And similar to that, the spring/summer time 2026 collections have landed. And what a season it has been! With an unprecedented quantity of latest inventive management (this season has colloquially been known as “the big reshuffle”), it has been certainly one of, if not the, most fun intervals in trend within the decade I’ve labored within the business. A season of grandeur, glamour and a few surprises, from the traits that hit, to those who missed, new equipment, aesthetics and approaches to dressing, there’s little doubt that folks will discuss S/S 26 for years to come back.
Let’s start with management, as a result of we are able to’t speak about S/S 26 with out reflecting on the mass change in design heads throughout the business. With 16 new inventive director titles at main designer homes (and much more at these which can be smaller), there have been quite a lot of eyes on this season. From Jonathan Anderson’s debut at Dior, Louise Trotter at Bottega Veneta and, after all, Matthieu Blazy at Chanel, it could be truthful to say that new leaders could have felt an elevated stress to make a mark, and positively an affect amongst the ocean of latest ready-to-wear collections.
“The wave of new creative leadership is creating real excitement rather than disruption. We’re already seeing strong, confident reactions from clients, especially to Chanel and Dior. Several of the debut (and sophomore) shows have seen us reach record pre-order levels with our VICs (Very Important Clients), which gives us a clear indication of how the wider public will respond once collections launch,” says Simon Longland, Harrods’ director of shopping for for Fashion.
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Whilst many debuts made an affect, critics throughout the business have extensively marked Blazy’s at Chanel because the frontrunner. With a big assortment of round 80 full seems, the hope was that he would bridge the hole between basic Chanel and the wishes of the trendy lady, one thing that the home has struggled with because the demise of earlier inventive director, Karl Lagerfeld, in 2019.
“Blazy’s debut for Chanel was outstanding. He managed to strike the perfect balance between respect for the house’s storied codes and a clear forward-looking vision. It set a powerful tone for the season and signalled a very exciting new chapter for Chanel,” feedback Longland. But for Blazy and Chanel, this assortment was at all times going to be about greater than the garments and the business potential; it was additionally concerning the wider cultural affect. Because as a lot as Chanel’s archive and historical past will endlessly have a mark on trend’s previous, there have been questions as to the place it could be sooner or later. Stylist, podcaster and trend commentator Chani Ra speaks on Chanel’s wider cultural affect, saying that this assortment “will be talked about for decades to come. It felt like something born in a perfect moment. He [Blazy] managed to bring his point of view firmly, while maintaining and respecting everything great about Chanel. Blazy reminded us that you can make something cooler without leaning on minimalism. I can safely say we ALL want to be the new Chanel woman.”
Outside of Chanel, Louise Trotter’s Bottega Veneta was an enormous success. A sequence of tactile textures, joy-inducing shades and some equipment that we already anticipate could have It bag standing by spring, this new-new Bottega was a favorite for trend’s cool ladies, and has exceptional business potential. Anderson’s Dior was a spotlight at Paris Fashion Week. A set that was each wearable and kooky, Anderson’s debut delivered dramatic silhouettes, bows, bar jackets and, unexpectedly, tricorne hats. Adding to this, there have been additional impactful first collections seen at Celine, Loewe, Balenciaga, Maison Margiela and Versace with Dario Vitale (who has already introduced his departure after only one assortment). Gucci gave us a preview of what life with Demna Gvasalia will appear like with La Famiglia, a preview assortment introduced with a lookbook and a star-studded quick movie.
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But exterior of the debut collections, the season was all about drama. It introduced vibrancy and confidence in full power. From Saint Laurent’s spectacle underneath the Eiffel Tower, which delivered conspicuous colors and ‘80s nostalgia, to Chloe’s putting vintage-inspired prints, Givenchy’s textures and Miu Miu’s pointed pinafores, there was a brand new sense of freedom.
“If there’s one unifying psychological thread across the S/S 26 runways, it’s a collective push toward expressive liberation, reclaiming boldness through searing colour or theatrical styling. Dressing with this much intensity becomes a form of aesthetic resilience, projecting vibrancy even when emotions are more complicated beneath the surface. Even when we don’t feel great, we can choose to look bold and vibrant, and that in itself becomes empowering,” says Carolyn Mair, writer of The Psychology of Fashion.
This makes a stark change to the extra minimalist aesthetics and runway traits we’ve seen dominate up to now years. Quiet luxurious feels prefer it is perhaps waning, or a minimum of modifying, right into a extra demure, elegant sense of costume. “The pure ‘quiet luxury era’ is definitely softening. Brands that adopted the look purely as a trend may feel the shift more than those rooted in true craft. For S/S 26, the momentum is moving toward a mix: quieter, refined pieces balanced with bolder statements. The evolution isn’t about abandoning subtlety; it’s about adding contrast and variety back into wardrobes,” says Longland.
But the query is, how will this have an effect on our type DNA in 2026, and what’s going to we need to put money into? Barbara Janeczek, curation supervisor at international trend procuring platform Lyst, says, “Overall, S/S 26’s mood is maximal detail, romantic volume and accessory-led impact,” and as such, “Shoppers will gravitate towards standout pieces to complement and elevate their existing wardrobe.”
Although the season could seem somewhat overwhelming (as Ra aptly summarises, the temper for spring/summer time 2026 is “Information overload!” including, “I still don’t think I’m all the way caught up!”). This sense of change and confidence is thrilling and bodes nicely for an business that has struggled in recent times. It’s a season for hope, experimentation and defining identities, and what’s extra thrilling than that?
Here, after a lot analysis and picture fatigue, I’ve compiled 16 of the important thing traits to know and sought insights from my colleagues at Who What Wear UK, in addition to different business consultants. Strap in!
16 Spring/Summer 2026 Trends to Know
1. Fringe Fancy
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Like florals in spring, when a fringe development emerges, it’s hardly groundbreaking. But what’s thrilling is once we see iterations that veer into new territory. Whilst the spring runways supplied extra conventional iterations of fringe—Burberry with its festival-fused cerulean suede jacket, and tassel trims on a silky striped kaftan at Ferragamo, for instance—we additionally observed extra fanciful fringing. Longland feedback on this mixture of modernity blended with old-world fringe particulars, “For S/S 26, we’re seeing both Art Deco–inspired fringes and a more bohemian, free-flowing interpretation. But we are seeing that designers are reclaiming it in a more directional, contemporary way—it’s decorative but also architectural.”
Frayed tweed hemlines at Matthieu Blazy’s debut at Chanel made a distinction to the formal and refined status we normally attribute to a basic tweed go well with, and beaded fringe at Alaia, Loewe and Nanushka felt contemporary, too. We merely can’t focus on fringing with out making point out of Trotter’s debut at Bottega Veneta.
“The runway moment that replays in my mind on constant repeat is the swish of that Bottega skirt. As a first introduction to Louise Trotter’s interpretation of the brand, it was certainly impactful,” says Who What Wear UK’s shopping editor, Florrie Alexander. “Quickly, a clear consensus was formed by designers that this spring, movement and texture will come together in the form of fringe. The brilliance of this tactile revival is the variety of ways in which it has returned. Recycled fibre-glass shards were paired with sharp shirts at Bottega, whilst Chanel applied this playful trim to polished suiting. For Lanvin, the entire bodice of a dress was formed by weaving these tassels around and through, finishing with a dancing hemline of fringe at the end. If you adore a touch of drama, this is a trend you’ll want to embrace.”
2. Pirate Cosplay
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There are many theories as to why pirate influences are at the moment coming to the fore. Mostly related to the seventeenth and 18th centuries, alongside the pirate boots, bandanas and tricornes, this development encompasses navy influences and different relics from the ocean. We’re all now absolutely conscious of the upcoming comeback of the Napoleon jacket as a part of the Indie Sleaze resurgence, which inserts into this. But while some could also be pondering of the Libertines and Kate Moss peak Topshop period, others are contemplating the romance and whimsy pirate cosplay brings.“An homage to the Golden Age of Piracy, luxury houses such as Christian Dior, Khaite, and Chloé showcased vintage lace, ruffles, tricorn hats, and layered clothing that skillfully play on the buccaneer aesthetic, all whilst maintaining a monochrome and pared-back colour palette. The result is a collection of romantically-inspired clothes that feel a little bit more ‘2026’ and much less like something straight out of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean,’ says Brittany Davy, Who What Wear UK’s editorial assistant.
Despite appearing on the runways only a couple of months ago, it’s already having an impact ahead of the collections becoming available, with slouchy boots demand +22%, ruffled blouses +8% and Ghillie (lace-up) shoes +77%, according to Lyst. “‘Piratecore’ is shaping up to be one of 2026’s most resonant trends. From Dior’s romantic blouses and structural ‘pirate’ hats to McQueen’s tall slouch boots and lace-up necklines, we’re seeing a return to soft drama through movement-rich pieces,” feedback Barbara Janeczek, Curation Manager at Lyst.
It’s surprisingly wearable too, says Davy. “As someone who lives in neutrals and usually refuses to inject bold colour into my wardrobe, I turn to other aspects to add interest to my outfits, and the Pirate revival that we saw on the spring/summer 2026 runway is by far the most compelling use of texture and detailing that I’ve seen so far.”
3. High Society
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Whilst the overall temper has cemented in certainly one of drama, extravagance and never holding again, these designs sit alongside some extra demure dressing codes, too. “The quiet luxury trend has dominated the last few years, but the honest truth is that I personally found it a little boring, even for a minimalist like myself. Luckily, the spring/summer 2026 runway has provided us with an aesthetic that’s just as elegant, but slightly more elevated than the expensive-looking basics that took over throughout our quiet luxury phase,” notes Who What Wear UK’s editorial assistant, Brittany Davy. Whilst the connotations of quiet luxury being wealth whispering and old money have not dissipated, Davy notes that they have shifted. “Designers such as Chanel, Tory Burch and Baum und Pferdgarten swapped out more simple neutrals for baby blues, pops or red and sage greens that look just as modern as they do timeless (and also don’t feel too out-there for a simple dresser like me). That, paired with classic prints such as checks and pinstripes, along with a mix of boxy and waisted silhouettes, creates a staple style with a twist that I just can’t get enough of.”
For some designers like Ralph Lauren, Chanel and Mugler, this preppy, ‘high society’ style of dressing came with tailoring—skirt suits at Sandy Liang, Mugler and Thom Browne and trouser two-pieces (as well as tweed, obviously) at Chanel. But for others, it was showcased more in the details. Ties at Ralph Lauren, pussy-bow collars at Valentino and brooches at Tory Burch. Overall, the message is clear: this is not a season so much built in grunge and defiance, as it is opulence and refinement.
4. Puff Skirts
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In a season making an attempt to ‘bring the drama,’ maybe nothing makes extra of an affect than the exaggerated silhouettes seen on the waists and hips of fashions at Mithridate, Simone, Dior and Keburia and extra this season. After seasons of smooth silhouettes and skirts of various lengths, this time the runways signified not a change in size, color or material, however in width and quantity.
“Every season, there is a skirt trend that dominates. For spring/summer 2026, it was all about the knee-length silhouette, seen everywhere from Gucci to Toga, but this season, it’s something altogether more playful: puff skirts. Spun from frothy tulle, feather-light organza and luxurious taffeta, and delivered in ice-cream shades that honestly look good enough to eat, spring/summer’s biggest skirt trend is sculptural, joyful and surprisingly wearable,” says Poppy Nash, managing editor at Who What Wear UK.
Ranging in numerous lengths, from minis to midis, drop-waist and people which can be excessive, these bubble hemlines and opulent materials that sit above birdcage petticoats really feel enjoyable and admittedly, fabulous. But earlier than the ‘ludicrously capacious’ references start, questioning the wearability of stated silhouettes, Nash notes that these playful and puffy items are surprisingly straightforward to type: “I’ll be pairing my pouf of choice (I’m thinking a pastel mini like those seen at Mithridate and Dior, or a sheer floral midi-style like those at Simone Rocha) with a simple jumper or a neutral blazer to balance proportions and, most importantly, make it work hard in my wardrobe throughout the season ahead.”
5. Real Hosewives
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Domesticity and the subject of ‘tradwives’ has been a prevalent conversation in pop culture and style for a little while, and this season it has filtered onto the runways, with a series of pinafore styles, aprons and babydoll dresses with ‘60s floral motifs. “The archetype of the wife has walked away from the aisle and straight onto the mood boards of the designer set. From mob wives, a Carmela Soprano type wearing leopard print coats and married to a less-than-salubrious mafia boss, to trad-wives à la Nara Smith in her over-the-top ball gowns while she confines herself to the kitchen to make food for her family “from scratch,” this ideal has never been more pressing,” Says Ava Gilchrist, Who What Wear UK’s SEO writer.
Reminder: this is not the first time designers have toyed with aprons. The Row, Dior and Phoebe Philo have also put forward bib-like silhouettes in recent seasons, but never so overtly as Miu Miu did in its latest spring collection. Alas, we can always rely on Miuccia Prada to hold a mirror up to the contradictions we currently live in. Gilchrist explains that when we look deeper, this reflection is less about a trapped ‘60s housewife and more about working women.
“In 2025, the glitz and glamour of these married and well-heeled women has been shed back to something more authentic. The most apparent show of this was during Miu Miu’s spring/summer time 2026 assortment, the place Miuccia Prada took inspiration from feminine manufacturing facility employees as depicted in a 1984 images ebook titled “Women Who Work”. Closer to house in London, Ashley Williams and Mithridate additionally toyed with these showcases of domesticity and labour by presenting modish pinafores and draped attire that evoke the essence of a uniform. These are items that really feel utilitarian and traditionally deeply undesirable, because of their connotations with business and the workforce. But on this new setting, they redefine what it means to carry out a job as a girl. I personally can’t consider something extra “real” than that.”
6. Sports Club
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At a fast look, one would possibly assume that this appears like nothing new. Fashion has lengthy drawn inspiration from the sports activities discipline, particularly these sports activities that really feel rooted within the preppy tradition of the higher class. From equestrian sports activities like horse driving and polo within the ‘80s and ‘90s, to athleisure some 5 years ago, as well as even ‘block core’ aesthetics that commemorate soccer tradition and workforce kits just some summers (and a World Cup) in the past, workforce sports activities have continually dipped out and in of favour over the many years. This time, it feels much less gimmicky and extra nuanced and, as such, extra wearable. Like a lot of fashion proper now, there are parallels to the mid-2000s and 2010s period. Think striped rugby shirts and polo shirts layered underneath V-neck jumpers. Where throughout this period it had extra of a post-Brit-pop, mod vibe, this time it feels laid-back, relaxed and vibrant.
“Preppy fashion may be back in rotation, but it’s the quieter, lesser-known sub-genre of preppy sport which will be shaping the mood in 2026. Chalk it up to the Miu Miu effect from the spring runways last year. The collection glamourised rugby tops, fitted polos and languid V-necks. Since then, it feels there has been a divisive zeitgeist shift away from sports style with a streetwear undertone, and instead a move towards a more laissez-faire, preppy sport influence,” says Imani-Nia Francis-Tsolaki, Who What Wear UK’s junior trend editor.
“One year on, the spring/summer 2026 runways prove that this wasn’t just a passing micro-trend. Reminiscent of slouchy jumpers that made the rounds in your PE kit at secondary school, Mithridate’s moss-green and navy striped polos were layered over your dad’s favourite blue shirt, whilst Loewe sent bright red V-necks casually shrugged over butter-yellow button-downs. From here, the mood is clear: designers are championing a new uniform in 2026, one built on slouch, ease and a hint of undone nonchalance.”
7. Hand in Glove
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Whilst we could anticipate gloves on the autumn/winter runways, you’d be forgiven for not anticipating to see so many for these in spring. But what’s the spring/summer time 2026 season, if not shocking! From opera gloves (which, in line with Lyst, have already seen a +11% surge in demand), to shorter types in an array of materials, one may see the rise in curiosity in spring gloves as an attainable luxurious accent.
“Spring gloves are another early SS26 signal with strong commercial potential. Prada’s sleek leather gloves, sheer styles from Mugler and elongated silhouettes from The Row and Gucci have already prompted an uplift in searches as shoppers lean into small, expressive accessories that feel attainable,” in line with Janeczek.
But how have been gloves introduced for this upcoming season? Who What Wear UK’s trend editor, Sophie Watson, notes the number of types as being most intriguing. “We took note of full-length leather, mesh, lace, sequinned, silk-satin and even half-palm gloves in a number of runway looks, in ensembles built for daytime, driving and evening, showing just how versatile this accessory is for not only keeping your digits warm, protected from the elements and suitably styled for more dressier occasions. Black gloves were the front-runner style, but pastels, metallics, and punchy bright tones were not far behind. We have had so many accessories trends take the fashion world by storm in recent seasons, from statement hosiery, bag charms, silk scarves and OTT eyewear, so I can see gloves becoming the new It-item that people with good taste will adopt for SS26. Mark my words!”
8. Rococo Revival
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It’s no secret that trend traits usually replicate tradition, so the rococo revival ought to actually come as no shock to us. With the V&A museum in London exhibiting the Academy Award-winning costumes from the much-loved Sofia Coppola Marie Antoinette movie, we may have predicted that this season designers would search affect from historic types from late 18th century France. What’s extra, is that after years of pared-back quiet luxurious, in addition to the brashness of the Y2K motion, the runways are reflecting a thirst for refinement, grace and appeal. Max Mara particularly referred to as out Madame De Pompadour as a core affect on its assortment. Although nonetheless in keeping with the model’s basic and infrequently impartial DNA, inventive director Ian Griffiths created ethereal particulars with delicate floral prints painted onto layers of sentimental organza.
“Rococo’s flirtatious allure swept through the Spring/Summer 2026 runways, as designers scattered 17th-century silhouettes, motifs and colour palettes across their collections. At Erdem, the trend unfolded in sinuous corsetry, chin-grazing, frill-trimmed necklines and delicate lace. Elsewhere, labels such as Findikoglu and Yuhan Wang leaned into the era’s powdery pastels, weaving them through airy fabrics and languid draping. Hemlines ballooned and curved, while lace, florals and metallic sheens injected a sumptuous energy into the collection,” says Natalie Munro, Who What Wear UK’s information author.
“Though fashion’s heavyweights—John Galliano, Jean Paul Gaultier and Vivienne Westwood among them—have long mined Rococo for inspiration, recent years’ devotion to ’90s minimalism temporarily pushed the trend’s exuberance out of frame. Now, as designers show renewed appetite for whimsy and ornamentation, Rococo is resurfacing with fresh relevance, answering our collective craving for a little more opulence, fantasy and everyday extravagance,” Munro provides.
9. Underwear as Outerwear
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Underwear as outerwear, because the title suggests, particulars the overt presence of lingerie, crop tops and shorter-than-short shorts for subsequent spring. There’s no query that that is one development that when making a return at all times sparks dialog and divisiveness amongst trend critics, with many this season commenting that it might be seen as a regression to the business’s usually sizeist status. Some others nevertheless, remarked that this might be seen as a celebration and liberation of girls’s our bodies.
As Ava Gilchrist, Who What Wear UK’s search engine optimisation author remarks, “naked dressing has always been one of the more polarising segments of fashion. Designers again pushed against these tropes of exhibition and conservatism by presenting bralettes and briefs as effortlessly as they would a pair of trousers or a brilliant coat. It’s no longer shocking to bare all and reveal a glint of skin, but the underwear as outerwear trend is more than just putting yourself on display. It’s about redefining the convention of when and where you can wear specific pieces of clothing.” Its recognition particularly on the spring/summer time 2026 runways made it unimaginable to disregard. Bralettes have been the frequent denominator, the place Prada and Jil Sander selected to reveal these as a backside layer under pinafores and low-scooped attire, others akin to Simone Rocha and Fendi styled them under a cardigan.
Versace, Patrick and Keburia went extra embellished, and had them worn solo as extra of a press release piece.“Fendi, an Italian maison renowned for its subversive knitwear, presented micro shorts rendered in a silky argyle weave. Simone Rocha toyed with the constructs of comfort and femininity with sumptuous ditsy floral print cardigans offset by sequin strapless bandeaus. Danish wunderkind Nicklas Skovgaard took it one step further by presenting looks that had models in various states of undress, as seen in the look featuring a chartreuse tulle trim pencil skirt set against a white t-shirt bra. Was this a conscious act of stripping garments back to their most rudimentary state, or something that further challenged the notion of pieces that must be hidden and ones that can be shown?,” questions Gilchrist.
It would possibly really feel unusual, and most undoubtedly somewhat ironic, to have an inventory that particulars the comeback of bare dressing and BDSM-inspired items alongside preppy classicism and high-society dressing that we affiliate with conservatism. But hey, what’s trend if not divisive, controversial and at instances, hypocritical?
10. Send within the Clowns
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Sometimes trend feels anticipated, and typically it throws us a curveball. From jumbo polka dots and haute harlequin checks at Khaite and Dries van Noten, to thick stripes and ruffle necks from Valentino and Jacquemus, it appears for spring/summer time 2026, we’re being taken to the joyous, theatrical splendor of the circus.
“In 2025, we’ve seen prints of all iterations hit the mainstream. From leopard print to micro polka dots, we’ve flirted with what we could consider the ‘new neutrals’ already, but perhaps nothing would have prepared us for the costume-esque styling for spring. With maximalist dotted fringed waistcoat to colourful checks, it’s clear that 2026 is set to be filled with fearless textures and playful finishes, rejecting the beige normcore safety nets of seasons past,” says Imani-Nia Francis-Tsolaki, Who What Wear UK’s junior trend editor.
But Mair suggests this displays a deeper that means. “Clown-coded references signal fun, performance and humour. However, historically, clowning has been about hiding the true emotional state behind exaggerated expressions. Designers may be tapping into the modern tension between polished outward personas and internal anxieties,” she explains. “This is also reflected in the harlequin pattern which is inherently about duality, psychologically speaking, our ability to hold conflicting emotions simultaneously e.g., joy with melancholy, confidence with uncertainty, boldness with vulnerability. Designers leaning into this motif may be responding to people wanting a wardrobe that mirrors the complexity of their internal lives.”
11. Primary Tones
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Another development making a powerful case for color and pleasure within the spring/summer time 2026 collections, is using daring, major tones. Usually we affiliate spring with pastels—delicate and comfortable tones that really feel fairly, pale and at instances, saccharine. But not this season! This concept of inventive heads eager to ‘make an impact’ happens as soon as once more, with a extra ‘back to basics’ strategy to color. Think letterbox purple, Kelly inexperienced, cobalt blue and even canary yellow at huge hitters like Loewe, Lanvin and Versace.
As beforehand famous, the quiet luxurious period appears like it could be coming to a quiet finish. Although, after all, neutrals will at all times be basic, a interval that celebrates boldness and self-expression is at all times welcomed with open arms. “SS26 proved that the biggest takeaway from this trend is that colour is for storytelling. If you compare Givenchy and Versace, Tom Ford and Loewe, the colour palettes may overlap but the looks are completely in their own lanes. It’s a perfect trend because you can partake without looking like everybody else. I wouldn’t even call it a trend, colour is a tool!,” says Ra. Be it with sportier silhouettes and fabrications at Akris and Skovgaard (a class long-associated with a muted or monochromatic palette), or tailoring and leather-based at Versace and Loewe, largely this development focuses on unfussy items, letting the color do the work.
12. ’80s Nostalgia
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You don’t have to be a trend critic to know types from earlier many years have a tendency to come back again round. This season it’s the ‘80s, however not as we’ve usually seen it beforehand. This time it was greater than shoulder pad-clad energy fits that allude to enviable cinematic costumes like these seen in The Firm and Working Girl, it contains vibrant color palettes, equipment and motifs.
“We’ve lived through the resurgence of ‘90s and ’00s dressing (hello low-rise jeans, baguette bags and windbreakers), but for spring/summer 2026, the ‘80s return with a more relaxed focus as designers like Saint Laurent, Versace and Chloé revisit and revamp the decade’s maximalist silhouettes, colours and prints. On the runways, cropped floral tops with bright, slim trousers, structured printed blouses worn with jewel-toned knee-length skirts, and defined—but not exaggerated—shoulders highlighted a renewed interest in ‘80s proportion and statement pieces, all approached in a much more controlled (read: elegant) way. The result is a quieter version of ‘80s power dressing: confident, streamlined and aligned with the practicality and ease expected of a 2026 wardrobe. This is not the ‘80s your parents lived through (thank god): it’s polished, modern and makes a statement without being excessive or loud,” says Nash.
Pinterest has introduced its traits for 2026, and defines ’80s maximalism as certainly one of their core trend traits, with searches on its web site for “80s luxury” up 225%, and “baggy suit” up 90%, it appears we are going to quickly be switching our low-key items for extra stand-out types.
13. Touch-Me Textures
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Whilst moments of opulence and frivolity have had some presence through the years on the runways, there has lengthy been a interval of restraint, or least a utilitarian strategy to type with tailoring, impartial color palettes and purposeful materials which have dominated for the final decade. So the hit of luxurious textures, color and dimension in spring/summer time 2026—which maybe arrived on account of a stress felt by new inventive leaders to make an affect—actually quenched a thirst we didn’t even know we had.
“Texture took centre stage, becoming one of the most compelling ways designers add depth, drama and proportion to otherwise pared-back silhouettes. At Balenciaga, texture appeared everywhere—from mint-green cocktail dresses trimmed with feathers to sculptural skirt silhouettes. Over at Bottega Veneta, Trotter pushed the theme further, presenting elegant outerwear embellished with feathers, bouclé dresses with a uniquely tactile finish, and even the house’s now-iconic fibreglass “fur” coats, which reimagined conventional texture by means of a contemporary, progressive lens. The result’s a season the place contact is as vital as sight, and the place garments really feel alive with motion, tactility and sudden element, notes Who What Wear UK senior procuring editor, Marina Avraam.
Feathers have been additionally used at Blazy’s Chanel and Demna Gvasalia’s tease preview of what’s in retailer for his debut at Gucci—lining kaftan hemlines and layered in a number of hues throughout dramatic separates. Mugler used feathers in a extra literal sense, showcasing a prime with a excessive neck and wing-like arms, fully coated and thoroughly positioned in flat formation, emulating the physique of a hen. Looking in any respect this, I can’t assist however contemplate what Gilchrist notes in her current Who What Wear UK winter situation function on the artwork of dressing up, the place she questions why we’ve turn out to be afraid to put on our most frothy and downright fabulous items day by day. In this, she notes a transfer in direction of injecting this opulence and texture to extra wearable items within the spring collections. “Whatever happened to fun? To getting dressed up for the sake of it? To throwing caution to the wind? To capturing every second instead of waiting for the right occasion to wear what we treasure most?” Could we see the spring/summer time 2025 collections as a direct response to this? I feel so!
ASOS DESIGN
Asos Design 3d Fringe Pencil Midi Skirt in Blue
14. Sex Appeal
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Between the pinafores at Miu Miu and the conservative cosplay displayed within the aforementioned ‘high society’ development, one would assume we’re in for a season of full protection and a stiff higher lip. But assume once more! From leather-based, lace and sheer materials to corsetry and a sultry color palette of black and purple, intercourse is formally again on the menu.
“While trends shift with the times, one truth has always held steady: sex sells. The spring/summer 2026 runways indulged in this knowledge as designers looked to sensual silhouettes to form defining pillars of their collections. At Ferragamo and Hermès, skin-hugging leather sculpted the body, while Alexander McQueen and Mugler used corset-inspired forms to exaggerate the form. Elsewhere, sheer fabrics left little to the imagination. This season’s high-octane sensuality felt deliberately provocative—a clear nod to fashion’s long-running affair with allure, reaffirming a marketing truth the industry knows all too well,” suggests Munro.
Perhaps this show at McQueen, Mugler and Dilara Findakoglu is considerably on-brand and to be anticipated, however it felt refreshing to see it additionally come by means of at Hermes and Maximilian Davis’ Ferragamo with leather-based bodices and vinyl two-pieces. Whilst John Paul Gaultier’s questionable (and controversial) spring assortment had very literal nude motifs, different designers felt much less smutty, extra celebratory of kind and freedom—and I’ll cheers to that.
15. Lovely Layers
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One of the extra accessible traits of the season, which may extra be seen as a styling hack, is layering. By this, we don’t simply imply base layers positioned under a sweater, then a jacket, in a standard sense, however utilizing clashing colors or collars of various sizes to make a delicate assertion. Think a number of shirts as seen at Loewe and Thom Browne, or a purple roll-neck positioned because the ‘pop of colour’ underneath darkish and impartial knitwear.
“For 2025, “layers on layers” turned certainly one of trend’s most expressive styling shifts, turning sensible winter dressing right into a purposeful, playful assertion. On the runways, designers embraced piling items in sudden methods: at Celine, cardigans have been worn over brilliant purple roll-necks; at Loewe, daring yellow knits have been stacked over crisp purple shirts; and at Miu Miu, layering turned nearly sculptural, with shirts over jumpers, outerwear on prime, and even aprons added as a last flourish. The total message is evident: this season, layering isn’t nearly heat, it’s about persona, distinction and artistic styling,” says Avraam.
16. Chartreuse Green
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Whilst major tones have been a significant participant throughout the Paris, Milan and Copenhagen runways, there have been after all different tones that we observed one present after one other. Pink, as ever in spring, was fashionable, particularly in London and New York with designers that wish to discover themes of hyperfeminity inside their collections and core DNA. Simone Rocha, Ashley Williams, Sandy Liang and Erdem all showcased items in child, blush and bubblegum pinks, which frankly got here as no shock. Whilst pink could have felt anticipated, the limey, citric shade paying homage to the liqueur Chartreuse, was not.
“Chartreuse is one of the most psychologically arresting colours, sitting between yellow and green. It signals alertness, acidity and vivaciousness. Green is traditionally tied to growth and renewal, but the yellow infusion turns it into something far sharper, more alive and attention-grabbing. The acidic undertone is optimistic and full of energy, signalling enthusiasm for making change happen,” explains Mair.
What we’ve already famous to be true is that this season is one for change, experimentation and to anticipate the sudden. Be it with offered materials like satin and leather-based seen at Erdem and Simone Rocha, Ferragamo and Mugler, to extra sheer shades at Saint Laurent, Valentino, Burberry and Issey Miyake, what’s fascinating is that this zesty hue was used for primarily monochromatic seems, the place designers selected to drench from head to toe, once more including huge affect and drama. As Alexander, suggests, “few colors have as a lot affect on the style panorama as inexperienced. From Kelly to Bottega, this specific shade has a reinvention each few years, and when it does it all of the sudden takes over all the pieces. For 2026, it is Chartreuse’s flip to brighten up the on a regular basis, from rejuvenating basic outerwear at Balenciaga to igniting eveningwear at Saint Laurent.”
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