I know, I know. You’ve only just bought your autumn/winter 2025 essentials, and we’re already talking about spring/summer 2026 trends. Look, I’m with you: if it’s all too much for you, feel free to shelf this advice for a future moment when the sun comes out again and the ice begins to thaw. But, if you really want to be ahead of the curve and dress the way fashion pros do, it’s good practice to keep abreast of the upcoming trends.

S/S26 fashion month just wrapped up last week – at least the “Big 4” fashion capitals of New York, London, Milan and Paris. The fashion industry is set up so that they’re always showing a season ahead, giving buyers and stores enough time to digest the collections, decide what will sell, and place orders for the following season.

Some trends, like the strong, padded shoulders synonymous with ‘80s power dressing, continue to dominate from A/W25. While fashion loves all things new, the most influential style trends are ones that will last a few seasons or even years, evolving over time, as opposed to the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it micro trends that dominate social media.

See our list for the most significant runway trends that are a safe bet to last throughout next year and beyond. Note down these spring/summer 2026 trends and save them for later.

On the fringes

One of the most unmistakable trends on recent runways was the love for all things textured and fringed. This is one of those trends that didn’t just pop up this season: it’s been in the works for a while, not least because of the bohemian trend. But it feels like it really exploded this season, appearing via fibre optic jackets at Bottega Veneta, anemone-like skirts at Loewe and Balenciaga and pom-pom tassel accessories at Calvin Klein. It’s not just fringe, either: the love for texture extends to feathers, too! Stella McCartney presented an innovative, plant-based version at her show.

Not all heroes wear capes…

…but divas do! Old Hollywood glamour has been quite the rising trend in recent seasons, perhaps more so on red carpets than on the runway. The recent fashion shows proved that classic beauty is going nowhere next year, with capes leading the way in dramatic, vintage-inspired style on runways like Alberta Ferretti and Celine. Dior showed an assortment of capes, with Anya Taylor-Joy even wearing a houndstooth version to the show. Another front row guest, Meghan Markle, made headlines when she showed up to the Balenciaga show in a white ensemble with a cape.

A wrinkle in time

Wrinkled fabrics have been popping up on the runways for a couple years now, but perhaps this is the season where they make the jump from high fashion oddity to mainstream trend. Purposefully creased fabrics appeared at Calvin Klein, Boss and Ashley Williams. At Loewe, tops were structured in such a way to emulate wrinkles. At Chanel, this philosophy of imperfection was taken even further with bags which appeared to be crushed and misshapen.

Colour me surprised

Goodbye pastels: bright colours are 100% in. The recent runways offered up an assortment of vibrant hues, but shades that popped up time and time again include: orange, yellow and green. Dries Van Noten, Prada and Alaïa are just a few of the runways that dabbled in these colours. The trend is less about the specific shades and more about using them strategically to give your outfit a pop of vibrance. If you’re brave enough, you can try colour blocking a la Versace.

Look-at-me jewellery

In line with the trend for all things ‘80s, costume jewellery has officially returned as the must-have adornment for next year. Barely-there jewellery won’t cut it: to be on-trend, your accessories must make a statement. At Saint Laurent, giant earrings and necklaces glinted with jewels. Acne Studios showed the kind of earrings your aunt might have worn in the ‘80s, while Area’s metallic creations felt like a futuristic version. August Barron featured nails adorned with brooches, while Julie Kegels featured stick-on jewellery that pictured opulent gems for a fraction of the price. Recession-core, perhaps?