Crazy to think we’re already rounding up the first week of 2026. My last piece was back in November, and since then, my attention has been almost entirely on launching club Goldfoil which, by the way, is finally starting to look like the kind of thing I always imagined. But with a new year comes that familiar anticipation - the feeling that something in fashion is about to shift again. We’re just weeks away from Fashion Weeks kicking off in London, Paris, Milan, and New York, when the industry collectively decides what the rest of us will be wearing, posting, and pretending we discovered first.
Fashion in 2026 feels different already. You can sense the tug-of-war between restraint and indulgence, quiet luxury slowly stepping aside while metallics, sculptural tailoring, and statement accessories fight for attention. Designers are leaning into individuality again, blurring old boundaries between streetwear and couture, sustainability and status. The result? A year that promises both nostalgia and novelty, where the 2026 fashion trends aren’t just about what we’ll buy, but what they say about where we are right now.
We’re also seeing a quiet retreat from oversized silhouettes. Think less baggy denim, sports jackets, and slouchy cashmere co-ords in favour of sharper layering and more deliberate structure. Capes are back. Leather is everywhere. Outfits feel romantic yet restrained, with cut-outs and sculpted fabrics that reveal just enough. It’s fashion’s way of flirting with sensuality again, but doing it with discipline.
Here is what’s in my diary:
Bright hues
Tom Ford (L), Tory Burch (R)
One thing the SS26 collections make clear: colour is back, unapologetically. Yves Klein Blue is everywhere, hot pink refuses to fade (thank you, Barbie), and the spectrum has expanded - bold yellows, acid greens, and punchy purples are seeping into our wardrobes. There’s a playfulness to it all, a nod to ’90s cartoons and early 2000s optimism. After years of muted palettes and monochrome minimalism, it feels like designers are ready to have fun again, and they’re inviting us to do the same.
Dior (L), Loewe (R)
Drapes
Dior (L) Mugler (R)
One thing quietly taking over the runways this season is movement - fabrics that twist, gather, and fall in ways that feel less engineered, more alive. It’s not about structure anymore; it’s about fluidity, clothes that respond to the body rather than contain it. After years of rigid tailoring and oversized fits, this softer approach feels like fashion finally exhaling. At Dior, JW Anderson’s first collection had outfits twisting, bending, and draping in all directions, creating intricate silhouettes that struck a careful balance between shape and bold colour. Draped fluid dresses made it clear: you don’t need a fixed shape to make an impression. Every sway and turn becomes part of the look - less power suit, more power flow.
Band Jacket
Ann Demeulemeester (L), Alexander McQueen (R)
The marching band jacket is officially the jacket of 2026. If that feels like déjà vu, you’re not wrong. I remember 2023, when the H&M × Paco Rabanne collaboration brought this silhouette into the mainstream, with shoppers literally scrapping in the aisles to get their hands on one. Now, we’re seeing the trend emerge on runways at Kenzo, Ann Demeulemeester, McQueen, and beyond.
What I love about this jacket is how much personality it brings to an outfit. You can build a look around a simple tee and trousers, and the jacket still steals the show. Its structured drama, playful detailing, and confident flair make it a piece that doesn’t need much else to shine. In 2026, the marching band jacket isn’t just outerwear - it’s a statement of character.
Surf suits
Loewe (L), Rabanne (R)
The sea is officially coming to land. From the tropical florals at Celine to the scuba-like textures at Loewe, designers are translating ocean energy into summer dressing. It is not just about staying cool in rising temperatures. The focus on technical fabrics, playful layering, and unexpected shapes is what makes this trend feel fresh. At Paco Rabanne, surf suit material was folded into pants, turning functional sportswear into something entirely street-worthy. The result is clothing that looks like it belongs on a boardwalk but works just as well in the city and might even make you want to catch a wave.
Cutouts
Jean Paul Gaultier (L) Jil Sander (R)
Cutouts are back, but 2026 has a new approach. Designers are moving away from random slashes and oversized peek-a-boos, focusing instead on one or two deliberate openings that feel sculptural and purposeful. At Tom Ford, a plunging neckline is paired with a single side cutout, creating a subtle yet striking silhouette. Meanwhile, Jil Sander plays with layering, using strategic openings to reveal an embellished bra or a textured underlayer, turning undergarments into part of the outfit. It’s a clever way to show skin without overdoing it, combining elegance and edge in equal measure.
Capes
Balenciaga (L), Dior (R)
Capes are taking a more elevated turn. This season they cover bare shoulders, swoop dramatically down backs, or simply arrive to complete an outfit with a maximalist, luxe touch. At Jonathan Anderson’s Dior debut, fluid capes were layered over denim mini skirts and jeans, giving structure to casual pieces while keeping the drama intact. Balenciaga’s SS26 lineup reinforced the trend with leather cape coats and sculptural tops, turning an otherwise dramatic silhouette into something wearable and modern. In 2026, a cape isn’t just an extra layer - it’s the piece that transforms a look, adding sophistication, movement, and just the right hint of spectacle.
Leather
Altuzarra (L), Givenchy (R)
Leather is having a moment in Spring 2026, and designers are proving it’s not just for fall. This season, we’re seeing leather in skirts, tops, jackets, and even capes, played in a range of grains and textures that feel tactile and luxurious. Classic black is still present, of course, but it’s joined by deep reds, muted greens, rich browns, and even softer tans, turning the material into a surprisingly versatile spring layer. Leather is being reimagined as both structure and statement, whether it’s a sculpted jacket anchoring a look or a flowing skirt adding weight to airy spring pieces. It’s the kind of material that can read tough or refined depending on how you style it, which is exactly why it’s dominating the runways this season.
