Let’s decode the couture trends!

The Paris haute couture shows have come to a close, wrapping up one of the most exciting weeks on the fashion calendar. While the giant gowns, abstract shapes and heavy headdresses might seem worlds away from the practical clothes we wear every day, I’m here to tell you that these runways actually have a knock-on effect on the rest of fashion.

After all, it was Miranda Priestly’s famous, oft-quoted speech in The Devil Wears Prada that outlined how fashion trends trickle down from the upper echelons of couture to the ready-to-wear runways, and then to the high street. (This ignores the fact that couturiers must get their inspiration from somewhere, too, and sometimes that involves lifting ideas from existing subcultures, the youth, the streets… But I digress.)

In the age of social media, this model has been thrown a bit askew as fashion trends are disseminated by algorithms. Still, the couture runways are a powerful tool for predicting what will trend in the upcoming year. For instance, this time last year, the couture shows were full of corsets, hip pads and other curve-enhancing contraptions. While that didn’t get the general population wearing huge hip pads overnight, we have definitely seen a rise in the trend for corsets. Plus, panniers have been spotted on celebs like Charli XCX.

So, what do the latest batch of couture shows prophesy about fashion in 2026? Below are all the couture trends you need to know.

Art Deco

A big trend on the couture runways this past week was Art Deco style, evoking the 1920s and ’30s. The Valentino show featured many looks that could have been pulled straight from Erté’s illustrations (one of the era’s iconic artists). In fact, there were so many Art Deco references that we had to split them up.

Fringe

Fringe has been popping up on runways over the past year or so, not least because of the popularity of bohemian style. But this feels slightly different: the flowy dresses made of fringe give a nod to the flapper style of the ’20s.

Opera coats

Capes had quite a moment in 2025. Is 2026 the year of the opera coat? This garment reached the peak of its popularity in the ‘20s and ’30s, which is why it feels so decadently vintage. Made of luxurious fabrics and often long and sweeping, these coats are designed to top off opulent dresses for occasions like (you guessed it) the opera.