The TL;DR:
We know fashion is circular, and with 2025's creative director musical chairs, a lot of designers have headed to the archives for inspiration. We're look backing to the 90s and 00s, to the roaring 20s and even the 1800s. But while silhouettes might draw on history, the fabrications are decidedly modern. Flexible fabrics like jersey and lightweight pleated textiles, neoprene and swathes of satin. While quiet luxury persists, in 2026 we've been given permission to play. Everything is embellished. The weird shoe trend continues, and we're leaning into asymmetric, exaggerated silhouettes, shoulder pads, colours and prints galore. Clothes with life and movement; layers on layers on layers. Plus, the accessories are OTT – oversized sunnies, chunky jewellery, bright socks and scarves with everything.
A lot of the trends from 2025 linger; barrel leg and relaxed fit jeans, preppy sportswear, everything 2000s, slouchy shoulder bags, thongs, raffia, butter yellow, chocolate brown and burgundy are all here to stay.
Read on for a deep dive of what to expect in 2026:
COLOURS
Pantone's colour of the year might be the off-white 'Cloud Dancer' but fashion forecasters disagree, naming blue – in all of its many flattering tones, from turquoise to lapis to cerulean – as the hue of 2026.
Think of blue as your new neutral.
Other colours we're expecting to see more of:
CLOTHES
Draping: in contrast to the more structured pieces we've seen in recent seasons past, these flowy garments are relaxed but high concept, giving the appearance of chic, stylish effortlessness. Look to brands like Deering, Magda Butrym, Khaite, Zara, Toteme, and Bottega Veneta for inspiration. Drapery is often (but not always) combined with elegant built-in cape detailing, while statement capes appear on the runways of Dior, Celine and Max Mara.
From capes to scarves, we're sizing up, with square silk scarves scaled to full-body proportions, wrapped around waists and bags and heads, and folded and knotted into garments. As seen in the collections by Off-White, Celine, Michael Kors Collection, Junya Watanabe, Ganni and, of course, Hermès.
Even outerwear is softening, with slouchy trench coats (some featuring the aforementioned cape) taking over from their more structured counterparts. And a further, more playful extension of this desire for softness comes in the form of ballon pants, culottes and bubble skirts: look to Magda Butrym, Balenciaga, Altuzarra and Zimmerman.
Meanwhile, Boho-chic persists. Think jewelled embellishments and textured textiles – velvet, suede and pony hair, ruffles, tiers, fringing and feathers. More slouchy hobo-bags, layered pendant jewellery and lots of silver. Look to brands like Chanel, 16Arlington, Erdem, Chloé, Toteme, Farm Rio, Isabel Marant and Jil Sander.
Prints! While prints never really go out of style, in 2026 we're celebrating all things tropical. Think over sized Hawaiian-style hibiscus prints, bright, contrasting, clashing colours and saturated pastels ready for the beach club – everything you'd pack for a trip to the White Lotus. Look to brands like Celine, Farm Rio, Alémais, and Dries Van Noten.
Speaking of prints, we'll still be reaching for the animal print in its many forms, but PSA, we're adding deer print back into the rotation. Featured by Yves Saint Laurent in 2002 and Issey Miyake in 2003, the caramel and cream colour-way is the perfect pared back alternative to flashy leopard. Channel your inner Bambi and pair it with everything – remember, maximalism is back.
We're drawing from ocean wear too, with surf textiles back on the inspo boards: lycra bodysuits, bonded seams, softly structured scuba and neoprene silhouettes, a la 2010s Australian designers, Josh Goot and Triangl. In fact, founder of Triangl, Erin Deering's latest drop from her new brand, Deering, features pieces that could take you from beach to bar and back again. See also: Loewe, Off-White, Chloé, Rabanne, Jean Paul Gaultier.
On a similar theme, we're seeing more cut-outs; moving toward more architectural and strategic placements, coupled with the use of sheer panels, or more subtle peek-a-boo moments, as well as surprising double hems, layered waist bands, and general states of"undressed" and "undone". See: Schiaparelli, Versace, Saint Laurent, Prada, Roberto Cavalli and Sportmax.
In a bit more of a 'mod' moment, we're excited to see the return of sky-high turtlenecks and funnel neck outerwear. We're coveting looks from Derring, Altuzarra, Róhe, Khaite and Proenza Scholer.
We're also revisiting the roaring 20s some 100 years on with the revival of the drop waist, long pendant necklaces, crystal encrusted brooches, sequins, lace and tassels galore: check out Louis Vuitton, Alaïa, Rick Owens, Balenciaga, Givenchy and Calvin Klein.
Looking back even further but with a very similar heels-up ethos, think Marie Antoinette, both historical and the Sofia Coppola version. Basically: more is more. Panniers, petticoats, and pretty rococo flourishes. Saturated pastels, frills, gloves, brooches, crystal embellishments and jewel-tone satin heels. Look to Christian Dior, Anna Sui, Erdem, Carolina Herrera, Christopher John Rogers and Vaquera.
Speaking of excess, high heels are back, baby. Never fear, the ballet flat is sticking around, but according to The Real Real and Vogue, consumers are inching their way back from kitten heels to stilettos. Better get the Party Feet out!
Domesticity has been given the tick of approval for public consumption, with brands like Miu Miu, Calvin Klein Collection and Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood showing apron inspired garments in their 2026 collections. If you're more invested in comfort dressing, Tom Ford, Dolce & Gabbana and Erdem have given us permission to put the bike shorts and the hoodies down – we're wearing our sleepwear outside. It's a pyjama party, and you're invited. From crystal embellished PJ sets to lush robes, quilted smoking jackets, swathes of bed-sheet like fabric (a la the drapery trend as seen above) and even our slippers – take the bedroom to the streets.
