Fashion's Best Dressed are One Step Ahead, and Already Wearing These 7 Summer Trends Now

It felt like we were contending with the longest winter in history until spring decided to make a tentative appearance a couple of months ago. While it hasn't exactly been the "dust off the barbecue and open the pub gardens" weather we've been hoping for, it is marginally warmer and brighter for longer, a sure sign that summer is just around the corner. But then that raises the question, what should we actually wear in the interim?

Caught between sunny, sandal weather and breezy, chilly winds, the transition between spring and summer is trickier to dress for than we admit. Most days a summery dress and a warm jacket will suffice, but repeating the same outfit formula can feel, well, samey. So, what do fashion insiders wear for spring that is both fashionable and functional? The answer is summer trends.

No, this is not to imply that it's worth freezing in flip flops, or shelving your cosy cardigans in favour of linen shirts quite yet, but there are a handful of summer trends that are perfect for the "in-between", and they happen to pair effortlessly with the more practical elements of our spring wardrobes like fine knits, tailoring and closed toe shoes.

So, if you're struggling with outfit inspiration for the next couple months until things really heat up, keep scrolling to see the 7 summer 2026 trends that fashion insiders have already started wearing to get ahead of the crowd. You may be pleasantly surprised.

The 7 Summer 2026 Trends to Wear Now, According to a Fashion Editor

1. Tank Dresses

Style Notes: Dress trends come and go with every season, but this spring we're going back to basics with an easy-to-wear style that is as comfortable as it is chic—tank dresses. Until it's hot enough to wear a tank top and linen trousers, tank dresses give a little more coverage but still look just as good with blazers, suede, bombers and biker jackets as their midriff-baring brethren. As soon as the temperatures rise, peel off the outerwear and wear with flat sandals and pendant necklaces a la Gabriela Hearst.

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2. Utility Chic

Style Notes: This summer expect a belt and braces (and buckles) approach, as utility-core crops up again for another year. If it's a khaki piece with a cinched waist, metal hardware and plenty of pockets, it gets a resounding yes, as we move away from springs pretty pastels and floaty silhouettes into something more grounded and practical. While the weather is still a little grey, now is the perfect time to invest in outerwear like cargo jackets teamed with moto boots, and later in the year make the most out of the cool-girl combination of baggy shorts and flip flops.

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3. Technical Jackets

Style Notes: Summer jackets are difficult to get right, and while you want outerwear that you can throw on over dresses and tops when the evenings get cooler, it can't be too substantial to have to lug around all day—enter the technical jacket. Autumn 2025 was all about the funnel neck nylon jacket, and after realising just how chic this underrated "activewear" fabric could be, sports jackets continue into SS '26 too, styled up with heels and mini bags, albeit with shorter collars.

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4. Sheer Skirts

Style Notes: Whether you love them or hate them, according to the runways there is no escaping that 2026 is the year of the sheer skirt. This see-through bottom takes "barely-there dressing" to new heights, as they reveal enough skin to show just about everything from knee to hips, but before you panic, take styling tips from Aje, Chanel, Acne, Dries Van Noten, and Prada, and pair with either longline tops that fall past bum length, or wear over a tucked in shirt for a directional approach. Perfect for sticky, summer weather, you'll be grateful for a sheer skirt during a heatwave, but until then, add a cosy knit a pointed court shoe for a modern take on "ladylike" dressing.

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5. Scarf Prints

Style Notes: Think of spring prints and it's likely gingham, florals, and polka dots come to mind, but this season influencers and editors alike are one season ahead and shopping summer's biggest print trend—scarf prints. Most commonly paisley, abstract or equestrian references, this maximalist print borrows directly from vintage silk foulards from heritage fashion houses like Hermés and Dior, and as an opulent way to introduce colour without having to wear it from head-to-toe.

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6. Dressy Shorts

Style Notes: Who likes short shorts? Designers certainly do, but this time around there were more luxe iterations of shorts than ever before. Denim cut offs might have their place, but we're focused on the kind of leather, suede and silk shorts that you can wear day-to-night and spring to summer too. Just the change of a shoe, and you have a new look in mere moments, making these a surprisingly versatile piece. Could elegant shorts be the new mini skirt? Stella McCartney, Hérmes, Isabel Marant and Dior seem to think so.

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7. Colour Pop Bags

Style Notes: Nothing says sunny season quite like a bold accessory, and the runways focus on colour pop bags has given us a vibrant, new alternative to chocolate suede for this season. Whether you're a refined minimalist or an expressive maximalist, these juicy shades will lift your existing wardrobe just in time for summer weather; now your only decision is whether to go for Mondrian primaries, fruity citrus or raver neons.

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