Top Fashion Trends You Should Know in 2026

“The overarching mood across fashion month for fall/winter ’26 felt polished and expressive, while also making a shift away from the more extreme trends that we’ve seen in previous seasons, towards a more wearable aesthetic,” says Brigitte Chartrand, NET-A-PORTER’s chief buying and merchandising officer. “Slim tailoring and structured silhouettes dominated the runways, balanced by luxurious textures such as velvet, charmeuse, shearling and head-to-toe leather. Color also became more expressive, with chartreuse, deep red and rich purple appearing throughout collections. As expected, statement outerwear was key and we saw lots of nods to the ’80s, with many brands referencing their archive.” Read on for more

Mood: Gothic romance

A darkly romantic, gothic glamour began in London with Erdem, Pauline Dujancourt and Simone Rocha, becoming the thread that stitched the season together. Picture Margot Robbie’s Cathy Earnshaw in Wuthering Heights on a night out in 2026 and you’ll get the mood. In fact, many fashion editors at Simone Rocha’s show lamented that the Irish designer hadn’t been the one to create the costumes for Emerald Fennell’s ultra-stylised revival of the literary classic. Rocha’s gorgeous fall offering was as whimsical and romantic as we’ve come to expect – this time with a side serving of athleisure courtesy of an Adidas Originals collaboration. In Milan, Demna’s Gucci debut signaled his intentions to take the house back to its sensual, Tom Ford-era glory with second-skin silhouettes in an inky palette, filtered through his signature subversive lens. While in Paris, Saint Laurent and Tom Ford co-signed on this trend with latex, lace and evening dresses styled with vampy collars.

Spring/Summer 2026: Key Fashion Trends Predictions

With a combination of predicted data from Heuritech for Spring/Summer 2026, insights from a fashion analyst, and inspiration drawn from SS26 runway shows, we can identify the top 10 forecasted key trends expected to make waves in upcoming seasons.

Heuritech’s approach to trend forecasting

At Heuritech, our trend forecasting methodology harnesses the power of advanced artificial intelligence and data analytics. We utilize state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms to scrutinize extensive visual data from social media platforms. By detecting patterns and shifts in consumer behavior, we deliver real-time insights into emerging trends. Our approach melds the quantitative precision of data science with the qualitative insights of fashion industry experts, ensuring forecasts that are both accurate and actionable. This comprehensive methodology empowers brands to stay ahead of market trends and tailor their strategies to current consumer preferences, fostering innovation and growth in the fashion industry.

Collars! Cuffs! Colours! The Autumn Trends That Are Coming For Your Top Drawer

From back-to-school button ups to knockout knits, these are the 9 autumn updates your ‘jeans-and-a-nice-top’ wardrobe has been crying out for.

Sure, dresses are a fun, but they’re also kind of an outfit in and of themselves. They don’t require too much thought or creativity (which can of course be a huge benefit when you’re not feeling particularly thoughtful or creative). But when you are, you’ll likely want to lean into separates, and having a strong ‘nice top’ wardrobe is the very best place to start.

A perfect peacocking partner to your core wardrobe, the right top can elevate an outfit from slouchy Sunday jeans to date night in mere seconds, or from day-at-the-office to cocktail party in even less. Because, let’s face it, your lower half look can be truly spectacular but if your upper isn’t on point then you won’t be feeling it. It’s what people see when you’re sitting at the table, it’s what catches their eye when they’re talking to you, and crucially, it’s what makes it into every photo taken of you that night. In fact, why do we ever overthink our trousers?

The ‘jeans and a nice top’ trope makes it clear; your top does the talking. And with so much outfit onus on one piece, don’t you think we ought to make it a good one? We’ve done the research and put together the ultimate edit of the hottest trends in tops this autumn, and the very best to shop right now.

 Runway-Approved Autumn Top Trends for 2026

Style notes: If there is one thing the fashion world loves more than a spontaneous Tuesday Champagne lunch or, well, anything Phoebe Philo touches (and, trust me, we love both of those things), it’s a sheer look. Regardless of season they’re everywhere you look, from runways to red carpets and even filling our FYPs, but for autumn 2026 things take a slightly more relaxed turn. Rather than form-fitting silhouettes with sheer panels or slim transparent sleeves, everyone from Miu Miu and Chanel to Prada and Marni are pushing a looser look, with a beautifully embellished sheer layer often thrown over a more opaque, colour block bralette or vest.

Who are the Gen Z consumers?

Born between 1997 and 2012, Generation Z accounts for about 25% of the global population, and their spending power is projected to reach over $12 trillion by 2030. That scale alone makes understanding Gen Z critical.

But the bigger story is how this younger generation shops. More than half have bought directly through social platforms, and younger shoppers are putting nearly half of their apparel budget toward the secondhand market.

Unlike previous generations, Gen Z style is built from a mix of resale finds, trend-driven content, and pop culture references – that’s why Gen Z fashion feels so fluid.

The values behind Gen Z fashion trends

To understand Gen Z fashion trends, you have to look past the clothing – the real engine is mindset. Gen Z grew up with constant access to information, endless fashion inspo, and a feed full of competing aesthetics, so their fashion choices tend to be more intentional than random. 

What looks chaotic from the outside usually makes perfect sense from the inside. Their style is shaped less by old rules and more by identity, values, comfort, and the urge to create a look that feels true.

According to The Business of Fashion, this generation is divided into six personality clusters: forgers, signallers, satellites, rebels, explorers, and idealists. Different labels, same core pattern.

The styling trick: layers upon layers

While Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons gave the most seamless lesson in layering with their Russian doll-esque Prada show – where models took multiple turns on the runway, peeling off a layer each time – Missoni, Rabanne, Bottega Veneta and Marni also proved that sometimes you don’t need to ‘look in the mirror and take one thing off before leaving the house’ (as per Coco Chanel’s famous advice). At Missoni, Alberto Caliri liberally piled on coats, bombers, cardigans and blazers, with scarves and shawls as the cherry on the cake. At her Marni debut, Meryll Rogge gave a masterclass in artfully mixing color, pattern and texture. Julien Dossena made sure the Rabanne woman isn’t getting caught short in the cold – the brand’s polo knits, blouses, camisoles, tea dresses, shearling bombers and colored hosiery all worn at once will ensure she’ll look chic and cozy come fall. Get ready to level up your layering with Loewe’s purple turtleneck and chartreuse sweater, as styled on the runway with a fringed mini skirt, adding extra cool points with Sacai’s biker jacket.

The finishing touch: long glove

This fall, gloves need to be at least elbow length – bonus points for bicep height. At Max Mara, all 45 looks were styled with long suede gloves, while at Sportmax, Balenciaga, Ralph Lauren and Khaite, extravagant gloves served as a key finishing touch to many looks. It’s an accessory that was spotted between shows too with tastemakers wearing theirs with everything from short-sleeved shirts to trench coats, proving how impactful this simple but sophisticated styling trick can be. Make a statement with Anna Sui’s leopard-print gloves or keep things classic with Nour Hammour’s pair in butter-soft burgundy leather.

The new ornate

From patchworked brocades reminiscent of centuries-old tapestries to elaborate embroideries and decorative fringing, there was an abundance of antique and vintage references on the fall/winter ’26 runways. Erdem (who celebrates his 20th anniversary this season) took fragments from past collections, themselves inspired by women throughout history, and pieced each one together to create silhouettes that felt at once nostalgic and inherently modern. Elsewhere, Julian Klausner looked at 16th-century Antwerp and Flemish still life paintings through the lens of teenage discovery and Daniella Kallmeyer explored the beauty to be found in family heirlooms, even referencing a dress handmade by her grandmother. Channelling the mood, Jil Sander’s exquisite floral-jacquard shirt is a chic way to elevate off-duty denim and workwear alike, while Erdem’s crinkled satin midi skirt looks gorgeous paired with a silk-trimmed cami in the evening. Not forgetting Dries Van Noten’s ornate strapless top in contrasting floral jacquard fabrics, which gained instant cult status. Wear it layered over a shirt to work with a slip skirt or pair it with simple cigarette pants for an effortless evening look.

4. Variations of Checked

Checked prints are often associated with Fall/Winter, but seasonal dressing is fading, and for SS26 we can see all kinds of variations of checked patterns growing in visibility. For both men and women in Europe, gingham is forecasted to grow by +17% and +31%, respectively. It has been spotted on everything from swimwear and short-sleeve shirts to boxers.

In the US, it also shows strong growth, with +22% for women and +4% for men.

Other variations of checks, such as Prince of Wales (+19%) and Windowpane checks (+13%) for women in the EU), are also forecasted to grow. These are appearing in styling with layering, midi-length skirts, and thinner fitted jackets.

Slipping into Moccasins

Loafers, boatshoes and moccasins have long been a stable choice for shoes and the past year it has tapped into the Edgy market. Miu Miu made boat loafers among women desirable and the rise of suede and Bohemian references as for example moccasins, have grown steadily over the past year, thanks to Kamali at Chloé and Isabel Marant’s runway influence. During the summer months of 2025, this shoe type grew +40% among women, and its visibility is expected to remain stable in 2026. Among men, it is estimated to grow +7% in the EU and is considered a consistent riser.

Alternative Animal Prints

If leopard print made its mark in 2024–2025, 2026 is set to welcome a new wave of animal-inspired patterns.

Zebra stripes are poised to steal the spotlight, with projected growth of +21% in the EU and +17% in the US for Spring 2026, especially resonating with the 26–35 age group. Dresses will be their canvas of choice, forecasted to rise by +25% across both regions.

The dotted print previously mentioned may also draw inspiration from Dalmatian patterns. Additionally, both snake and crocodile prints are projected to achieve +22% growth in the EU over this period. Finally, among women in the US, Cow Print will be an IT-print with a forecasted growth of +87% during SS26.

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