2026 fashion trends: Top style predictions based on the runway
Every year, designers, forecasters, and style insiders make their calls on what’s coming next in fashion. These trends can give you new ways to play with your wardrobe, like experimenting with how your pieces fit or refreshing your old favourites. Some of these trends might stick around for years, others fade quickly, but they all offer a chance to evolve your look. The best way to approach them is with curiosity. Take what sparks joy, ignore what doesn’t, and have fun trying something new. In this article, we’ll run through the trends predicted to shape 2026, explain where they’re coming from, and share how you can make them work in your own wardrobe.
7 fashion predictions for 2026
Fashion forecasts are never a guarantee, but they give us a good sense of what shapes, fabrics, and ideas will filter into the year ahead. Here’s what’s predicted for 2026, plus some tailoring tips to help you make each trend your own.
Go bold with oversized dots on a blazer, dress, or wide-leg trousers
Look classic with black-and-white micro dots or experiment with colour
Add a pokda dot accessory like a scarf, tie, or bag
Try tonal dots in the same colour family for a more refined look
When wearing fun patterns, intention is everything. The difference between chaotic and considered often comes down to fit. A tailored shoulder or defined waist can turn a riot of polka dots into a statement look.ELLE UK [2]
2. Tailoring gets softer and looser
Rigid suits are giving way to what forecasters call “fluid tailoring” in 2026. Expect wrap-front jackets, collarless blazers, and relaxed silhouettes that keep their shape, yet move naturally with the bodyWWD [3] Fashion United’s SS26 report links this shift to the demand for comfort, versatility, and gender-fluid expression. How to wear it:
Choose unstructured blazers, but have them tailored to your proportions
Experiment with wider trousers and longer lines that create a flowy look
Play with light fabrics like linen, silk, and lightweight wool for movement
Balance proportions: pair softer tailoring with crisp shirts or fitted basics
Tailoring is always in fashion, but in 2026, it’s predicted to evolve. If you want to nail this trend, visit your nearest LookSmart to have your favourite pieces tailored for both comfort and polish.Koibird [4]
3. Raw denim and rough edges return
Forecasts for denim point to raw finishes, distressed hems, and textured washes as designers move away from polished perfection. In a world saturated with hyper-edited images and perfect filters, there’s a growing appetite for authenticity and rawness. Industry reports also show denim mills investing in durability and artisanal techniques, giving fabrics more depth and character. On the SS26 runways, visible seams and unfinished edges reinforced this shift, showcasing denim that feels lived-in and authentic.Ottolinger Runway Show Berlin Fashion Week SS26 by Reference Studios at Palais am Funkturm, Berlin on the 2nd Juli 2025.KALTBLUT Magazine [5]How to wear it:
Try raw denim jeans or jackets
Go vintage or let the fabric soften naturally over time
Keep frayed hems intact for a rougher edge, but have the length tailored
Balance the texture with cleaner pieces, like a crisp shirt or blazerLayer denim on denim in different washes to lean into the rugged feel
Raw denim celebrates imperfection, but the fit still matters. A clean hem or adjusted sleeve can make distressed pieces look intentional, not sloppy. Visit your local tailor to get this balance right. PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 25: A guest wears blue ruffled top, jeans, black bag outside Cecilie Bahnsen during Womenswear Spring/Summer 2025 as part of Paris Fashion Week on September 25, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)Marie Claire UK [6]
4. Sustainability continues to trend
Fashion has always moved in cycles, but the need for sustainability isn’t fading. A report from Forbes highlights how more brands are centring collections around repair, resale, and upcycling, moving these practices from the margins to the core of fashion. This shift is being driven by two forces: the urgency of climate change and consumer demand for clothes that last.Trends cycle quickly, but sustainability demands that we step back, rework what we have, tailoring pieces so they still feel new, and invest in items you’ll rely on for years. High fashion proves it can be done. Stella McCartney’s SS26 collection used regenerative fabrics to create a highly desirable line of designer pieces. Stella McCartney [7]How to wear it:
Keep your clothes in rotation longer by repairing, altering, or restyling them
Choose brands that publish how and where they’re reducing their impact
Avoid polyester where you can; it wears out quickly and, as a plastic-based fibre, it sheds microplastics that harm the environment
Use tailoring to update old favourites instead of replacing them
Invest in timeless staples made from quality fabrics
If you don’t love it, don’t throw it out. Bring your clothes into your local LookSmart to give them a new lease on life.FunkyForty [8]
5. Utility details and accessories
Utility is forecast as a major 2026 trend, showing up in both clothes and accessories. Vogue’s Resort 2026 report already flagged it as a core direction, and the looks on the SS26 runway reflected this with pieces built around function. The Glass Magazine [9] The driver for this change is practical. After years of pared-back minimalism and pocketless pants, designers are leaning towards creating items that do more for consumers.How to wear it:
Add one strong piece with a built-in function, like a jacket or trousers with visible pockets or straps
Try accessories that serve a purpose, like pendant wallets, detachable pouches, or belt bags
Balance oversized or pocket-heavy items with simple basics
Keep colours neutral (khaki, navy, black) to let the detailing take centre stage
Utility pieces can easily overwhelm your look if the fit isn’t right. Tailoring the details, like adjusting the length of cargo trousers or refining the cut of a pocketed jacket, can keep the look polished while still delivering on function.Bellroy [10]
6. Personalised clothing goes mainstream
In 2026, fashion is leaning harder into personalisation. Gen-Z (13-28) in particular are pushing forward the trend of ‘chaotic customisation’, where embellishments, patches, charms and reworked layers come together to form a completely unique look.Pinterest [11]Brands are adapting to meet this demand by offering bespoke options or modular pieces that let you mix, match, and tweak as you please. How to wear it:
Change the straps or buttons to refresh favourite bags or jackets
Mix patterns or fabrics in small doses for a touch of individuality
Look for unique pieces in op-shops that you can tailor into something new
People are buying fewer clothes, but they want the ones they do invest in to feel special. This goes hand-in-hand with tailoring, where you can make your clothes one of a kind for your body and style preferences.Jack & Jones [12]
7. Teal, fuchsia, and mint
It’s been more than a decade since teal, fuchsia, and mint had a moment in the early 2010s in the chevron pattern.Who What Wear [13] Now for 2026, it’s back as part of a year of bold colour statements. Forecasts from WGSN and Coloro put what they are calling “transformative teal”, “electric fuchsia”, and “jelly mint” at the core of the 2026 fashion palette, with teal named as the ‘Colour of the Year’.Fashion United [14]How to wear it:
Use mint or lighter tones as accents, like linings, topstitch, or underlayers
Anchor brights with neutrals, like pairing teal with navy or fuchsia with black
If you’ve got teal, fuchsia, or mint pieces stashed away since the early 2010s, now’s the time to take them to a tailor. When trends come back around, now’s the time to refresh your old favourites, rather than buying new. Who What Wear [15]
Top predictions and wardrobe tips
From polka dots to utility details, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of bold statements and practicality. As with all years in fashion, some trends will stick, others will fade, but each one is a chance to evolve your style without starting from scratch.Ready to refresh your wardrobe for 2026? Bring your favourite pieces into your nearest LookSmart and we’ll help you bring them back to life.
FAQs
What are the main fashion trends for 2026?
Key predictions include more polka dots, softer tailoring, raw denim, sustainability, utility details, personalised clothing, and the return of teal, fuchsia, and mint. Designers from London Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week showcased these ideas across womenswear trends and street style looks, with names like Max Mara, Rachel Comey, and Prabal Gurung leading the way.
Do I need to follow every 2026 trend to stay stylish?
Not at all. Fashion design is about personal expression, not ticking off trends. Even creative directors like Adam Lippes, Tory Burch, and Ralph Lauren highlight that the runway is inspiration, not obligation. Choose the trends that resonate with your lifestyle and leave the rest.
How can tailoring help with being on trend?
Tailoring makes any trend wearable. Whether it’s adjusting fit, refreshing older pieces, or updating details, a good tailor helps trends work for your body and style.
Is it better to buy new pieces or adapt what I already have?
Adapting what you already own is often cheaper, more sustainable and leaves you with something more unique. Trends cycle back, and a tailor can make older pieces feel fresh again.
The Garnette Report [1]
How to wear it:
ELLE UK [2]
WWD [3]
Fashion United’s SS26 report links this shift to the demand for comfort, versatility, and gender-fluid expression.
How to wear it:
Koibird [4]
Stella McCartney [7]
How to wear it:
FunkyForty [8]
The Glass Magazine [9]
The driver for this change is practical. After years of pared-back minimalism and pocketless pants, designers are leaning towards creating items that do more for consumers.
How to wear it:
Bellroy [10]
Pinterest [11]
Brands are adapting to meet this demand by offering bespoke options or modular pieces that let you mix, match, and tweak as you please.
How to wear it:
Jack & Jones [12]
Who What Wear [13]
Now for 2026, it’s back as part of a year of bold colour statements. Forecasts from WGSN and Coloro put what they are calling “transformative teal”, “electric fuchsia”, and “jelly mint” at the core of the 2026 fashion palette, with teal named as the ‘Colour of the Year’.
Fashion United [14]
How to wear it:
Who What Wear [15]
