with its subject line, “All Blue Everything 💙💙💙” and header, “Dive Into Cool Hues.”
We love how the shades of blue mirror various textures, like a sunny sky and ocean waves. The color pulls the subscriber toward the product recommendations, all in mint, teal and navy. REEF is saying—if you can’t escape the blizzard yet, you can at least shop for summer days.
Curated Collections
J.Crew Dives Deep Into Denim
Any brand can list a bunch of items in an email, but what separates the greats is curating those items into inspiring outfits. In this message, clothing retailer J.Crew offers “Three denim trends to try,” each with what feels like a hand-selected ensemble.
Whether customers are interested in a casual straight-leg or a full Canadian tuxedo, J.Crew provides options with a variety of accessories. The email’s design is just as inviting as the inventory, with plenty of white space and unique typography on the pant legs.
People are more likely to buy when they can envision how a piece will fit into the rest of their wardrobe, so consider how your promos can serve as a personal stylist.
Made In Creates Cooking FOMO
Ah, the quintessential dinnertime debate: should I cook or eat out? Made In weighs in with the subject line, “The Case for Staying In.” The cookware brand promises to “bring the steakhouse home” with this guide to making steak frites.
This email curates valuable information for home cooks, including a video recipe from a renowned chef, a tutorial on properly slicing a steak, and a selection of the brand’s essential pans and serving platters.
In fact, great content like this puts the idea of “the fold” in email to shame. Variety and depth motivate subscribers to scroll.
Much like fashion retailers need to style outfits, homegoods brands must help customers recreate the restaurant experience. Anyone can buy a steak knife, but showing them how to use it and what to cook will keep them coming back for more.
Partner Promotions
Bloomingdale’s Takes Email to New Heights
The right partner promotion can sell itself, especially with the hype around Hollywood’s latest blockbuster. Fashion retailer Bloomingdale’s creates buzz for Valentine’s Day with its collaboration with the brand AQUA and the movie “Wuthering Heights.”
Inspired by Cathy’s wardrobe in the film, the collection features bold florals, corset tops and romantic gifts. The email’s red-and-black color scheme carries throughout, and callouts highlight whether an item is in demand and going fast.
Not all retailers get the chance to celebrate romance films, but they can create love stories through partner promotions.
Carter’s Channels Main Character Energy
Speaking of movies, Carter’s turns intellectual property into “main character style” with its loungewear promotion. The children’s clothing retailer features “superheroes & princesses for the bold & the brave.”
The sweaters and tutus are assorted by color in the email, “featuring all their besties from the big screen,” including favorites from Marvel and Disney films. The image grid presents product imagery in a way that’s interesting and visually cohesive.
Not into superhero franchises? Not to worry, because the brand also offers “loungewear in spring brights.”
By celebrating the characters that kids love most, Carter’s offers comfy fun for families.
Essential Email Creative Every Retailer Needs
With spring break right around the corner, retailers could use some email inspiration. We’ve got way more examples to share—download the lookbook so you don’t miss out.
Inbox Monster is here to inform your next big idea, with industry insights you can’t get anywhere else. Stay tuned because the most epic email search engine is coming your way soon.
Until then, if you’re looking for a new creative rendering platform, check out Inbox Monster’s Creative Suite. It has everything you need to send confidently—without the sticker shock:
- Render emails across 110+ modern clients and devices
- Test GIFs and interactive content with live previews
- See AI summaries from popular tools, like Gemini and Apple Intelligence
- Translate into 75+ different languages
- Collaborate with your team in real-time with unlimited seats
Schedule a demo to see the Creative Suite in action today.
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