Faced with a year of uncertainty and cultural destruction, fashion in 2025 felt uninspired. Business casual uniforms, clean-girl beauty, and Labubus reflected a period of creative doom rather than progression.
In response, 2026 signals a push to reset. Influenced by cultural phenomena like Heated Rivalry, K-Pop Demon Hunters, and The Summer I Turned Pretty, fashion is shifting toward emotion, fantasy, and self-expression. These shifts point to a year shaped by the female gaze and the recognition of it, setting the foundation for trends rooted in romance, drama, and narrative.
The Fashion Intern:
A more realistic take on the “Office Siren,” blending 2011 New York fashion with 2026 beauty trends. Slightly frazzled hair and makeup paired with a fashion-forward outfit that mixes statement pieces and classic staples. Think monochromatic pieces paired with tights and an oversized handbag (Like Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen before the Row). With The Devil Wears Prada 2 premiering this spring, it’s bound to be a fall look.
Apple Core:
Fruit motifs have dominated the decade—from cherries to lemons to blueberries. As food continues to play the “accessory” role in luxury fashion, we’re likely to see it evolve due to color preferences. Based on current nail trends, we’re predicting the focus shifts to apples in 2026, bringing a playful yet symbolic touch to prints and accessories.
Seaside Dreams:
Muted blues and soft creams on the runway signal a fluid, water-inspired direction. Influenced by Jean Paul Gaultier’s shipwreck-themed Spring 2025 couture and designers like Anna Sui, the look leans into movement and maritime fantasy. As fashion trends reflect and shape consumer desire, this aesthetic may point to a growing appetite for escapist narratives—hinting at a potential rise in pirate romance and seafaring fiction.
Girly Whimsical:
A style inspired by children’s literature imagery and the handmade sensibility of modern girlhood, this aesthetic blends nostalgia with intention, basically like if you combined the fashion of Vivienne Westwood with the aesthetic of the Charlie and Lola books. Classic motifs like stripes, polka dots, and stars are reworked for an adult wardrobe through softer silhouettes, crafted details, and thoughtful styling. The result is playful yet considered—using whimsy, texture, and comfort as a gentle response to the sharpness and overstimulation of modern life.
Victorian Academia:
Victorian Academia marks a return to romantic, scholarly dressing through structured lace silhouettes, high collars, corsetry, and moody, period-inspired tailoring. Rooted in long-standing literary and academic aesthetics, the trend draws on themes of intellectualism, restraint, and desire. The upcoming Wuthering Heights adaptation will act as a catalyst, enforcing the trend by reigniting interest in Gothic romance and atmospheric storytelling. As a result, Victorian Academia blends disciplined, bookish refinement with heightened emotional intensity, translating classic literary darkness into a modern fashion language.
Side Bangs:
2011 is officially back, and she is SO over your middle part. As curtain and micro bangs reach saturation, hair shifts back to side parts and straighter styling—a natural pendulum swing driven by the dominance of voluminous hairstyles.
Mountain Moss:
For fall, we’re planning to see a push toward darker, grounded color palettes with selective pops of green. Mountain Moss taps into the consumer desire for nature as winter travel and outdoor escapism continue to rise. Mossy greens and deep browns appear together across fashion - dare we say it even reminds us of the landscapes of Pride and Prejudice (2005)?
Sportscore:
Following Heated Rivalry, sportswear moves into an editorial moment. Athletic elements—jerseys, track silhouettes, and performance fabrics—are reimagined through elevated styling and a touch of femininity. Sportcore communicates the thinning line between reality and fantasy, especially when book adaptations are involved.
Y2k Medieval:
Medieval fantasy returns through the glorious lens of Y2K, reimagining fairy-tale references for the creativity of Gen-Z. Think pointed princess hats, babydoll corseted silhouettes, and subtle nods to Ella Enchanted. This style captures the desire for originality in fashion that requires a little DIY-ing and storytelling.
2026 resets fashion, turning clothes into story and play. Imagination, emotion, and the female gaze take center stage—fashion is finally fun again.
