Fashion Trends 2026 are already shaping how we’ll dress for Spring/Summer – from liquid draping and balloon silhouettes to structured cut-outs, soft leather and statement colour.

After analysing the Spring/Summer 2026 runway collections across New York, London, Milan and Paris, one thing is clear: elegance isn’t disappearing, but character is officially back.

This season is less about strict quiet luxury and more about personality – clever layering, architectural tailoring, modern drop waists and bold shades of blue. In this detailed Spring/Summer 2026 trend report, I’m breaking down the biggest fashion trends of 2026 and, more importantly, how I’d actually wear them in real life.

Because trends only matter if they translate into your wardrobe.

I’ve linked a full edit of these 2026 trends on my LTK account, with plenty of shopping options for every style we’re discussing. I also share daily outfit inspiration with direct links there, so feel free to follow if that’s your thing. You can find everything HERE.

This is trend number one for a reason – it’s the umbrella that so many Spring/Summer 2026 collections sit under. It’s draping, yes, but it’s also movement, volume, and that “liquid” feeling where fabric looks like it’s flowing even when you’re standing still. There’s simply more material right now: more folds, more gathering, more sculpting. Designers have been playing with knots at the waist, scrunched skirts, ruched dresses, balloon-like drape, and pieces that blur the line between skirt and trouser.

I loved how Alaïa felt like a masterclass in technique, while Valentino leaned into those side knots that instantly make a silhouette look intentional. Prada brought in that curved, voluminous skirt energy, and you could see drape at Erdem, Jacquemus and Stella McCartney too. The important thing: you don’t need a dramatic runway gown to wear this trend. Look for a draped jersey dress, a ruched top, a skirt with a twist detail, or anything that creates shape without stiffness. It’s one of those trends that already trickled down – so you can do it high-end or high-street without losing the effect.

I know – many of us feel like we’ve already seen enough “balloon everything”. But Spring/Summer 2026 took the bubble hem and pushed it into more interesting territory. It showed up in short versions (think bubble skirts) and longer forms too, like balloon-hem trousers with a slightly harem-like feel. My standout reference point here was Balenciaga – Pierpaolo Piccioli’s first runway show was, for me, incredibly rich, and the balloon dresses were a personal highlight.

What makes this trend work now is proportion. A balloon hem is at its best when the rest of the look is clean – a simple top, sleek shoes, minimal accessories – so the shape is the statement. If you’re not a “big silhouette” person, start small: a bubble mini skirt with a fitted knit, or a subtle balloon midi that doesn’t overwhelm. And if you want to make it feel modern rather than costume-y, keep colour and styling restrained. Let the hem do the talking.

I’ve been saying it for a while: 2026 is going to be the year of character dressing. Quiet luxury isn’t dead – I still love it – but we’re clearly swinging away from “nothingness” and back towards personality. Think one element that makes an outfit feel you: texture, embellishment, fringe, a sculptural silhouette, a bold accessory, even draping itself. Not full circus, not head-to-toe chaos – just a touch that shifts the energy.

Bottega Veneta’s giant voluminous jackets (made from recycled fibreglass!) were a perfect example of how one piece can steal the show. Chanel played with volume too, and I loved the idea of balancing a simple base with one dramatic element – a huge jacket, a low-waisted voluminous skirt, or a heavily textured detail. Ferragamo’s fringes felt rich and elevated rather than flashy, and the craftsmanship at Balenciaga and Givenchy was genuinely exciting – pieces that looked like feathers but were actually specially crafted silk. In real life, I’d translate this trend through accessories: embellished tights, statement gloves, a textured hat, or jewellery that adds presence to a simple suit. The goal is “I know fashion”, not “I’m trying too hard”.

Leather for Spring/Summer sounds counterintuitive until you see how designers did it this season: softer, lighter, more fitted, less heavy or biker-coded. I’ll be honest – leather jackets are on my no-buy list because I already own too many, but these collections made it very tempting. Hermès in particular went all-in: leather bralettes, leather shorts, skirts, trousers – far more leather than we usually see in their spring shows, and it looked incredibly chic.

This is leather in “spring mode”: refined, sleek, and wearable. You can play it subtle – leather gloves, a leather belt, a soft leather top under a suit – or go bolder with leather trousers and a fitted blazer. One look I keep thinking about is stirrup leggings with a belted leather blazer in an hourglass shape; it’s simple, strong, and very 2026. Bonus points if the blazer has a slight eighties cut, because those shapes are creeping back too. If you want to look current without looking like you’re wearing a trend, this is an easy win.

A scarf as a “trend” sounds silly – until you realise it’s not about the scarf, it’s about how it’s used. Spring/Summer 2026 styling treated scarves as clothing: tops, dresses, sarongs, head coverings, belts, shoulder drapes. I’ve seen the triangle scarf tied around the neck all over social media, but the runway takes were even more creative.

Magda Butrym is the queen of the head scarf moment – and it works beautifully with a trench or an elegant dress for that Grace Kelly glamour. Celine showed scarves tied and draped over the shoulder as part of the outfit, not just an accessory thrown on at the end. My favourite real-life way to wear it? As a belt, tied low on the hips over something simple, instantly elevating a basic dress or tailored trousers. It’s a styling trick that looks expensive, costs nothing if you already own scarves, and feels very “I put thought into this”.

Call it a poncho, call it a cape – the point is: we’re adding something over the shoulders again. I saw cape effects built into sweaters and dresses (Magda did a lot of this), and then we had true cape dressing across multiple runways. J.W. Anderson played with pieces that were cape-adjacent – worn over dresses, tops, even like a blazer alternative – and Valentino has always understood cape drama, which makes this trend feel surprisingly timeless.

What I like is how easy it is to recreate without buying something new. You can layer a thin silk cape over a simple dress, or even use a lightweight fabric as a wrap if you want that elegant movement. For colder months, a plaid cape over a classic coat gives that wrapped-up, chic energy – and I’m obsessed with the idea of a cape over a blazer too. I have a Phoebe Philo leather jacket with a detachable cape, and honestly… it’s hot. Leather capes, wool capes, silk capes – it’s effortful, but in a way that makes dressing feel fun again.

Yes, the drop waist is back – and I know some of you will be annoyed. But here’s the key difference: we’re not styling it like we did before. The last time drop waist came around, it often came with crop tops, and that’s not the direction now. This season’s drop waist looks more elegant, more sleek, and genuinely flattering because the styling is grown-up.

I noticed drop waist trousers, skirts and even suits – Balenciaga and Victoria Beckham did it beautifully, and it felt very “this is exactly what she’d wear”. Zimmermann brought it in too, and it showed up even in later collections, which tells me it’s not going away quickly. My favourite example was a yellow drop-waist skirt at Valentino – worn in a way that felt chic and fresh, not forced. If you want to try it, go for a longer top, a softly tailored jacket, or anything that creates a smooth line through the torso. Drop waist works when it feels intentional, not like you’re recreating a 2010s look.

This is not “ripped jeans energy” or random slashes. Peekaboo fashion in 2026 is architectural: purposeful cut-outs, tailored openings, well-placed windows in clothing that feel designed rather than accidental. It’s a peek that’s controlled – and that’s why it looks sophisticated instead of try-hard.

Prada approached it through styling (bras and clever layering), while Jil Sander played with apron-like layers and cut-out moments. Schiaparelli was spectacular here – the cut-out “windows” felt like wearable sculpture. I also saw it across Cavalli, McQueen, Sportmax, Mugler, and Dolce & Gabbana (their cut-outs had a sleepwear-meets-tailoring vibe). What I love most is how it adds character to basic pieces: even a classic tank becomes a statement if it has a structured opening or a design detail down the centre. For an easy translation, pair a simple bodysuit with very low-slung trousers – that silhouette immediately lands you in the 2026 zone.

Layering is huge – and yes, layering for spring/summer can be tricky when you’re in cities that turn into an actual sauna (Milan, I’m looking at you). But the styling on Spring/Summer 2026 runways was heavily layered: aprons, skirt-over-trousers, tops layered over skirts, scarves worn like capes, day-to-night mixing. Prada layered voluminous skirts under tops and jackets, Bottega layered with confidence, Celine layered through scarves and separates, and Dolce & Gabbana mixed pyjama dressing with leather outerwear for a very unexpected result.

The best part? You don’t need to spend a cent to do this trend. It’s styling, not shopping – and I love that. Wear a skirt over trousers, a long lingerie-style top over jeans, a tank over a long sleeve, a scarf tied over the shoulders, belts layered with scarves… it’s creative play. Layering is less about the “right” pieces and more about training your eye to build interesting proportions. If you want one trend that makes your wardrobe feel new, this is it.

To finish, we have colour – and it felt more present than usual across the runways. Red, light pink, and butter yellow are still going strong, but the real headline for Spring/Summer 2026 is blue. I saw blue everywhere: electric, royal, cerulean, teal, navy, turquoise, sky blue – every version you can imagine. Teal seemed especially present (even if I personally have a complicated relationship with it), and there’s something undeniably powerful about a full blue look.

If you’re not into bold colour, navy is your gateway. It can replace black in a really chic way, and I loved seeing designers lean into that shift. Beyond blues, khaki and sage greens were present too, plus a general eighties-like return to stronger colour moments. If you’re a capsule-wardrobe person, you don’t need to suddenly dress like a rainbow – add colour in small ways: a red turtleneck peeking out, red socks with loafers, or swapping a white shirt for a baby pink one. Light pink in particular feels like it’s going to be everywhere this summer, and honestly… I’m not mad about it.

Spring/Summer 2026 fashion trends prove that we are entering a more expressive era – where draped silhouettes, balloon hems, structured peekaboo cuts, layering techniques and soft leather coexist with timeless elegance. The biggest shift isn’t about buying more; it’s about styling smarter and adding character to classic pieces.

If you’re building a wardrobe for 2026, focus on movement, proportion, and intentional details. Try navy instead of black, experiment with layering, rework scarves, or introduce subtle structure through cut-outs or drop waists.

Fashion trends 2026 aren’t about reinventing yourself – they’re about refining your style with sharper choices.

Now I’m curious: which Spring/Summer 2026 trend will you actually wear?

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