21 trends that will shape Spring/Summer 2026

By Léa Zetlaoui.

Published on 31 December 2025. Updated on 15 April 2026.

The key trends of Spring/Summer 2026

Following a memorable Fashion Week, the Spring/Summer 2026 trends signal a return to creativity and exuberance in fashion. Next season, quiet luxury makes room for a refined elegance peppered with a few bold statements.

The sensuality of the 1920s

A time of cultural and artistic effervescence, the Roaring Twenties symbolized renewal. So it is no surprise to see Belle Époque fashion emerge on the runways through sensual, airy silhouettes. At Chanel by Matthieu Blazy and Lanvin by Peter Copping, the collections pay tribute to their founding female designers. The celebration of femininity and soft sensuality is the order of the day.

The exuberance of the 1980s

On a completely different note, the 1980s are all about joy and flamboyance. Sportswear steps into everyday wear at Fendi and Stella McCartney, while bold colors take center stage at Miu Miu and Versace.

Pajamas go daytime

Will the Spring/Summer 2026 season definitively transform pajamas into everyday attire? All signs point to yes, if Louis Vuitton, Schiaparelli, Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann (with matching ensembles), and especially Dolce & Gabbana are any indication. The two Italian designers devoted their entire show to it.

Marie-Antoinette, the eternal muse

Marie-Antoinette continues to inspire fashion, as the historic figure is currently the focus of an exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. At Saint Laurent, Dior by Jonathan Anderson, Erdem, and Simone Rocha, corsets and voluminous skirts, delicate lace and bucolic florals are being reimagined in strikingly modern forms. A certain vision of femininity—tinged with scandal and extravagance.

Neo-bourgeois aesthetic

Goodbye streetwear, androgynous rock and indie sleaze, hello neo-bourgeois… For Spring/Summer 2026, this aesthetic gets rid of its dull rigidity. To be bourgeois and fashionable in 2026, go for an openwork tweed suit like at Chanel, a total GG monogrammed ensemble at Gucci by Demna, or a lace skirt at Prada or Acne Studios.

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A season of revamped classics

On the Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026 runways, a modern twist is given to timeless pieces. Suits, tailoring, trench coats, white shirts, and little black dresses are being revamped by fashion designers.

Suits oscillate between two genders

To mark the start of a new chapter at Chanel, Matthieu Blazy reworks the suit as a tribute to Gabrielle Chanel, one of the first women to borrow pieces from the men’s wardrobe. Blending provocation with modernity, the Franco-Belgian designer even dares to make boxers visible. At Torishéju, one of the 2025 LVMH Prize winners, the suit keeps its masculine side, while exuding an arty nonchalance. Made for women by Yves Saint Laurent in 1966, the tuxedo remains a fashion staple. Balenciaga by Pierpaolo Piccioli and Givenchy by Sarah Burton, both masters of tailoring, offer cropped shirts and jackets that boldly reveal the navel.

The tailored suit gets a rebellious twist

You can’t talk about the return of bourgeois style without mentioning the suit. At Dior, Jonathan Anderson revisits the iconic Bar suit in a 1960s-inspired version – short and sexy. Hermès reinterprets it in leather with almost fetishistic overtones. The subversive duo behind Matières Fécales turn it into a pin-up look in pastel pink satin. Finally, Marie Adam-Leenaerdt draws her oversized shoulders from the 1980s power dressing.

The glamour of the little black dress

Ever since Gabrielle Chanel made it her signature piece in 1926, the iconic little black dress has been a symbol of elegance for over a century. Timeless, of course, but also an endless canvas for creativity, the black dress continues to cast its glamorous, mysterious aura over the Spring/Summer 2026 Fashion Week.

The trench coat takes on a new shape

Designed by Thomas Burberry in 1914 to protect British soldiers, the trench coat has since joined the ranks of timeless classics. That hasn’t stopped designers from revamping it to suit their own vision. Among the most praised looks of the Spring/Summer 2026 Fashion Week is the laser-cut patent leather trench at Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann, exuding femme fatale energy. On a different note, the beige Intrecciato leather trench by Louise Trotter for Bottega Veneta showcases great craftsmanship. And at Courrèges and Calvin Klein, the trench is minimalist.

The white shirt, a fake classic

Just like the trench, the white shirt is a staple piece in constant evolution. At Chanel, Matthieu Blazy entrusted its creation to Charvet, a specialist in custom shirts. The result is impeccably cut shirts, such as the masculine style with an oversized bib front. Acne Studios also embraces the masculine look, championing the short-sleeved version. At the other end of the spectrum at Valentino, Alessandro Michele leans into a nostalgic femininity with transparent white silk shirts with bib fronts. As for Torishéju, the shirt feels sensual and carefree, as if it had been cropped in haste.

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A Spring/Summer 2026 season full of boldness and sensuality

Aside from that, designers are imagining daring and sensual silhouettes for the Spring/Summer 2026 season. Mini-dresses and mini-skirts take center stage, low-rise waists make a comeback, and the bra top enchant us.

The mini skirt seeks redemption

One of the more surprising Spring/Summer 2026 trends? The return of the mini skirt, made famous in the 1960s by Mary Quant and André Courrèges. Its presence on the runways of old fashion houses is even more unexpected. Nevertheless, their designs are being toned down here. A tailcoat-style jacket at Dior, quilted leather at Hermès, and paired with a buttoned shirt at Celine. Burc Akyol offers a couture version adorned with an oversized taffeta bow.

The mini dress gains ground

The mini dress also claims its spot in next summer’s collections, but with a very different take. For their debut collection at Loewe, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez turn it into a playful sculpture. Victoria Beckham trims her designs with feathers. At Burberry, Daniel Lee brings back the crochet mini dress – perfect for dancing at Glastonbury. At Givenchy, Sarah Burton shapes it with romantic black lace. One detail caught the attention: this season’s mini-dress is to be worn with flat shoes.

The comeback of Y2K low-rise cut

Among rising fashion designers, low-rise, and sometimes ultra low-rise pants and skirts are making a comeback. A clear nod to early 2000s style, inseparable from Lee Alexander McQueen, who designed the famous Bumster in the 1990s, a daring, low-rise trouser revealing the lower back. The piece is very much present in Seán McGirr’s collection, now creative director of the house. It also makes an appearance at Dilara Findikoglu, McQueen’s spiritual heir, as well as at The Attico and Meryll Rogge, who pair it with a small bra for an unapologetically revealing look.

The bra steps into the spotlight

It first gained popularity on the Spring/Summer 2024 runways. Now, wearing a bra as a proper top is still a trend. Ralph Lauren offers an ultra-elegant version styled under a crisp white jacket. However, it was at Milan Fashion Week that the look truly left its mark. At Prada, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons gave the bra top an intellectual, sexy twist. Dario Vitale turns it into a piece of jewelry at Versace, while Giorgio Armani‘s design recalls an urban swimsuit top.

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The art of playing with details

When it comes to style, details make all the difference. Think about a knotted sweater, a high collar, an oversized bow, dramatic ruffles, or couture fringes… All of them can elevate any look.

Sweaters become accessories

For the Spring/Summer 2026 season, the sweater sheds its status as a simple garment to become a standalone accessory. Tied over the shoulders at Loewe, it covers the chest. At Bottega Veneta, it adds a casual touch to a tailored suit. Wrapped around the waist at Versace, a red sweater disrupts an otherwise rather polished leather look. At the opposite end, Rachel Schott, new artistic director at Proenza Schouler, chooses to pair it with a dress.

Betting on the high collar

Adding a touch of drama, the high collar lends a mysterious allure to the coats and jackets this spring. Whether it appears on a simple black coat at Alaïa, a leather jacket at Torishéju, a denim parka at Victoria Beckham, or a parachute trench at Saint Laurent.

The bow goes bold

Forget dainty little bows. In 2026, they are going big. As the main character in Sarah Burton’s debut show for Givenchy, the oversized bow appears as a loosely tied shirt front. At Dior, Jonathan Anderson reclaims that signature house detail on mini skirts. Finally, Saint Laurent and Celine wrap it around the neck in order to draw all the attention to the face.

Ruffles are exaggerated

In the same spirit, ruffles are anything but subtle. At Burc Akyol and Loewe, they sculpt the silhouette. Models gracefully walk wearing a river of ruffles on their skirts at Chanel and Ottolinger.

Feathers and fringe go couture

The final look of Matthieu Blazy’s debut Chanel show became viral within minutes. It represents a defining moment of the Spring/Summer 2026 Fashion Week. Wearing a skirt made of feathers in vivid colours by Maison Lemarié, model Awar Odhiang transformed into a bird of paradise. At Balenciaga, Pierpaolo Piccioli revived a technique dear to the house’s founder – attaching feathers upside down to add movement and lightness. At Bottega Veneta, Louise Trotter crafted fringes from fiberglass, creating a surreal effect. Meanwhile, Nicolas Ghesquière opted for beaded fringe for a dreamlike finish at Louis Vuitton.

The colours to bet on

For Spring/Summer 2026, contrast takes centre stage. On one hand, colour palettes turn electric with vibrant tones, in the wake of “dopamine dressing”. On the other hand, there is effortless elegance expressed through shades of beige, cream and brown.

Ultra-bright colours

If our clothes really do have the power to boost our confidence, then colour is undoubtedly their most immediate medium. So for the warmer months, bold, flashy shades are the way to ward off the current gloom. Vibrant orange, carmine red, candy pink and lime green are worn head to toe for an incandescent visual effect.

Beige and nude tones for more sophistication

And for devotees of quiet luxury, beige and nude tones remain ever-present in the Spring/Summer 2026 collections. A sophisticated city dress at Bottega Veneta, a bohemian-chic beach look at Chloé, a second-skin silhouette at Rick Owens, or a sixties allure at Hodakova… The possibilities are endless.