Catching our breath from the frenzy that is fashion month, we now scale back to see what trends will shape the fashion future. Some previous trends certainly continued on—furs, polka dots, checkered print, and colours like blue and brown were frequently spotted on SS26 runways. This season in general, focused on juxtaposition and contrasts. On one hand, we saw a lot of fun with dramatic gowns, fabrics that fluttered with movement, and plenty of bling. On the other hand, we saw sleek lines and minimalistic pieces that focused solely on fabric and tailoring. And between the two, we captured all the trends that piqued our interest.
Florals for Spring?
Miranda Priestly wouldn’t approve but we can’t ignore the obvious here! Fresh blooms and sunny days mean cheerful clothing, and the runways reflect that. From Kaite’s boss woman to Fendi’s intricate floral lace patterns to Celine’s romantic runway among nature, floral patterns and motifs were everywhere and although not groundbreaking, we totally get why.
Hue of the Season: Pink
From the bold hot pink that we saw at Balenciaga (and even Schiaparelli) to a softer, more pastel-ly hue that embodies spring, we have a feeling that the next colour of the season will be pink.
All in the Eyes
Makeup looks this season were scaled back—all except for the eyes. At Christopher Esber’s SS26 show, we saw a simple base paired with shimmery eyes. Created by Hourglass Cosmetics and celeb makeup artist Filomena Natoli, the ‘Silver Sunset Eyes’ that were featured were soft, diffused, and a harmonious blend of cool and warmth. Whereas Thom Browne brought all the drama with fluttery feather lashes in vibrant colours and matching bright eyeshadow.
Feather Frenzy
Last season it was fur, this season it’s feathers. Models at Bottega Veneta strutted down the runway in feathered tops, Gucci’s “La Famiglia” collection featured plenty of feather-trimmed pieces. Mugler’s SS26 collection featured a feathered top that cinched at the waist and allowed the arms to look like wings, whereas Stella McCartney focused on creating head-to-toe pieces with ethically sourced feathers. The result? Strikingly beautiful pieces that glittered with every movement, adding whimsy and drama with each step.
Seasonal Embellishments
This season predicted a ton of partying. At least that’s what we assume because of all the blingy embellishments. From sequinned detailing in the Fendi Peekaboo to a blue crystal embellished dress with Giorgio Armani’s face on it, the runway was vibrant with sequins, crystals, and beadwork.
Chunky Jewellery FTW
Minimalistic jewellery was truly dead this season. Instead, we got hefty statement earrings at Saint Laurent and Mugler, long, dangly earrings that touched the clavicle at Fendi, classic sculptural pieces adorning the neck at Schiaparelli, bulky bangles at Ferragamo, and a thick, linked choker at Balenciaga.
Power Shoulders
Although romanticism was a prominent feature in many runways, we also saw the boss woman making strides in redefined power shoulders. Saint Laurent was the biggest culprit, with overly exaggerated shoulders that gave each look fierceness and confidence. Whereas Khaite’s power shoulders were on the softer side, with fabric falling in cascading drapes. We also saw strong shoulders in Mugler’s collection in a range of tailored suits that emphasised sharp lines and extreme width.
Drenched in Drapes
Since many runways decided to focus on the concept of fluidity, naturally, drapery became a focus as well. Plenty of Valentino’s evening wear focused on fluid drapes and the same can be said of Roberto Cavalli’s golden collection. Whereas Alaia focused on drapery in the form of tension between clothes and the body. So while we did see asymmetrical draped skirts cascading down, we also saw pulled fabric creating new patterns with movement.
Slouchier Silhouettes
When it came to bags, we are living in “ludicrously capacious” times. In fact, the bags have gotten slouchier, reminiscent of the original Loewe Puzzle bag. At Dior’s SS26 show, we saw a slouchy cannage print make its way on the runway in multiple colourways. And at Celine’s SS26 runway, we saw a softer iteration of its signature Triomphe bag called the Soft Triomphe. Softness, however, doesn’t mean shabby, as the bags remain refined, lending themselves to be more of a “cool girl” style.
Playful Movement
Probably a successor to the bag charm craze, this time, instead of adding charms and bedazzling your own bag, brands are doing it for you with beads, sequins, and fringe. Stella McCartney’s fringes went all across the floor like a wedding veil, while Bottega Veneta integrated its intrecciato weave, creating a sort of leather fringe. Fendi went all out with the Bagutte and Peekaboo, featuring sequins you could peek in, crochet floral that gave off a 3D effect to the bags, and beaded straps and designs that contrast with its supple leather.
Soft and Undone
Romanticism was a common thread linking many runways together. On clothes, we saw it in the form of sheers, on accessories, we saw it in the form of pastel hues, and on hair, we saw it in the form of soft curls slowly coming undone. From Dolce & Gabbana to Louis Vuitton to Dior, even if they were hidden in hats, natural curls, with all their body and texture, were having their moment.
Grounded in Earth Tones
While pastels roamed freely on the runways (it is Spring/Summer after all), another palette emerged in contrast: earth tones. Muted green, pinks, and rustic shades were seen all over Tom Ford, Louis Vuitton, and Giorgio Armani, among others.
Long Statement Pendants
Similar to the trend of chunk jewellery, we also saw statement pendants paired with long chains, almost resembling a lanyard. Seen mainly at shows from New York Fashion Week SS26—Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Tory Burch, and Coach to be specific—some chains had a more practical element to it, attaching small leather goods like pouches and wallets to them.
Glamorous in Gloves
A trend that we’re not sure will take root in the Gulf due to its weather, but we cannot deny that gloves as a chic accessory are back. Mugler gave us flesh-coloured pieces that blended with each outfit whereas Prada opted for scrunched up pairs that were vibrant in colour, contrasting its uniform. And speaking of vibrant, we cannot ignore the hot pink gloves that made their appearance at Balenciaga.
Crazy in Colours
And in between pastels and earthiness was crazy, kaleidoscope-style colours. A big turn from the era of quite luxury, runways like Fendi, Prada, Ferragamo and Versace were all about vibrancy with vivid hues and curated colour blocking.
Bang, Bang, Bangs
Bangs were pretty prevalent among runway hairstyles this season. At Zimmerman, they were long and wispy, cascading over models’ faces. At Dior, they were soft at the edges. At Tom Ford and Mugler, they were on the sharper side, teetering on micro bangs territory. But no matter the designer’s concept, in some way, shape or form, bangs made their appearance.
