What stage of the fashion cycle is characterized by trends considered dull due to market saturation?

The stage of the fashion cycle characterized by trends considered dull due to market saturation is the decline stage. During this phase, products become overly common and widely available, leading to a decrease in consumer interest and excitement. As more competitors release similar styles, the original appeal of the trend diminishes, resulting in what is perceived as dullness.

At this point, sales begin to drop as consumer demand shifts to newer trends or emerging styles. Retailers may also start marking down prices to clear out inventory, further indicating that the trend has lost its novelty. This decline can serve as a transitional phase before a trend entirely disappears from the market or is revamped in a new form.

The introduction, peak, and growth stages all represent times of rising interest and sales, where new ideas and styles are actively being embraced by consumers, contrasting sharply with the decline stage's sense of saturation and diminished excitement.