2026 Fashion Trends
By Lola Rauh and Dalma Schnaider
In 2026, we believe we will continue to see a return to the 90’s and 2000’s, and an emphasis on minimalist dress with unique accessories or a pop of color. We hope the following pieces can be used as inspiration for anyone looking to add an intriguing touch to their outfit.
Many say that skinny jeans will make a comeback. We believe it will be mostly styled without the bottom of the jeans showing, instead tucked into biker boots, cowboy boots, Uggs, or any knee-high boots. In an outfit with a vintage look or a flowy top much like those worn casually in the 2000s - take the above picture as a reference!
Whether it be over a dress or paired with some low-rise jeans, a belt is the perfect pop of colour or texture of any outfit. We predict that thick and unique belts will appear more frequently in day-to-day outfits, as well as runway looks. When we think of a unique belt, we imagine a vintage buckle, a contrasting color, or a metallic texture.
Bandanas are a very versatile accessory that can be worn in a myriad of ways. In 2026, we can see them tied over a skirt, as an alternative to a belt on a pair of jeans, a classic 60’s look in the hair styling, or finally tied to the strap of a handbag. These can create once again, a pop of colour or pattern, which ties into the general idea of many of the pieces we will be talking about in this article.
Another accessory we envision as gaining more emphasis this year is statement jewellery. A gemstone necklace, cocktail ring or a cuff bangle can visibly express your personality and add boldness to your look with colour and texture. They can be found at thrift stores, markets, or clothing stores.
Every year, an animal print comes back in style, and in 2026 we think this will be the zebra print. This pattern was first popular during the 1980s when high-contrast maximalism was trendy especially within the glam-rock and punk subcultures. The zebra print surged to popularity in the 2000s as a statement pattern, and with the recent revival of many 2000s trends, the zebra print could make a comeback this year too.
Fringe is also a historical feature of clothing seen popularly in flapper dresses of the 1920s and later in the 1950s when the famous musician Elvis Presely wore it. It’s important to note that many pieces such as jackets with fringe on the bottom of the sleeve were originally worn by many Native Americans, to absorb rainwater and were co-opted as a fashion trend by bohemian and hippy communities as a fashion statement. Other famous musicians such as Jimi Hendrix and designers such as Jean Paul Gautier used fringe in their looks, showing how this clothing element has inspired many and stood the test of time. As many are now longing for the “better days” of the past, it’s highly likely that the iconic fringe will come back into play.
Lace headbands can serve as a piece of contrast, such as black lace with blonde hair, or white lace with brown hair. However, we want to emphasize the use of accessories as a pop of color in an otherwise neutral outfit by suggesting the use of vibrant colored headbands to animate an outfit – see the colors below as reference.
It was soft neutrals and earthy tones that dominated colour trends in past years in search of minimalism and ‘quiet luxury’, however fashion is starting to experiment with vivid, expressive colours again to channel optimism, creativity, and confidence. Below are a few hues and color combinations we compiled that could be seen more frequently in this year’s looks.
