Twice a year, the fashion set descends upon Denmark to celebrate all things Scandi style. As someone who's attended Copenhagen Fashion Week several times over the years, I can attest that it's one of the most fun events on the entire fashion calendar. The positive vibes, young talent, spirited street style, and scenic show venues make Copenhagen the envy of New York, London, Milan, and, yes, even Paris.

Held in early August 2026, the spring/summer 2027 season was one for the books. Stine Goya and By Malene Birger made highly anticipated returns to the official schedule, and Collina Strada, a cult-favorite American brand, made the journey from NYC to CPH for a special runway show. Gestuz, MKDT Studio, The Garment, and Baum und Pferdgarten were also on hand to unveil their visions for spring 2027 style. Below, I've listed my top five favorite themes after I scrolled through every single look from CPHFW.

Cool Whip

Visiting brand Collina Strada, pictured above, showed wispy, cloudlike dresses for spring/summer 2027.

This Stine Goya dress looks as delicious as soft-serve ice cream.

Designed by Galib Gassanoff, Institution made a huge splash in its debut runway show at Copenhagen Fashion Week, thanks in part to cumulus confections like this dress.

Lawless Layers

On the topic of layering, the message from Copenhagen Fashion Week brands this season was clear: Anything goes. Nicklas Skovgaard, for instance, boldly layered a leather top and skirt over prim pastel gingham separates.

The Baum und Pferdgarten show was rife with chaotic-yet-cool layering moments, including this spotted dress worn over white leggings and paired with gray leg warmers.

At Skall Studio, artfully placed layers elevated a minimalist maxi dress.

Working Girl

At Gestuz, this plaid blazer with '80s-worthy shoulder pads looked like it came right out of a scene from Working Girl.

Shoulder pads were also spotted at Caro Editions. It's giving Fran Fine or perhaps even Grandma Yetta.

Nicklas Skovgaard gave its sweaters a touch of '80s chic in the form of shoulder pads.

Sail Away

Hoist up the sail! The Garment's billowy white blouse could catch a serious breeze.

When a basic white top won't cut it, consider Almada Label's cascading blouse.

Skall Studio knows exactly how to design good sleeves.

Limoncello

Lemon sorbet was a recurring theme in Paolina Russo's S/S 27 show.

At OpéraSport, pictured above, a light-yellow skirt and a steel-gray jacket made for an interesting color combo.

Herskind draped a beautiful pale-yellow shawl over a simple white T-shirt.

Copenhagen Fashion Week spring/summer 2027 has just wrapped, and there's one dress trend I haven't been able to stop thinking about since leaving the Danish capital: sheer, slinky, barely-there dresses. Across the runways, designers sent out body-skimming silhouettes and whisper-thin fabrics in shades of ivory, blush, and nude that felt romantic, a little undone, and undeniably sexy. Perhaps I have weddings on the brain given my own upcoming nuptials, but almost immediately, I started thinking about brides.

Wedding dressing has loosened up considerably over the past few years, especially once the ceremony is over. If the main gown is the moment for drama—corsetry, structure, trains, yards and yards of fabric—the second look has become its fun, slightly mischievous younger sister. It's shorter. It's slinkier. It's easier to dance in and, increasingly, a lot sexier.

At By Malene Birger, which returned to the Copenhagen Fashion Week schedule this season, that sensuality came with the kind of understated sophistication the label does so well. Think fluid fabrics, elongated silhouettes, and dresses that skim the body rather than sculpt it. One standout was a blush-toned metallic slip dress, a knowing homage to the famously sheer slip Kate Moss wore to a 1993 party in London.

Slinky Second Dresses on the Runway

Of course, sheer dressing isn't exactly breaking news. For the past several seasons, designers have experimented with transparency in practically every form imaginable, from gauzy skirts worn over briefs to lace dresses and the now-ubiquitous naked dress. But Copenhagen offered something a little different. There was less shock value, less "look at me" nakedness. Pale blush, creamy white, and skin-adjacent nudes made even the most revealing looks feel delicate rather than overt, more romantic than red carpet.

The idea took on different forms elsewhere. Baum und Pferdgarten paired transparency with floral embellishments for a coquettish take, and Freya Dalsjø went more directional, sending a model down the runway in a deep-U-neck satin gown. OpéraSport played with flowing lace-trimmed dresses, and The Garment approached the idea through two-piece silhouettes. Collina Strada, a New York–based label that showed at Copenhagen Fashion Week as an international guest, sent sequined bias-cut gowns down the runway, complete with detailed diamond accessories and floral accents. None of these looks were necessarily intended for a wedding, but that's sort of the point. Sometimes, the sexiest dress at the wedding isn't a wedding dress at all.

It's something style insiders have known for years: The best wedding dresses don't necessarily come from a bridal salon. The most interesting looks I've seen lately have come from ready-to-wear collections as brides look beyond traditional labels for rehearsal dinners, welcome parties, receptions, and everything in between. In that sense, Copenhagen's spring/summer 2027 runways feel particularly well-timed. A sheer ivory column dress or barely-there slip might not have been designed with a bride in mind, but with satin heels, a veil, and perhaps a martini after midnight, the proposition becomes pretty convincing.

Slinky Second Dresses on the Style Set

Traditional ball gowns and mantilla veils aren't disappearing anytime soon, nor should they. But once the reception ends and the after-party begins, brides will be ready to shed a few layers. Copenhagen's sheer dresses may not have been intended for the aisle, but come 2027, don't be surprised if you see them all over the dance floor.

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Copenhagen Fashion Week for the spring/summer 2027 season came and went in the blink of an eye. In case you missed it, some major highlights included Almada Label presenting its first runway show in a see-now-buy-now format, designer Hillary Taymour bringing her New York-based brand Collina Strada to the city for a waterfront debut, By Malene Birger back on the schedule, and new Danish names like Stem, Taus, and Solitude Studios joining the schedule. But once again, off the runway, the street style stole the show.

For four straight days, Scandi girls and stylish visitors from around the world took over the city's streets, showing off their best looks. Many embraced elegant outfit formulas and standout fashion trends worth noting for the summer-to-fall transition. Still, what stood out most was the distinct individuality. Every attendee proved that true chicness lies in personal expression rather than following rigid fashion rules or what's considered "in"—and that a bit of rain can never dampen great style.

Ahead, discover the five top street-style trends that are perfect for pre-fall. These pieces are guaranteed to make getting dressed come September much easier.

The 5 Street-Style Trends from Copenhagen Fashion Week S/S 27

Bermuda Shorts

Sorry, micro shorts, but long Bermuda styles are here to stay. During Copenhagen Fashion Week, many elegant dressers leaned into the shorts' sophisticated vibe, pairing them with classic button-down shirts and pumps. However, we also saw fashion people take inspiration from celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Margot Robbie, pairing them with loose long-sleeve shirts—another trend that isn't going anywhere. When searching for the perfect pair, you really can't go wrong: choose from relaxed pull-on silhouettes or classic tailored options, in fabrics ranging from breezy linen to structured wool.

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Perforated Ballet Flats

Given that the main mode of transportation in Copenhagen is by bike, we were surprised to see many people wearing heels—from wedge flip-flops to high-vamp pumps. However, when it came to flats, there was one specific style that was everywhere—perforated ballet flats. What makes this shoe perfect for pre-fall is that it keeps the foot covered while allowing breathability thanks to the perforations throughout.

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Relaxed Straight-Leg Jeans

If there's one thing Scandi girls know how to wear, it's jeans. And while they're known for overly baggy styles—many of which veer into balloon- or barrel-leg silhouettes—right now they're embracing the most classic denim shape: relaxed straight-leg jeans. The clean-cut design is seasonless and adaptable, and, most importantly, effortlessly pairs with different shoes.

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Waist Adornments

What makes Copenhagen Fashion Week street style stand out most is how attendees intentionally add personal touches to each outfit. This is why many of these looks are saved on Pinterest. This season, fashion insiders enhanced their outfits by tying scarves made of silk and lace, as well as sequined belts, around their waists. We also saw attendees cinching their waists with simple button-down shirts or sweaters, proving that you can use what you already have in your wardrobe and still get the look.

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Pencil Skirts

From black leather and dark-wash denim to bold satin, pencil skirts were everywhere—and it makes sense. This skirt trend is one you can count on for pre-fall, fall, and even winter. It was spotted on the runways for the fall/winter 2026 collections at designers like Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu, and N°21. While the fashion houses focused on pairing the skirts with coordinating collarless jackets and fitted blazers, those in Copenhagen proved they also look chic when dressed down with colored button-down shirts and cropped tees.

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In the wake of the fall/winter 2026 runway season, I spent hours looking at practically every single look that walked, zooming in on things like scarves tied in every way possible, dramatic jewelry, big belts, and—most of all—shoes. The latter is arguably the most purchased category that debuts on the runway each season, but you have to pay special attention if you want to spot the good ones early, as apparel draws the most attention. If you know me, though, you know that I'll always look closer when it comes to shoes, and on the runway this season, one specific shoe color took over. Forget neutrals. Come fall 2026, you'll be wanting something blue in your footwear collection, be it from Chanel, Prada, or Alaïa, three brands that will shape the blue-shoe trend later on this year.

From satin ballet flats at Carven to knee-high, hand-stitched feather boots at Prada, there was no shortage of blue footwear on the runways this season, adding a shoe-investment option that's less classic and more exciting. Blue shoes are capable of creating standout outfits every single time you slip on whatever pair makes it into your wardrobe. At Chanel, Matthieu Blazy's run of viral footwear continued with fervor, and his blue-and-white two-tone mules in patent leather are sure to be among the styles that get run out of stock in boutiques everywhere when his fall/winter 2026 collection for the French house hits stores. Chemena Kamali went all in with thigh-high boots at Chloé, testing them in a variety of colors. The most interesting style was the royal-blue leather pair lined with shearling. And we can't talk about the blue shoes on the runway this season without mentioning the sexy and sophisticated pumps at Pieter Mulier's farewell to Alaïa.

Blue Shoes on the Runway

Chanel

Prada

Alaïa

Carven

Chloé

Missoni

Suffice to say, designers proved one thing to be true this season: "something blue" shouldn't be boxed into the wedding category. At least when it comes to footwear, a hint of the color can be added to just about any outfit for any occasion, styled with matching leather pants (Chloé), a tweed skirt suit (Chanel), or a slim-fitting tailored coat (Prada). Sure, blue shoes might not be as "easy" to style as a black or brown pair, but what's the fun in that? For a cooler, more interesting alt, shop the blue shoes below, with elegant options from Manolo Blahnik, as well as sportier alts from Prada, all making it into the mix.

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This spring, I want to look rich—not "I have two houses and a solid financial plan to retire at 40" rich but "Oh, this outfit? I just threw on my favorite full runway look to go get a smoothie" rich. I may have runway-level taste, but I certainly don't have a runway-level budget, and after browsing the best spring 2026 runway trends last week, I felt compelled to make a guide for the fashion people who want to look like a million bucks without actually spending that kind of money. Ready-to-wear in this economy?

After scrolling for countless hours online and asking our editors to share their favorite spring 2026 runway looks, I put together 10 outfits that dominated the conversation last season along with ways to get them at a fraction of the cost. Ready to re-create the best runway looks from the likes of Bottega Veneta, Celine, and Versace without going into credit card debt? I've got you covered.

Shop the Best Spring 2026 Runway Looks for Under $400

Now that another fashion month has come and gone, I've had a chance to do a deep dive into the collections that graced the runways in New York, London, Milan, and Paris. I've already begun outlining all the top-level insights and key trends you need to know about, from the major shoe trends to the biggest handbag trends. But if you like being ahead of the curve, I'd venture to guess you're not just reading this to put a pin in it and come back when September arrives. No, you're here to shop, well, now.

Say no more. I've analyzed which trends are the most worthy to buy into from the fall/winter 2026 collections, and because I'm me, I've gone ahead and sourced how to shop each of them without a designer budget. I put a cap of $300 on my shopping cart and kind of went wild. The result? A comprehensive guide to fall 2026 runway trends, where everything is affordable and available now. Shop today—thank me later.

7 Fall 2026 Trends to Shop for $300 or Less

Chocolate-Brown Jeans

Chocolate-brown jeans are undeniably the biggest denim trend among the fall collections, with designers such as Altuzarra and emerging label Ossou agreeing on the rich denim wash. Just because the trend was seen on the fall runways hasn't stopped fashion people from styling it already, though, and I've sourced a number of brown-toned jeans to get in on the look too.

Victorian Era

Call it the Wuthering Heights effect, but fashion is heading in a much more romantic direction. For fall, that means embracing Victorian-coded details like billowing ruffles, lace, and modern peplum hems.

Handbags With Slouch

All over the fall runways, handbags were undone, slouchy, and altogether unfussy. Many models held bags that were halfway zipped or otherwise designed to intentionally hang open, like the Loewe Amazona 180 Bag. There's something undeniably cool about it, and the same energy can be found without spending a fortune.

Royal Purple

If you want to be the first of your friends to wear 2026's It color, you'd be wise to start shopping for something royal purple stat. The rich, bold color absolutely dominated the collections, from Celine to Chanel to Loewe, and insiders are already incorporating the color in their outfits via a singular punch of purple. My pick? J.Crew's V-neck sweater in the perfect shade.

Beautiful Brooches

Forget '80s earrings and pendant necklaces. This fall, the best way to make your outfits pop will be by adding a pretty pin or brooch to the outside of a jacket, sweater, or scarf.

Oxford Flats

Ballet flats, watch out. The fall 2026 runways were flooded with a new flat-shoe trend: derby shoes. Featuring soft, glove-like shapes and lace-up details, these fit squarely between ballerina flats and loafers and are poised to be the next It flats.

Corduroy

As the preppy-style trend continues to develop, expect corduroy pants to have a splashy moment this fall as a fresher alternative to denim and trousers. I can already tell that fashion people will be emulating this Tory Burch vibe by styling their cords with academic pieces like sweaters and collared shirts.

Fashion month has officially come to a close for the fall/winter 2026 collections. The shows at Paris Fashion Week offered us a preview of the trends that will mold fashion for the remainder of 2026. Last season, we saw many debut collections from newly appointed creative directors at the biggest fashion houses in the industry. This season, we observed as the designers settled into the maisons—some doubling down on historic house codes, and others continuing to establish their distinct points of view.

So, how did this net out for the biggest trends at PFW? At the Paris shows, we saw the return of romance, high-impact accessories that were key for styling, and a strong endorsement of the biggest color trend of the year. Ahead, read more on the five biggest fall/winter 2026 trends to know from PFW.

Many designers doubled down on the royal purple color trend that has been dominant throughout fashion month. At Chanel, a breezy ruffled top and pants look tapped into Chemena Kamali's take on boho. At Celine, Michael Rider presented a purple leather trench coat, as well as gloves and bags in a distinct shade. At Loewe, an asymmetrical textured mini dress was executed in a deep purple color. We're already seeing this color trending amongst style insiders and expect it to be a defining color this year.

In 2026, softer, more romantic pieces are appearing everywhere, from the runways to the street style scene to the red carpet. There is a sense of intentional frivolity and diffused dressing that is really making an impact on and off the runways. Simply put, we're seeing the return of romance, and 2026 is marking a shift toward soft fashion that is lighthearted and playful and just may make us add some whimsy back into our wardrobes.

In past seasons, we've tracked the emergence of '80s oversize suiting with big, bold shoulders and masculine proportions. Then, the rise of "soft power" dressing with the infusion of more feminine silhouettes in suiting and officewear. Now, we're seeing a rise in the return of skirt suits on the runways. It's a clear departure from oversize pantsuit proportions and a movement towards reimagined ways to wear polished skirt sets, whether it's ladylike tweed or sheer, alluring lace.

There are always standout styling techniques that emerge at Paris Fashion Week, which define what cool dressers will be wearing the following season. At the recent shows, it was all about scarves wrapped and tied around the neck—something we saw on the runway at shows such as Loewe and Celine. Rather than a typical scarf, these styles stand out for the thick and bulky shapes, making them architectural and sculptural in nature.

Shearling outerwear has been on the rise in recent years, but we saw it take on an even more specific form on the fall/winter 2026 runways. The styles designers are sending down the runways are draped and almost fluid in form. At Dior, Jonathan Anderson executed this in the form of a Bar jacket-inspired piece with a peplum shape. At Alaïa, too, Pieter Mulier showcased an hourglass shape in the plush materials. At Miu Miu, Miuccia Prada focused on car coat silhouettes.

Chani Ra is a Who What Wear UK Editor in Residence and a London-based fashion commentator at her social channel The Fashion Nap, which broadcasts show reports, trend commentary and both current and archive industry analysis on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. As well as interviewing industry leaders and experts on her platform, she also often speaks as an expert on panels.

For the last decade or two, it’s become completely uneventful for 20-something women to be on a religious Botox and filler schedule, and it seems the newest normal for celebrities approaching 30 is a facelift. But there’s change afoot. As clothes become more "undone" and filler gets dissolved, expressive and unique faces are re-emerging in the public eye.

Fashion brands are catching on to the boom of mature models. Case in point: Tom Ford recently dropped the sexiest campaign of the season, featuring 59-year-old former model and The Vampire's Wife co-founder Susie Cave. A particular video caught my eye, especially when the camera pans into her face, close enough to see the fine lines that sit gracefully around her pink-shadowed stare. It was a precursor to a very sultry show, in which creative director Haider Ackermann created restraint and tension with models of all ages.

Chanel’s latest breakout star is Stephanie Cavalli, who is 50. After opening Matthieu Blazy’s debut couture show, sauntering down the runway in a sheer suit, she was back again to open the most anticipated show á Paris: Chanel autumn/winter 2026. Cavalli’s hair has become instantly recognisable: a painfully chic curly, triangular bob streaked with grey, framing her adult face in all its glory.

Catching up with Who What Wear UK's own editor-in-chief, Jane McFarland, who braved the crowds at the Paris store's opening as the spring collection landed, it’s a reminder that Chanel’s clients are women of all ages. The new face of aspiration is rooted in reality, and the brands young women want to buy are those they can grow with. Women with real-life experience are our newly crowned It girls. Even my afternoon TikTok doomscroll is currently populated with women who worked at Calvin Klein in the '90s, emerging as the gatekeepers to "Carolyn Bessette Kennedy chic". The comment sections are flooded by Gen Z viewers begging for the ancient magic, and exclaiming that they "still look so good!"

49-year-old Stephanie Cavalli opens the Chanel A/W 26 show.

Looking back recent fashion months, London set the standard for age inclusion. Karoline Vitto, a London-based Brazilian designer, is known for catering to women of all sizes. This diversity also extends to age; Vitto doesn’t shy away from dressing a 40-year-old woman as she would a 25-year-old. "We dress the baddies!" Vitto exclaimed backstage. "That comes in any age and any shape. It’s all about an attitude and a presence you feel when you wear the clothes." Indeed, presence is a far more interesting currency than youth, and much harder to replicate.

Johanna Parv showed a collection called Intimacy of Distances for women who are actively living and moving through life with purpose. The show notes chronicled creative women travelling via different modes to different places, with the clothes providing a uniform for streamlined, no-frills success. "Most models are too young for my taste," commented Parv, whose show featured models of a range of ages.

Translating this taste to the runway was casting director Lisa Dymph Megens, who has made it her mission to cast the types of women brands are actually selling to, meaning "sending 20 teenagers down the runway" isn’t an option. "Johanna Parv’s show proved that you can present something human and still be very 'fashion'," she told me. "As casting directors, you’re waiting for a brief that allows you to show what you stand for, because you still have to do what the designer wants, and this is an industry that’s obsessed with youth. [This] is linked to young women seeming easier to control."

Megens raises an unignorable point. Just one look at the so-called "elite" men in the news with anchors in every industry—fashion included—makes the quest for eternal youth feel far more insidious. You have to ask: whose standards are we catering to? Once you ruminate on that, suddenly it feels like it’s time to visibly grow up.

In the spirit of rebellion, Lueder’s runway was walked by London nightlife icon (and the only royal I will be acknowledging this season), Princess Julia. Famous for allegedly going out every night since 1976, Princess Julia is a pillar of London’s queer community and a champion of emerging designers. Rose McGowan, 52, also walked for Lueder, in a rave-ready look comprising a bleached pixie cut, dark glasses, a red silk bomber jacket, black tights, leg warmers and trainers. In the Matieres Fecales A/W 26 show, Debra Shaw (49), Michèle Lamy (82) and Daphne Guinness (58) were the scene stealers.

Representation of women over 40 is particularly meaningful in the trans community, where so many aren’t allowed the opportunity to age. Dominique Jackson, 50, walked for Conner Ives this season, and Connie Fleming—whose modelling career started in the '80s—recently appeared in MAC campaigns. I had the pleasure of interviewing Fleming in 2024, and we discussed how often, when you represent a marginalised community, there isn't a roadmap to follow. Allowing these women to stand and inspire people to look forward in a world where we witness rights being stripped left and right is a testament to the impact fashion can have.

Ultimately, the hope is that the industry continues on an upward trajectory when it comes to age, and this isn’t a throwaway fad, as we've unfortunately witnessed with body diversity, or the lack thereof. We cannot reduce our bodies or our life experiences to play things for the trend cycle. As Diane Von Furstenberg once said, "Don’t ask, 'How old are you?' Ask, 'How many years have you lived?'"

Another fashion month has come and gone, so now that the fall/winter 2026 shows are officially behind us, the real work begins. As a fashion editor, now is the time when I sit down and truly do a proper deep dive into the collections. I'm scrutinizing each look, zooming in on every detail, and scanning the season at large so I can be sure to take it all in and do a proper analysis of what to know about next-season fashion. Right now, it's the handbags I have my eyes glued on.

While clothes might garner the most buzz in the immediate aftermath of a runway show, handbags and accessories will eventually drive the bulk of sales—and therefore, shape style the most. Designers were aligned on several fronts with the sizes and shapes of the handbags that graced their runways, and several fall bag trends are becoming clear. First, that things are getting slouchier, more lived-in, and less fussy overall. Bags arrived unzipped and unbuckled for an effortless effect and arrived in more everyday shapes like the classic flap bag and hobo bag that indicated a growing desire for a designer bag to not just look good but work for you (and not the other way around).

Here, discover every major handbag trend to know from the fall/winter 2026 runways.

The biggest takeaway for handbags this fall is that they need not be fussy. While there's a time and a place for a perfectly polished carryall, the styles du jour are proving that the more lived-in your bag looks, the better. On the runway, that looked like shapes that allowed for more slouch and ease with many models holding bags that were halfway zipped or otherwise completely hanging open. There was something undeniably cool about it, like the energy of Jane Birkin carrying her namesake Hermès bag with abandon.

Clutches are no longer a piece of occasionwear but are now as much a part of our day-to-day lifestyle as any tote bag. As such, designers iterated on everyday clutches that are meant to be styled both day and night with an emphasis on larger shapes and polished frame and kisslock closures.

The It bag of 2026 is, without a doubt, the bowler bag. The double-strap satchels are absolutely everywhere at the moment, and all signs point to them only gaining momentum going into the fall. On the runways at Miu Miu, Bottega Veneta, and more, this silhouettes was the hero piece and the large, trapezoidal shapes make them look like modern-day doctor bags.

Exotic finishes have been a trending theme for a moment now, and the fall collections underscored just how far a little croc embossing can go. Bags of all shapes and sizes—from the bamboo-handled styles at Gucci to the soft flap bags at Chanel and the elongated clutches at Khaite—seemed to agree: The coolest bags for fall will be those with a glossy crocodile print.

Chanel first introduced its signature flap bag, the 2.55, in 1995, and the bag has hardly wavered a millimeter from its place at the heart of the Chanel universe. For fall 2026, Creative Director Matthieu Blazy along with several more designer reenvisioned the flap bag for the modern era with oversize shapes and softer silhouettes but all the elegance and practicality of the originals.

Somebody call the early 2000s—hobo bags are so back. With the reissue of Y2K icons like the Saint Laurent Mombasa Bag, slouchy curved totes are set to have a major moment in 2026. On deck are styles from Chanel to Hermès that lend a fresh new look to the retro shoulder bags.

There were many details that made the fall collections noteworthy, and if you weren't paying close attention, you just might miss some of them, like the suite of charming little minaudières that dotted the runways at Dior, Chanel, and Chloé. These petite clutches may be more arty than functional, but they're also a cheeky way for designers to underscore the themes of their collections, like the frog-shaped style at Dior that played off the viral lily-pad heels.

Fashion month has officially wrapped. From New York to London, Paris, and Milan, it was a four-week whirlwind of long days, late nights, and hurrying from one show to the next. We were there and reporting on it all—from the A-list attendees to the backstage hubbub and otherworldly collections.

Now, it's time to talk about the biggest beauty moments that came out of it because editors know that fashion month doesn't predict the following fall and winter's biggest beauty trends; it directly dictates them. In fact, fashion month is essentially a crystal ball, delivering spot-on insight into the hair and makeup looks that will soon dominate IG and TikTok. This year? Expect dreamy and dramatic looks, ranging from rich oxblood-colored lips to romantic windswept hair, blooming pink blush, and stony gray eye shadow. Yep, based on fashion month, we can tell it's going to be a major year for beauty, and we can't wait. Ahead, see the nine major hair and makeup trends we spotted during fashion month.

Oxblood Lips

Sorry, but sheer tints, clear glosses, and other minimalist lip products might be falling by the wayside. (Don't shoot the messenger!) If fashion month taught us anything, it's that the "clean girl" aesthetic is gathering dust, and the stylish crowd is embracing a darker, more dramatic take on makeup. It all starts with lipstick.

Oxblood lipstick reigned on high-fashion runways, including at Elie Saab, Carven, and Saint Laurent, to name a few. The finish doesn't matter—choose a velvety matte one or a high-shine vinyl effect—it all comes down to the color. Oxblood is a rich red with brown and purple undertones (think burgundy or maroon). In low light, it verges on black, resembling the color of dried blood (hence the name). It's moody, mysterious, and bold. And undeniably cool.

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Windswept Strands

Blame it on Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights, but it seems like designers aren't ready to resist the thralls of the windswept Yorkshire moors… at least not yet. Last year's most popular high-fashion hairstyles (namely the slicked-back bun and wet-look hairstyle) seem to have fallen out of favor for softer, more romantic, and less done 'dos.

Windswept hair was particularly popular on the Italian runways. Giorgio Armani, Fendi, and Missoni all embraced the effortless look, whether it was an undone low ponytail or the internet-favorite "Olsen tuck." The latter refers to keeping hair tucked into a sweater, jacket, or scarf à la Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Regardless, this is your sign to let your natural texture shine.

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Inky Accents

The most experimental, editorial, and, at times, edgy makeup trend to come out of fashion month was what we're coining "inky accents." These were small, yet impactful details that designers like Harris Reed, Toga, Proenza Schouler, and Dries Van Noten incorporated into their shows and presentations. Think a thick pen stroke of onyx eyeliner edging up toward the hairline, smudgy and ink-blotted eyelashes, or a sharp, calligraphy-inspired stroke of black running through the arch of the eyebrow. Unexpected? Yes. Inexplicably chic? Absolutely.

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Petal-Pink Blush

Fall and winter are synonymous with deep, bold shades of blush—I'm looking at you, berry! This year, though, the fashion set will be swapping it out for cool-toned pink colors à la TWP, Missoni, Ralph Lauren, Kim Shui, and LoveShackFancy. Whether you opt for a pretty bloom of powder (like at TWP) or a high-impact, metallic one (like at Kim Shui), you'll be right on trend.

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Toasted Eye Shadow

The high-fashion crowd cosigned brown, toasted eye shadow as a top trend for fall/winter 2026. It manifested as a warm, clay-colored shade seen at Missoni, chocolate-colored lids at Erdem, and whiskey-washed ones at Rabanne. Warm or cool toned? It doesn't matter! Just do as the designers did and reach for any single pan of neutral-colored eye shadow that suits your preference. The good news is it's a versatile trend that can suit every skin tone and match any outfit.

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Stony Gaze

Cool, blue-gray tones were also a hot-ticket trend. Connor Ives, Richard Quinn, and Tolu Coker sent models out wearing a single-color wash of shadow. Pack on the pigment and blend it all the way up to the brow per Connor Ives or smoke out a small amount along the lash line per Richard Quinn. Whether bold or subtle, the message is clear: Cool blue-gray is the ultra-chic color trend coming for 2026.

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Pops of Vermillion

Fashion month's focus on the quintessential dark, rich, and neutral tones of fall and winter was interrupted by loud pops of vermillion. Whether it was Kim Shui's talon-like nails, Proenza Schouler's purposely askew smear of red lipstick, or Michael Kors's and Jil Sander's sculpted versions, the fiery red shade was seen again and again.

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The Return of Tightliner

We left the tightliner trend back in the mid-2000s… or so we thought. Designers like Tory Burch, Julien Macdonald, Dior, Ashlyn, and Christian Cowan brought it into the modern era with a bevy of high-definition eye looks. The trick, of course, is to find the right smudge, fade, and transfer-resistant formula that will remain undisturbed on the waterline. Waterproof gel formulas work best.

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IDGAF Eye Makeup

Last but certainly not least, we have to talk about a trend we've coined "IDGAF eye makeup." It's messy! It's imperfect! It's effortless! Givenchy, Gucci, and Prada all cosigned the smudgy, slept-in vibe. You *want* to look like you stayed out too late catching a DJ set and now you're heading straight to brunch with a hangover. You *want* to look like you don't have a makeup brush in sight. You *want* to look like you don't care that your eye shadow is smudging and creasing. It's a bold and defiant reproach of precision and perfect blending.

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Sara Walker is a Who What Wear editor in residence, content creator, stylist, and fashion consultant based in Los Angeles.

Wow, what a month. This season was my first time doing the full fashion circuit—New York, London, Milan, and Paris—and it was not only a dream come true but also quite the logistical challenge. The biggest one? Figuring out how to pack for three weeks of fashion month in Europe in two suitcases (which, by the end, turned into three).

I’m L.A. based, so after New York Fashion Week, I flew home to switch out my wardrobe and repack before heading off to London, Milan, and Paris. Each city has its own distinct fashion identity, and part of the fun of fashion month is leaning into those subtle, unspoken style codes. While I always love my show looks, the real magic often happens in between, running to shows, grabbing coffee with friends, and of course shopping. Here, I’m breaking down the chicest street style outfits I wore in each fashion capital.

First of all, this was the coldest of the fashion cities. I was bundled up, and not for fashion reasons, truly just to stay warm. In NYC, it was all about big coats, hats, and gloves. Layers, layers, layers was the name of the game. One of my favorite outfits was a layered turtleneck with a white button-down and a fur-trim coat, warm and chic. I also finally wore a tiger fur Charlotte Simone coat that had been waiting patiently in my closet since December. I paired it with my trusty Nili Lotan Joan jeans (which I wore nearly every day in New York) and my black Everlane turtleneck, something you’ll notice becomes a bit of a theme. I love that anything goes in New York; I can wear funky prints and patterns, and it just works.

In London, I leaned into the posh, tailored look the city does so well. I wore a fabulous Liberowe coat as a top with Slvrlake jeans and my favorite Chanel slingbacks. I’m a creature of habit, and I’m a firm believer that when you find the perfect pair of shoes, you wear them into the ground. These are shoes I will never travel without. The star of the outfit? An unbranded vintage tassel belt I tied around my waist. I also found myself drawn to wearing a Sandy Liang tie top in London, even though I had originally packed it for Paris. Something about a tie and trench just felt right for the city.

Admittedly, I haven’t spent much time in Milan, so this city was a bit harder to pack for. I know it’s the fashion capital, so I expected some bold style, but I was still surprised by how many fashion risks and pops of color I saw walking down the streets. It inspired me to wear my Saks Potts orange croc jacket, which I loved paired with brown Frankie Shop trousers. Another favorite look was a Wardrobe.NYC dress I had planned to wear as is, but on my last day there, I decided to style it as a jacket instead, layering it over jeans and a white A.L.C. button-down. This impromptu outfit ended up being one of my favorites from fashion month.

Finally, Paris. Parisian fashion is classic, delicate, and effortless. So naturally, I tried to match this energy. I saved a vintage Oscar de la Renta fur-trim dress for Paris, and it was perfect for a warm spring night. I paired it with pieces from one of my favorite French brands, Loulou de Saison, and my favorite Jimmy Choos. I also found myself gravitating toward my vintage Levi’s while I was there, so I threw them on with a white Zara turtleneck and a vintage Ralph Lauren pony-hair zebra jacket. Easy, comfortable, and very me.

When I tell you that I've spent the last week scouring every single runway show from the fall/winter 2026 season, zooming in on look after look to bring you this guide to fashion month's most memorable shoe trends, I'm not being dramatic. It's a labor of love, and one I'm happy to do. Shoes, after all, are kind of my weakness, so every minute I spent dissecting them on the runway for all of you is just as much for my own selfish means. Let's just say there's a hefty fall 2026 shoe wish list forming—and no, my wallet is not ready.

My callouts? High-vamp pumps continued to dominate, with an especially strong showing during New York Fashion Week at Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Khaite, Proenza Schouler, and Tory Burch. Polished animal prints were another standout, appearing at Saint Laurent and Jil Sander. Plus, if you're getting married next fall, consider your "something blue" handled, with little blue shoes proving to be on every designer's mind right now. Matthieu Blazy at Chanel and Pieter Mulier at Alaïa did them best. That's not all, of course. There are lots more shoe trends where those came from, all of which can be found below.

Fortunately, for anyone not patient enough to wait until fall to start shopping the shoe trends that debuted on the fall/winter 2026 runways, many of the best ones are available to shop already. Keep scrolling to get started.

Fall/Winter 2026 Shoe Trends

High Vamps

Ever since Phoebe Philo's Club Slippers arrived on the shoe scene last year, fashion people have been enamored with high-vamp pumps—and it showed on the fall/winter 2026 runways, particularly in New York. Tory Burch, Calvin Klein, Proenza Schouler, Khaite, and Michael Kors all debuted versions of their own, garnering plenty of attention online, as attendees made comparisons and decided which pairs they'd be purchasing come fall. What makes this shoe so desirable? It's comfortable, especially the low-heel versions made by Philo and Reformation.

Fierce Prints

Animal prints for fall? Not exactly groundbreaking. Somehow, though, brands like Jil Sander, Khaite, and Saint Laurent still managed to create fresh-feeling animal-print footwear to debut at their respective fall/winter 2026 shows in Milan, New York, and Paris. A pointed toe dipped in snakeskin, an experimental "leopard" pattern, and a high-vamp shape all contributed to making fierce prints gain back a sense of newness that fell away after so many seasons of the same old styles trending.

The Boots

There are boots, and then there are *the* boots that debuted on the fall/winter 2026 runways in Paris and New York, in particular. Tom Ford's show by Haider Ackermann (his second for the brand) was stocked full of sleek, sexy stiletto boots paired with pencil skirts—a combination that will be everywhere come fall. Khaite and Schiaparelli, too, included this sophisticated yet edgy boot silhouette, only adding to its appeal.

Something Blue

This trend isn't just for brides, but if you are getting hitched this fall, you'll have no trouble finding your "something blue." Just walk into your closest Chanel or Alaïa and take your pick. From satin ballet flats at Carven to knee-high, hand-stitched feather boots at Prada, there was no shortage of blue footwear on the runways this season, making for a fun, unexpected shoe trend worth investing in come autumn.

Twice Toned

The two-tone shoe trend has always been run by Chanel, but Matthieu Blazy's version transformed the style from a forever classic to an It item—*the* It item. It started with his spring/summer 2026 shoe offering for the French house, which is currently going viral online as fashion people fight over stock in Paris (and now, New York and more cities). The fall/winter 2026 shoe collection, though, is arguably even stronger, and two-tone styles are included throughout. Whether you're looking for ballet flats, pumps, or even boots, brands like Ferragamo, Ulla Johnson, and, of course, Chanel, have you covered,

Royal Jewels

Last season, rhinestones were encrusted on footwear at Prada and more. Now, for fall, brands are taking a subtler approach, coloring their shoes in rich, luxurious jewel tones. Moody shades of royal purple, jade green, sapphire, ruby, and tourmaline were scattered throughout this season's collections, at Ferragamo, Jil Sander, Balmain, Balenciaga, Zankov, Carolina Herrera, Christian Dior, and Khaite. Essentially, the royal jewels were everywhere—or better yet, will be everywhere come fall 2026.

Timeless T-Straps

Sometimes, a classic shoe just needs a brand or two to reinvent it to give it some life and a new era, which is exactly what happened at Christian Dior, Calvin Klein, Givenchy, and Jacquemus with T-strap heels. We all probably have (or have had) at least one pair in our closets, but they've likely been gathering dust. Now, unique styling options and playful colors, twists, and patterns have made T-strap heels feel fresh again.

Thigh-Highs

We often see thigh-high or over-the-knee boots on runways due to their high-impact look, but rarely do pairs that actually feel wearable debut, and this season, those are the exact styles we saw grace the runway at Chloé, Hermès, Khaite, and Ralph Lauren. It's really all about styling and finding ways to make over-the-knee boots look approachable but still like a statement. At Khaite, models donned them with just coats, as if to replace pants, and at Hermès, they were styled with leggings and tunics, giving the combination from the early to mid-2000s a much-needed update.

A Satin Touch

Satin shoes for fall might be risky, but after looking through all the pairs that debuted on the fall/winter 2026 runways this fashion month, I'm too in love with my options to care about what's "practical." Carven, Michael Kors, and Schiaparelli all debuted art-like footwear options in soft, shiny satin, as did Nº21, Zankov, Sandy Liang, and Loro Piana.

Why Trust Us?

At Who What Wear, fashion is our specialty. Our editors have years of industry experience, from reporting on seasonal fashion trends seen at international fashion weeks to working with some of the most recognizable names in fashion. Every item we recommend is carefully selected based on current trends, quality, and real-world wearability.

We regularly try pieces ourselves, including everything from best-selling jeans to designer shoes; speak to external experts and fashion insiders; and stay closely connected to what our readers are searching for. Our advice is grounded in expertise and has to pass our exceptional taste levels—so you can feel confident in every recommendation.

Valentino is entering a new era—and doing so in its hometown. Following the passing of founder Valentino Garavani earlier this year, the house returned to Rome for its fall/winter 2026 show, staged inside the storied halls of Palazzo Barberini. It marked another step in Creative Director Alessandro Michele’s ongoing evolution of the brand since his arrival post-Gucci—a tenure already defined by his signature romantic maximalism and deep love of '70s references.

For Valentino's fall/winter 2026 show, Michele leaned into the house’s flair for drama with sculptural silhouettes, saturated color, and styling moments that felt both nostalgic and entirely new. But among the collection’s many standout details, one accessory quietly stole the spotlight: the cummerbund. Reimagined as a bold satin waistband layered over chiffon blouses and minidresses, the traditionally formal piece suddenly felt playful, feminine, and undeniably cool. If Michele has anything to say about it, the cummerbund will be fashion’s most unexpected It accessory of the season.

Keep reading to discover all the standout moments from Valentino’s fall/winter 2026 show in Rome.

Everything to Know From the Valentino Fall/Winter 2026 Show

Cummerbund, But Make It Valentino

One of the most intriguing styling choices throughout the collection was the reappearance of the cummerbund—though not exactly as we know it. Michele reimagined the traditionally masculine eveningwear staple as a thick satin waistband, cinching the waist across a number of looks. Rather than pairing it with tuxedo shirting, the accessory was styled over diaphanous chiffon blouses, fluid minidresses, and softly draped separates.

The traditional cummerbund has been gaining traction recently, especially among Hollywood's leading men and fashion people styling silk scarves around their waists.

Roman Holiday

For fall/winter 2026, Valentino stepped outside the traditional fashion week circuit and returned to its roots, staging the show in Rome at the historic Palazzo Barberini. The 17th-century palace, known for its grand staircases and ornate ceilings, served as a striking backdrop for the collection—and notably hosted its first-ever fashion runway for the occasion. The label's show notes, posted to social media in the lead-up to the runway, make it clear: The choice of venue was more than aesthetic. Michele drew inspiration from the building’s layered architectural history, particularly the way styles and renovations from different centuries coexist within the same space.

A Colorful, Maximalist Palette

Color has always been one of Alessandro Michele’s greatest strengths, and this collection leaned confidently into that reputation. The runway was awash in rich, saturated tones: deep magentas, earthy mustards, jewel-toned teals, velvety plums, and flashes of fiery red. On paper, the palette might sound chaotic—but on the runway, it felt strangely harmonious, each shade layered against the next with Michele’s signature instinct for contrast that he often showed off at his previous tenure at Gucci.

Famous Amici

Naturally, the front row was as glamorous as the runway itself. Despite the exhaustion that typically follows fashion month, many guests made the journey specifically to support Michele—and to witness Valentino’s return to Rome. Friends of the house like Gwyneth Paltrow, Tyla, Lily Allen, Colman Domingo, Clairo, and Devon Lee Carlson all attended the show. Paltrow’s presence felt particularly poignant given her long history with the house and friendship with founder Valentino Garavani, who died earlier this year.

Statement Silhouettes

If the collection proved anything, it’s that Michele is deeply interested in shape—and the emotional effect a silhouette can create. Dramatic waterfall skirts cascaded from the hips in soft folds, while blouses were finished with plush fur cuffs that added a sense of tactile drama. Deep-V necklines plunged confidently, elongating the torso and lending an unmistakably sensual edge to otherwise classic pieces. The silhouettes felt deliberate and sculptural, often hugging or exaggerating the body in unexpected ways. The shapes on the runway were also a clear nod to the glamorous excess of the 1970s, a reference point Michele has been leaning into more heavily since arriving at Valentino.

With spring finally here, most of us are probably focusing on what to wear for the new season. However, in the capital of the UK, all eyes were on autumn/winter 2026 as London Fashion Week was the talk of the city. And whilst most of the talk over fashion month has been about what was trending on the runways (which you can hear our thoughts here), I couldn't help but notice all of the chic street style looks as well. And this, of course, includes the cool outfits I spotted on my fellow editors.

The Who What Wear UK editors made their way around London in stylish but practical outfits suited to navigate the numerous runway shows and presentations, as well as to celebrate our own 10-year anniversary party (thanks to the Kiyori Bar at Aki London). As ever, we travelled from show to show with our beloved Volvo Black Edition XC90 and our driver (shout out to Krys!), who was always on hand to take us from A to B, or take our much-needed outfit pics. From shows to presentations, coffee pick-ups and parties after-dark, whether we were heading west for the ultra-luxury brands or travelling to east of London to discover up-and-coming designers, or dodging the (very predictable) UK showers, Volvo got us around in style.

Naturally, once we were all back in the Who What Wear UK office, I had to ask them for their exact outfit breakdowns. So if you’re in need of some new-season outfit inspiration or are simply curious about what editors wear during fashion month, keep scrolling to see what Who What Wear UK editors wore to London Fashion Week in February 2026

What the Who What Wear UK Editors Wore to London Fashion Week

1. Faux-Fur Coat + Boots + Handbag

Style Notes: "When it comes to LFW outfit prep, my first thought is practicality. We all know London isn't known for its balmy, tropical weather, so the prospect of travelling from end to end of the city in thin layers is a no-go for me—enter the statement coat. A coat like this is the outfit (thank you, Karen Millen), and such an amazing print needed very little else to make it fashion week-ready. My staple kitten heel boots go with just about every outfit, and when I saw this incredible pink Prada Supernova bag at The Handbag Clinic, I knew it had to feature somewhere, and as it turns out, it made surprisingly good sense with a zebra print." - Remy Farrell, fashion editor

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2. Rain Jacket + Capri Leggings + Mules

Style Notes: "London was set for another day of drizzle, so a chic raincoat felt like an obvious option. Far from the dowdy styles I reach for when dashing out for a rainy walk to Sainsbury’s, Damson Madder’s checkered design brought a welcome sense of whimsy—perfectly suited to a day spent admiring London talent. I paired it with capri pants—another comfort-led choice—,but the cropped proportions added a touch of intrigue to the silhouette. From there, I kept the styling simple: oversized earrings, a tote roomy enough to stow my laptop for in-between-show writing, and a pair of understated black mules to finish." - Natalie Munroe, news writer

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3. Cape Jacket + Knee Skirt + Statement Boots

Style Notes: "It's important to note that Remy and I did not discuss our outfits ahead of getting dressed that morning, but were happy with the coincidence. The accessories are the MVPs in this outfit here—I love animal print, especially zebra right now, so the boots speak for themselves. The Chanel bag is one I sourced from eBay, it's from 2006 and one of the best secondhand purchases I've ever made. The wrap coat jacket and leather midi skirt are both from Massimo Dutti, I wanted something simple to wear so my accessories and footwear could shine. Then I topped the outfit off (quite literally) with a pillbox hat, which was inspired by my colleagues at Who What Wear US, who all seemed to be wearing one at New York Fashion Week." - Rebecca Rhys-Evans, deputy editor

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4. Denim Jacket + Jeans + Loafers

Style Notes: "Fashion week is a high-impact spectator sport. Those on the sidelines—well, front row in this case—aren’t just tasked with being passive observers, but are invited to get amongst the action and involved with the proceedings from the runway. This often entails even the most senior of editors sprinting to show, dashing across the city, and even madly dashing to find their seats à la Sofia Coppola at Chanel’s spring/summer 2026, should they be caught up in the minutia that is daily traffic. For this season, I almost wanted to lean into the energetic and fast-paced nature of the week even more by dressing with function in mind, whilst of course keeping things stylish.

Reaching for a double denim set from Australian brand With Jéan—I’m from Sydney after all, so it’s always special to style something homegrown and spotlight it on the international stage—I felt prepared for whatever the day brings in this effortlessly polished and practical uniform. A Canadian Tuxedo is actually the closest thing to a tastemaker’s uniform—just look at the personal style of Interview Magazine’s Mel Ottenberg—so wearing one out and about did really make me feel equipped for anything. To bring in some more individuality, I paired the look with a Mia Thermopolis-coded knitted hat from Asta Resort (peep the cute crochet rosette on the side!) and a blue suede tote bag from Manu Atelier." - Ava Gilchrist, SEO writer

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5. Bomber Jacket + Mini Skirt + Brogues

Style Notes: "As much as I admire the innate “Londonness” about the eclectic styling flocking the streets during London Fashion Week, I always try to keep my week's worth of fits as me as possible. And above all, comfort and warmth are key. Now, I know I say this in a mini-skirt funnel-neck ensemble, but trust me, there was method to my madness. With little time in the schedule, any seasoned Fashion Week goer knows the tube or walking is often the best way to get around. And, in the mayhem, it's rather easy to work up a sweat. So, any iteration of a skirt is a fail-safe way to keep cool. But then, you typically are waiting outside whilst waiting for the shows to start, and the weather in London, especially in February, can be a tad chilly. So, this is where my practical yet on-trend funnel-neck jacket comes into play. Not only did it keep me cosy, but it provided that cool-girl “London” edge the season is known for. Finishing with a derby, a shoe practical enough for the 10,000 steps you’re likely to achieve. Injected some visual interest through my longline Fuchsia Shaw plaid shirt to break up the muted contrast; it's an outfit I’ve worn on repeat since." - Imani-Nia Francis-Tsolakis, junior fashion editor

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6. Trench Coat + Shirt + Skirt-Trousers

Style Notes: "In classic London style, it was raining on day 2 of fashion week, so my outfit centred around practicality. I’ve had this raincoat for years and wanted to give it a preppy spin with a shirt and tie, paired with this grey pleated skirt/trouser hybrid to lean even further into the school uniform vibe. To finish it off, fashion week for me isn’t complete without a fun accessory, so I topped it off with a fun, fluffy hat." - Megan Storey, social media editor

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I have been quite outspoken over the past few years about the way in which I have witnessed the importance of fashion month dwindle and then rise again within the beauty industry. Over the past few seasons, I have started to see more beauty trends emerge from runways than from social media—and this, naturally, fills me with joy. We have started to return to a slower beauty trend cycle. But nothing has made me more sure that fashion month is set to start dictating our beauty trends even more than the autumn/winter 2026 runways.

Yes, the curtain on A/W 26 fashion month has officially fallen—and the impact it made was unprecedented. We saw Matthieu Blazy's Chanel dominate the zeitgeist, Jonathan Anderson's Dior make waves and clips of Demna's star-studded Gucci runway become inescapable on our feeds. And while the chatter has, up until this point, been focused on fashion, as a beauty director, I have had my eyes firmly on the beauty.

This is every major A/W26 beauty look you're going to want to reference next season—trust me.

PARIS

Inspired by metamorphosis and the lifecycle of the butterfly, Matthieu Blazy's Chanel was nothing short of a feat—and the high-shine, silvery beauty accents dotted throughout the show are sure to prove monumental next season.

Matte lips made a big return at Victoria Beckham, where makeup artist Lucia Pica created a matte-pink-lip focal point, using Victoria Beckham Beauty Posh Balm in Colette.

Christian Dior put fresh-faced Parisian chic firmly on the agenda. Created by Peter Philips, creative and image director for Dior Makeup, he explains the look by saying, “I created a natural, fresh, very contemporary look, with a luminous complexion and eyes subtly accentuated with touches of black kohl. Like traces of make-up, for the light, nonchalant effect, in ‘Parisian girl’ style.” It's the lips plumped with Dior Addict Lip Maximizer in 001 Pink that wins the whole thing for me.

We saw washes of brown eyeshadow at Rabanne. The hue was extended beyond the lid and smoked out around lower lashes to create an exceptionally well-polished take on an otherwise grungy makeup look.

Delicately gelled up-dos at Dries Van Noten were paired with sharp feathered brow accents.

High-glam led the way at Saint Laurent with a retro smokey eye, berry lips and masterfully slicked-back hair.

I haven't been able to stop thinking about the slightly blurred, messy, berry-chocolate lips at Carven since I first set eyes on them.

And speaking of dark, stained lips, the precise application of the deep plump-brown lipstick at Elie Saab is something I've definitely taken note of.

Chloé-girl hair is epitomised by long, flowing, bohemian waves, but for A/W 26 the house explored elements of folk, too. Anthony Turner, lead hair stylist, says, "We used the Dyson Supersonic r to mimic the effect of real wind: holding out the hair, shaking it gently, then using the concentrator attachment to blast air through. This creates that fluffy, flyaway effect—totally light, totally alive.”

Bend-It-Like-Beckham-style stretchy hair combs made a comeback at Miu Miu.

Grey smoked eyes and wet-look, slicked-back hair led the way at Givenchy. Makeup artist Lucia Pieroni, who created the look, says, “The idea was to convey strength through the eyes. These were framed in an almost diffused black so that it felt worn and personal, not harsh but luxurious.”

The subtly flushed cheeks at Louis Vuitton are sitting front and centre of my A/W vision board.

High-gloss, statement blush, dewy highlight and iridescent eye shadow—Balenciaga had it all.

The looks at Stella McCartney are always a masterclass in natural beauty. This season, models had nude but perfected nails with Kure Bazaar's Base Intensive Hyaluronique. Skin was prepped with skincare and left glowing. And on hair, Eugene Souleiman, hair director and Kevin Murphy pro ambassador, created a look that restored each model's hair to its healthiest, most natural state.

MILAN

Demna's Gucci really delivered night-time glam, and smokey eyes were the focal point.

The messy Prada girl is going nowhere for A/W, and this season's beauty masterpiece came via dishevelled ponytails and smudged liner.

Jil Sander was a masterclass in how to nail balmy skin and a statement lip.

Velvet waves and silky skin made for the ultimate beauty combination at Fendi.

Undone hair and imperfect partings proved commonplace on A/W runways, and this look at Giorgio Armani sums things up expertly.

Side-swept, '80s-esque volume in hair also made a major comeback. This Boss look is beautifully nostalgic.

Cold-girl blush and brushed brows define autumn/winter for Missoni.

LONDON

The beauty looks at Harris Reed are always major, and this season proved no exception. Created by global artistry director at Charlotte Tilbury, Sofia Tilbury, the graphic liner (created with Charlotte Tilbury Classic Eyeliner in Classic Black and Rock 'n' Kohl in Bedroom Black) made a bold impact. “Harris’ vision this season is bold, expressive and sculptural, so we wanted the makeup to feel equally powerful. The graphic liner creates structure and strength, while fresh, lit-from-within skin and softly enhanced lips bring balance. It’s about creating tension between the dramatic and refined, the bold and wearable,” she says.

Draped blusher and matte textures stood out at Simone Rocha. Makeup artist Thomas de Kluyver created the look with Byredo, using Stromboli and Reunion Matte Lipstick.

Emilia Wickstead is always very much about a fresh-faced glow, and we have not been let down for A/W 26. Eve Lom facials were given to models backstage using the Eve Lom exclusive London Fashion Week Skincare Bundle, while Bobbi Brown Cosmetics global pro artist, Amy Conway, amplified the skin with a sheer glow and brushed brows. "We introduced gentle structure to the eyes using Stone Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick. The result is a look that feels modern, confident and quietly powerful, while remaining true to the individuality of each model,” she says.

Sam McKnight MBE created the hair look as "an ode to the '30s, with natural textures and waves defined, tied low with an androgynous silhouette."

The main beauty event at Burberry? The sort of balmy glow I could only dream of come winter.

Joseph was all about that hair. Anna Cofone, global creative advocate for Authentic Beauty Concept and hair lead for the show, says, “The inspiration for the hair was a blend of ’70s freedom and ’80s power femininity. The ’80s power comes through in that pushed-back, slightly oblique shape—we didn’t want a sharp parting, it had to feel like she’d had her hair done three or four days ago. She’s someone with a high-flying job, she parties, she goes for long walks—there’s a realness to her." The look was achieved by heroing Authentic Beauty Concept Hydrate Spray Conditioner and Authentic Beauty Concept Airy Texture Spray.

Tilbury also took the lead on makeup at Julien Macdonald, where full glam once again reigned supreme. “This season, the Julien Macdonald woman is strong, confident and unapologetically glamorous. The collection reflects a beautiful fusion between softness and structure, femininity and strength—and we wanted the makeup to mirror that same duality," says Tilbury. The highlight for me is, well, that highlight—created with Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter.

Everything about the beauty look at Erdem was, in my opinion, perfection. Skin was prepped by renowned facialist Hadda Akrim with SkinCeuticals Express Glass Skin Sculpting Facials backstage, heroing the brand's cult P-Tiox serum."The intention is all about creating a strong, hydrated base. We use specific techniques to ensure the skin is plump and hydrated, focusing on products that offer immediate results without feeling heavy,” says Hadda.

Makeup came courtesy of Fara Homidi. "I really wanted them to be their own characters. Even though we're doing basically a similar look on everyone, it's just emphasising their own personal features," she says. For me, it's the wash of warming brown over lids that sold me on the Fara Homidi Essential Eye Compact in No. 20.

And as for the hair? Another Souleiman creation with Kevin Murphy. “It needed to feel real,” says Souleiman. “It didn't feel like it was styled in front of a mirror. It was like hair that women could do themselves; that's what we did." To achieve the look, hair was freshly washed and air-dried before a light misting of Kevin Murphy Anti Gravity Spray from a distance.

Both hair and skin glowed with unparalleled sheen and health at Toga.

Dishevelled glam led the way at Di Petsa with out-of-place hair and morning-after-the-night-before makeup.

At Tolu Coker, hair was preened to perfection by Efi Davies using Toni & Guy, while matte shadow also tapped into the overarching sense of nostalgia.

Electric blue lashes framed the upper lash line at Edeline Lee.

In true Richard Quinn fashion, Sam McKnight MBE created glossy chignons with form-fitting twists using his Superlift and Easy-Up Do volume and texturising sprays.

Hair at Chet Lo was nothing short of a work of art. Creative by Cofone with Authentic Beauty Concept, she explains, “The inspiration for the hair was a reflection of Southeast Asian identity, drawing from the iconic headdresses of Peking Opera. In opera, the feathers create these beautiful calligraphic lines that extend the performer’s movement. We wanted to reinterpret that in a simple, modern way. The glass-straight hair keeps everything disciplined and refined, and then the feathers or sculptural chignon details interrupt that precision. It’s about control and movement existing together. At the heart of every look was Authentic Beauty Concept Glow Spray Serum— the hero product backstage—delivering high-impact shine and that ultra-reflective, glass finish that feels modern and directional. I think we’re going to see glass-like, ultra-straight hair return after seasons of larger, more natural and textured styles."

Conner Ives showcased '90s beauty perfection with this look. Grey lids and pencil-thin brows shone, while hair, which was created by Claire Grech for Bumble and bumble, championed a high-shine side-part, created by warming a small amount of Bumble and bumble Sumo Gel between hands and glazing over the surface of the twist for added gloss.

NEW YORK

Beautifully bronzed skin proved their is always a place for winter glow at Ralph Lauren.

I am a sucker for a bare-face/red-lip combination, and the intentionally messy application of lipstick at Michael Kors is perfectly imperfect.

There's no doubt that winged liner is set for somewhat of a resurgence in A/W 26, and this look at Tory Burch makes a strong case for it.

Whatever the season, in my opinion, there is always room for a clumpy lash look, and this one at Proenza Schouler sets the standard.

Glowy skin dominated at Sandy Liang, but in a sleepy-girl sort of way. The dreamy plumpness was achieved with Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water, Revive Under Eye Patches and Dynasty Cream.

LaQuan Smith was all about mega volume in the hair and precisely framed eyes.

Over the past couple of years, I have become totally enamoured with Coach's approach to bed-head hair—and this season proved no different.

I have been predicting an almost-black lipstick movement for some time now, and this look at Khaite makes a very strong case for it.

A brand famed for its expert approach to prettiness, this pink-on-pink look at Carolina Herrera is nothing short of beautiful.

Slicked-back knots paired minimalism with intricate styling at Altuzarra.

Another side-parted, power hairstyle, the way Calvin Klein's slicked-back look remains soft and playful is divine.

COPENHAGEN

High-shine dolphin skin is looking set to make a major comeback as we venture into the second-half of the year, and Baum und Pferdgarten knows it.

Cofone preserved individuality in hair texture at Holzweiler. "Rather than changing the hair, we wanted to elevate how it already is, celebrating what makes each person unique. It has that two-day-old feeling: polished, but very lived-in. We focused on products that I use across the red carpet, runway and everyday. Authentic Beauty Concept’s Hydrate Spray Conditioner is one of my essentials for bringing moisture back into all hair textures without weighing the hair down," she says.

It's been a particularly busy fashion month, and whether reporting live from the front row at London Fashion Week or celeb-spotting in New York, one thing I always make time for, whatever the city, is to note the street-style trends. Designers may set the tone for what we're going to wear next season, but the crowds outside the shows are a strong indicator of what's resonating now. One standout this season? Just how much stylish Parisians love denim.

If you thought the typical French wardrobe was still bouclé jackets, cigarette trousers and ballet pumps, I can assure you that times have drastically changed. People in the French capital love experimenting with shape, colour and texture, and whilst the French will always be known for their appreciation of the classics, modern dressers are also incorporating playful pieces and fun accessories into their looks, refreshing what we consider to be the archetypal French "uniform".

This March, Paris was full of spring-ready outfits built around denim staples. Yes, there were jeans and blouses, jeans and tees, jeans and jackets, jeans and… well, just about anything, but there were also plenty of denim jackets and skirts, too. For too long, humble denim has been relegated to casual territory, but Parisians know how to style it up to its full potential.

Curious as to how you can make denim feel fresh in 2026? Keep scrolling to see the five denim trends that have been doing the rounds this PFW for some inspiration. After all, it's one of the fashion capitals of the world for very good reason.

1. Ultra-Distressed Jeans

Style Notes: Parisians might have a reputation for being polished, but that's not going to stop them from getting into a down-and-dirty denim trend like roughed-up, distressed jeans. If they look like they've been slept in, rolled around in and worn day in and day out for years, they get the cool-girl stamp of approval. We called it first, and the rise of the "messy girl" aesthetic is a rally against the quiet-luxury, clean-girl look that has dominated fashion for the past couple of years. This season, it pays to look like you haven't tried too hard, so don't.

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2. White Jeans

Style Notes: Yes, you can wear cream, ecru and white trousers outside of summer, and at Paris Fashion Week, attendees were wearing white washes of denim with warmer layers like funnel-neck jackets and mohair cardigans over tanks and tees. There's something surprisingly luxe about cream denim in looser, relaxed fits, but especially when accessorised with heels and chic mini bags.

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3. Quirky Details

Style Notes: With so many pairs of straight-legged indigo and true-blue jeans on the market, Parisians are looking for a point of difference that makes their denim stand out. Little touches like studs, embroidery, reworked waistbands, contrast stitching and raw hems help turn simple jeans into a talking point, and follow the lead of designers like Coperni, Acne and Diesel, who are rewriting the denim rulebook in the 2020s.

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4. Double Denim

Style Notes: Perhaps it's time to rebrand the "Texan tuxedo" as the "French fancy", because whilst Americans have moved away from double denim, Europeans are leaning into it. Unlike the original slim fit of the '80s and '90s, this time around, we're doing double denim supersized. Baggy jeans stuffed into boots, balloon jackets tucked into waistbands: the bigger the better for Parisians who are adopting this easy outfit combo for a dose of off-duty cool. Sorry, skinnies, this look is all about roomy denim that prioritises comfort.

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5. Long Denim Skirts

Style Notes: I would be remiss not to include skirts on a list of the best denim trends to come out of Paris this season. Often falling well below jeans, jackets and shorts in the best-denim rankings, the overlooked denim skirt is just as versatile as its cousins, but with a little more spring/summer appeal (if you ask this editor). On days when clingy jeans are just too much, long denim skirts strike the perfect balance between coverage and airy freedom, and the French prefer theirs in mid-blue washes that go with everything from blouses to bomber jackets.

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Lauren Chan is a Who What Wear editor in residence, model, former award-winning fashion editor, and founder of Henning, a luxury plus-size clothing label.

Among this season's top runway trends are super-high necklines, pillbox hats, and, most notably, volume in the places that fashion has long told us to avoid appearing voluptuous: on thighs, midsections, shoulders, and arms. Technically speaking, it should make sense that the fall/winter 2025 and spring/summer 2026 trend of exaggerated hips—shown by disruptive designers like Duran Lantink—would move to other parts of the body. I imagine fashion fans have had a mixed set of reactions to this wandering weight…

Some must be confused, seriously and utterly perplexed that the industry's elite now find appearing larger attractive. Others, likely with lived experience in bigger bodies, might be deeply offended or, conversely, relieved. I find myself in the latter camp, letting out a sigh of relief at feeling "allowed" to look bigger. The idea of playing with my body and its proportions via clothing makes me feel as if there's permission use fashion as it is intended, for expression and art rather than an omnipresent tool of minimization. I feel as if I can finally scream, "Fuck all of those years—no, decades—of flattery."

It's a good thing I'm on board with the unflattering trend because it was everywhere at New York Fashion Week. RuPaul's Drag Race's costume designer Zaldy presented volume in the form of structured suede leg sleeves. The Vivienne Westwood–ification of silhouette is undeniable and is being reinterpreted bigger and better by brands like Collina Strada. Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen, an emerging designer known for ergonomic sculpting through material, showed her now-signature uneven-breast corset.

This season gave us the answer to WWRW (What would Rihanna wear?) courtesy of A$AP Rocky's AWGE collection: boxy PVC shirting. Even skirts over pants are back at Diotima, Campillo, and Sandy Liang—a far, far cry from the skinny-jeans era. At Showpony's debut, hair was used to create full hips and thighs, something we've seen Chris Horan style on Charli XCX with similar fur and draping. From heritage brands like Calvin Klein to newly minted LVMH Prize semifinalist Lii, suiting is oversize and structured to sit away from the body.

To be clear, I've spent years working on my body image and advocating for size diversity in fashion. I believe that no designer can decide whether it's okay to exist in a bigger body, but as ever, fashion remains the strongest force in setting the beauty standard. These looks defy the "as small as possible" aesthetic and the fact that designers, together, have shown them at a time when Ozempic has ravaged Hollywood is worth noting. We have learned over the past two decades that the beauty ideal is subjective, switching from early-aughts thin to Kardashian curvy. The belief that it is actually absolute is simply a result of repeated exposure, so a trend featuring larger silhouettes is welcome.

Truer still, fashion is not the place to be looking for the perfect take on size inclusion. One glaring and very problematic point: This trend was almost exclusively seen on super-slim people. Just a few looks were on curve models (Yasmín Moon at Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen, Arnelle Slot at Collina Strada, and Devyn Garcia at Campillo) as part of emerging designers' collections. It seems the old guard left the plus-size models in their shows in very sleek, black looks while sample-size ones were covered in inches of plumage. This observation begs, perhaps, the most important questions. Who is allowed to appear larger? And according to whom?

Adding to the body exemplifies the desire for the 1% to do what's rare. History tells us that being fat in a famine or able to change one's body proportions at will—especially at a runway ready-to-wear or couture price—is luxe. Even now, Skims is selling butt-padded underwear and thigh-padded shapers while Kim Kardashian allegedly reverses her BBL. Through this lens, it all starts to feel disingenuous, like it could easily teeter into the aforementioned offensiveness. How long until we see a designer like Elena Velez, who showed controversial body horror for fall/winter 2026 via looksmaxxing models in prosthetic chin implants and facelift bandages, parade a fat suit down the runway?

One thing I know for sure is that it is important to observe and dissect how fashion is talking about bodies and find our own feelings in the discourse. While I feel relieved that not every outfit I wear needs to make me appear smaller, I know I need to continue to speak up against fatphobia in the industry and for more genuine body diversity. I'll be keeping a critical eye open as we approach the Met Gala, where this year's dress code is "Fashion Is Art" and the exhibit itself, Costume Art, will display "artworks to reveal the inherent relationship between clothing and the body," according to the museum. Until then, take up space, whether it's in or not.

Earlier on during Paris Fashion Week, The Row staged a runway for its Winter 2026 collection that was, in keeping with the brand's no-phone traditions, quiet, mysterious, and under wraps until they said so. Showgoers who attended spoke about how the Paris light and unseasonably warm weather flooded into the venue space and how afterwards, they were treated to a carton of cherries and blackberries—a thoughtful touch that the brand has become known for.

With the week's shows winding down, we're finally able to dive into the offering now that images have been published, and as usual, it was worth the wait. Filled with all the savvy and carefully studied features that always delight us about The Row, the collection was also notably unfussy. Workhorse staples and couture-esque craftsmanship lived side-by-side in many looks, becoming both aspirational and inspirational at once. Winter 2026 also continues with the maximalism and texture from last season, with touches of velvet ribbons and sheer organza punctuating the pared-back tailoring.

From new suiting silhouettes to the expert deployment of sheer layering, these are the key elements that every fashion person will look to emulate. Here, we're unpacking the winter 2026 collection's top-level takeaways and the potential new It items to know.

Advanced Sheer Layering

A string of pearls peeking through from underneath a sheer turtleneck. An organza top layered over a poplin tunic. These were the styling tactics employed by The Row that indicated a truly advanced level of layering that felt like nothing we'd seen before. Sheer dressing is hardly novel, yet this collection managed to deploy translucent fabrics in an innovative way that only The Row could.

Slimmer Silhouettes

Slouchy, relaxed looks, once the calling card of the brand's ready-to-wear, were all but absent on this runway, where the tailoring was decidedly more slim-fitted. Cigarette trousers and shrunken jackets were the heroes of The Row's fall lineup, and it indicates a larger shift that we've been taking note of across the runways this season. The close cuts and precise tailoring of the late '90s are officially back.

An Update on Maximalism

If the arrival of opulent textures like feathers and sequins took The Row into a new era of maximalism last season, the winter 2026 show was an evolution of where their unique take on louder looks is heading. The answer was a series of looks that incorporated stealthy texture—whether it was through a fur-trimmed pencil skirt, sparse feather collar, or shredded velvet ribbons.

It-Item Potential: Polished Pumps

It wouldn't be a report on The Row runway if we weren't zooming in on the accessories. The shoes and bags tend to be on the fast track for It-item status, and this season, it was the polished pumps that took center stage. Classic point-toe heels finished off many of the looks, and they were styled mainly with a pair of sheer black or gray tights, lending a ladylike finish to skirts and beautiful coats.

The Necklines to Know

Elegance is always in at The Row, and as they seem to say each season, less is more to that end. The way to do modern elegance in 2026? It's all in the silhouette. Curved boat necklines arrived on several shift dresses on this runway, and their collarbone-framing shape makes even something as simple as an LBD feel altogether more special.

We made it—this very long, jam-packed fashion month is coming to a close. If you've been following along on Who What Wear this season, you know that we've been bringing you every update there is to know during NYFW, LFW, MFW, and now, PFW, from the noteworthiest runway moments to the best celebrity looks to behind-the-scenes updates on Instagram to, of course, the street style. As the show attendees will attest, after four cities, that's a lot of outfits, but per usual, they saved some of their best looks for last. The Paris Fashion Week street style vibe is arguably the most elegant and refined, but that doesn't mean the fashion crowd doesn't experiment with trends.

I combed through hundreds of PFW street style images and selected the best looks of the week, all of which represent current trends or outfit formulas that feel fresh and worth your attention. The celebrities, editors, models, influencers, and fashion execs who were photographed heading to and from the shows know what's cool, so trust me—scrolling through won't be a waste of your time. With that, scroll on to see the best looks straight from the streets of Paris Fashion Week and shop similar pieces to get the look.

Paris Fashion Week Street Style F/W 26

The Formula: Red Turtleneck + Black Sweater + Khaki Skirt + Tights + White Pumps

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The Formula: Floral-Print Crop Top + Cropped Skinny Pants + Flip-Flops

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The Formula: Cream Bomber Jacket + White Tee + Cream Trousers + Brown Suede Shoes

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The Formula: Button-Down + Matching Scarf + Dark-Wash Jeans + Ankle Boots

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The Formula: Blazer + Matching Trousers + Pointed-Toe Shoes

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The Formula: Trench Coat + Running Shorts + Pumps

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The Formula: Leather Coat + Black Top + Lace-Trimmed Skirt + Pumps

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The Formula: Red Dress + Red Bag + Black Pumps

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The Formula: Leather Bomber Jacket + V-Neck Sweater + Miniskirt + Tights + Ankle Boots

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The Formula: Leather Bomber Jacket + Brown Scarf-Sweater + Matching Shorts + Tights + Pumps

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The Formula: Red Funnel-Neck Jacket + Trousers + White Pumps

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The Formula: Leather Trench + Silky Dress + Pumps

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The Formula: Red Sweater + Matching Scarf + Red Bag + Light-Wash Jeans + Pumps

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The Formula: Black Turtleneck + Brown Suede Skirt + Tights + High-Heel Sandals

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The Formula: Leopard-Print Jacket + Black Pants + Zebra-Print Heels

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It’s been a minute since Hermès truly leaned into a hyper-specific mood—not just impeccable craft or quiet luxury but an atmosphere you can feel as much as you see. In a fashion climate that increasingly prizes shock value and visual flash, the Hermès fall/winter 2026 show felt like a deliberate shift into something more enigmatic, moody, and quietly compelling. Creative Director Nadège Vanhee, who’s long championed discreet elegance, took that signature Hermès rigor and let it breathe with a kind of dusky sensuality that lingered like the last light of day. It isn't the first time the maison has taken a step in a sultrier direction. In retrospect, last season's highly praised spring/summer 2026 show felt like it was leading up to this moment for Vanhee and the brand.

This wasn’t a show about loud moments or viral outfits. (Though, there were plenty worth talking about.) It was a show about vibe, atmosphere, and a deeply felt aesthetic that hovered somewhere between twilight and night. Hermès wrote about the collection as a moment “when perception heightens and senses sharpen,” calling upon the moment between dusk and dawn, where fading light warps all. This is Hermès, after all, where beauty, craft, and elegance meet in the middle. Plus, seeing an enviable Kelly Bag go down the runway doesn't hurt the glamour, either.

Below, read our full recap of the Hermès fall/winter 2026 show during Paris Fashion Week.

Into the Twilight World

Hermès didn’t just decorate the space—it activated it. The moment you walked in, you felt the show’s concept: that beautiful, fleeting hour of dusk when the world softens and perception sharpens. Hydrated moss decorated the runway while a James Turrell–inspired light fixture washed the runway in the twilight color palette: deep blues and soft shadows, all adding to the overall mood Vanhee aimed to capture this season.

An Intentional Palette

Hermès’s palette this season was less about trend and more about temperature. Think oxblood that felt like the last warmth of sunset, moss green that almost melted into the runway floor, navy that fell into shadow, and mustard that popped like a glint of fading light. These weren’t seasonal colors tossed together hastily—they felt chosen with the same care Hermès puts into its leathers and cuts.

The Best of Bags

Let’s be honest: Hermès doesn’t need to prove that its bags are iconic. But seeing them here felt charged. Classic Kellys, structured Picotins, slouchy Hobo bags (and in unexpected exotic leathers!) weren’t just accessories; they were punctuation marks in a full-look narrative.

While the womenswear felt very dark, certain handbags in brighter and even neon-adjacent colors served as statement pieces for the more adventurous Hermès customer.

Horse-Girl Energy

Hermès’s equestrian roots surfaced with a confident wink this season. While the maison first began with an array of dedicated horse and riding goods, which still exist today, the fusion of equestrian wear and fashion was apparent this season: thigh-high riding boots that serve as fashion statements or jodhpurs, traditional riding pants, that were reimagined in sleeker silhouettes or in modern two-piece cuts.

After-Hours Beauty

Beauty at the Hermès fall/winter 2026 show nearly took center stage as much as the ready-to-wear and accessories. Smoky tones around the eyes, soft contours, and intentional under‑eye dimension read editorial without feeling too conceptual. It read as someone who’s been out all evening, is coming home in the wee hours of twilight, and looks even better doing it.

Hair was understated, barely there, letting the beauty, the lighting, and those beautifully crafted ready-to-wear pieces take center stage.

Anyone who knows me will know about my not-so-subtle penchant for French style. There’s just something about it: always elegant, always effortless, there's a reason Paris has long been regarded as the home of some of the chicest dressing in the world.

So when Paris Fashion Week rolls around and the city fills with some of the most stylish people on the planet, you know I won’t let the moment pass me by. Indulging in a little street style spotting, courtesy of the Parisian fashion set, I combed through the crowds to pinpoint the key trends gaining traction right now.

From the outerwear trend Parisians are actually wearing (hint: it’s not bouclé) to the new shoe silhouette overtaking ballet flats, below are the five street style trends from Paris Fashion Week March 2026 that are already taking off.

1. Red Jackets

Style Notes: Sorry, beige bouclé—fashion people in Paris are bundling up in red jackets instead. While red bomber and windbreaker styles made the biggest impact on the streets, I also spotted striking trench coats and tailored blazers in the shade throughout the week. Injecting a confident pop of colour into otherwise pared-back outfits, this bold outerwear choice added personality without compromising that enduring Parisian polish

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2. Archival Icons

Style Notes: I spotted countless fashion insiders carrying revived it bags, from the iconic Chloé Paddington Bag to the Celine Phantom Bag and Balenciaga Le City Bag. These once-beloved designs, many of which have been reissued in recent years, are clearly finding favour again.

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3. Bootcut Jeans

Style Notes: This season, the city’s most stylish dressers are swapping their straight-leg and baggy jeans for sleek bootcut silhouettes. Subtly flared through the calf, the shape elongates the leg while introducing a slightly bohemian, ‘70s-inspired feel.

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4. Lace-Trim

Style Notes: Delicate lace trims added a romantic flourish to many of the prettiest looks throughout the week. Spotted peeking out from skirts and slips, the detail brought a soft, feminine finish to outfits. Elegant and intricate, it also taps into the broader romantic aesthetic that continues to gain momentum this season.

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5. Square-Toe Heels

Style Notes: After seasons dominated by ballet flats and Mary Janes, heels are finally returning to the street style scene. But rather than delicate stilettos, the fashion set are stepping out in chunkier, more sculptural square-toe heels. Slightly more directional, and a little less traditionally “pretty”, this modern silhouette feels like a natural evolution, and one I suspect will soon make its way across the Channel, too.

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Pierpaolo Piccioli has a tough job at Balenciaga. Heading a brand as big as this one comes with responsibilities that include pleasing shoppers who, prior to his arrival, were buying a very different aesthetic than the one the house is traditionally known for and satisfying buyers who desire a return to the Balenciaga of yore, when its founder, Cristóbal Balenciaga, established the house's codes. Piccioli's work is elegant, refined, and sophisticated, which is why so many Balenciaga traditionalists praised the brand's choice to bring him on. Demna—who left in 2025 and is now the creative director at Gucci—followed a more alternative direction during his decade-long tenure at the brand, leaning into streetwear and grunge-forward style. This is what makes Piccioli's task at hand such a difficult one. He has to meet the demands of both groups, not isolating those who've been shopping from the brand these last 10 years while also bringing in new and returning customers who desire a look that's more in line with Cristóbal Balenciaga's original vision.

Piccioli, who debuted his sophomore collection for Balenciaga this weekend during Paris Fashion Week, did just that, easing into his still-new position by checking off both customer bases' core boxes. According to the collection notes, "the centrality of and focus on the human form" for fall 2026 expanded the methodologies of Cristóbal Balenciaga, with "the body itself [becoming] the structure inside garments." The couturier's influence continued in the formal gowns that were strewn throughout the 81-look offering, ranging from beaded and sequined numbers that glittered with every step to equally elegant but less intricate draped-jersey options that revealed bits of skin and hugged the body in all the right places. Also featured, though, were casual, laid-back ensembles with leggings and cigarette jeans as focal points styled with furry outerwear and voluminous leather bomber jackets in bright, daring shades—nods back to the streetwear many have come to associate with Balenciaga.

"Different generations walk together in clothes created to symbiotically fuse them as a collective power yet celebrate them as individual forces united in being," the collection notes state. The Balenciaga of old and new found a home in the fall/winter 2026 offering, ushering in an entirely new era for the house Cristóbal Balenciaga built that blends both.

Scroll down to read and see more about Balenciaga's F/W 26 collection.

What is ClairObscur?

This aforementioned sense of duality also showed itself in an entirely different way in the collection. The fall/winter 2026 offering was titled ClairObscur, in reference to a High Renaissance art technique of the same name that explores the tension between darkness and light. "Light defined by its shadow, darkness always relieved with light," the collection notes describe. "The collection finds an interplay in these inherent antinomies, the certitude and truth that one cannot exist without the other." Clair-obscur effects can be seen on handbags, like the Midnight City and HG Avenue bags as well as d'orsay sneakers and expertly draped gowns.

Euphoria x Balenciaga

Anyone excited about the long-awaited new season of Euphoria got a hint of what's to come at the Balenciaga show. Piccioli teamed up with Euphoria creator Sam Levinson for the event, creating a backdrop for the collection's reveal that included clips from the forthcoming third season. To add emphasis to the collaboration, the soundtrack for the runway show featured tracks by one of Euphoria's newest cast members, Rosalía, and Labrinth, the singer-songwriter responsible for some of the show's most iconic scores. Another newcomer to the series, Danielle Deadwyler, sat front row and was featured on prints throughout the collection. Deadwyler also read out a line of text to kick off the show: "The forms of bodies could not be understood in detail, but for shadow—shadows are created by light."

It's 2012 Again

It's true: 2010s fashion is back, and Balenciaga's F/W 26 show is the final piece of proof we needed to make the era's sartorial return official. Let us explain. First, there were the apparel and accessories references, including ombré throughout, particularly on handbags, as well as leggings, cigarette jeans, platforms with cheeky peep-toe details, and sleek leather bomber jackets in bright shades like fuchsia and red. Then, of course, there was Josh Hutcherson, aka Peeta Mellark from The Hunger Games (2012), sitting in the front row. (Granted, he was there with the rest of his I Love LA costars, but we can't help but to think of him in THG first.) Micro minidresses and thigh-high moto boots only added to the 2010s aesthetic.

All-New Bags

Balenciaga's handbag selection has been especially buy-worthy over the last few seasons, and the Rodeo, specifically, has dominated in a landscape that's stocked with beautiful options. But the brand isn't resting on its laurels. Instead, Piccioli used the fall/winter 2026 show as an excuse to up the ante, debuting a handful of new styles and updated takes on existing ones, all of which will be spotted around the fashion world in a few months. The new Balenciaga bags include the HG Avenue bag and the George bag, two instant classics. Piccioli also showcased the Midnight City bag, a fresh take on the brand's iconic City bag that features the clair-obscur effect.

Hudson Williams: Balenciaga's New Face

Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams has been making the rounds during fashion month, popping up in New York, Milan, and now Paris for the Balenciaga show. In February, the Canadian actor appeared alongside Harris Dickinson, Winona Ryder, and others in the brand's summer 2026 campaign, with Balenciaga calling him a "friend of the house" in a press release. A month later, he's sitting front row alongside both of his aforementioned costars in the campaign as well as the cast of I Love LA. Oh, and Piccioli's pup. For the occasion, Williams wore all black, including a smooth-leather bomber jacket and a matching handbag. Will he be announced as an official brand ambassador before the fall 2026 collection debuts in stores? Only time will tell.

The establishment is not feeling whimsical anymore—or at least that’s the prevailing mood on the runways lately, where a certain brand of serious, hyperpolished minimalist crafted brands have dominated our social media feeds. But childhood knows something the fashion cycle tends to forget: The most interesting worlds are the ones built out of imagination, a bit of chaos, and a willingness to play. The best clothes, in this editor's opinion, toe the line between meticulously crafted and delightfully absurd.

For their second season at Spanish fashion house Loewe, creative directors Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez seemed determined to remember exactly that. A sophomore outing is always a telling moment in a designer’s tenure—the point where the polite introductions are over and a clearer personality begins to emerge. If their debut established the parameters of a new Loewe, the fall/winter 2026 season suggested the pair are far less interested in solemn heritage than in what happens when craft gets a little mischievous. Think meticulous technique, yes, but also the slightly unhinged joy of dressing as if you’ve just raided a particularly deranged toy chest.

The result was a collection that felt less like a solemn continuation of Loewe’s legacy and more like the beginning of a new chapter—one where technical brilliance and childhood imagination coexist happily.

Below, read our full recap of the Loewe fall/winter 2026 collection during Paris Fashion Week.

Cool Kids Craft Club

For their sophomore outing at Loewe, creative directors Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez leaned fully into the house’s long-standing dialogue with craft—only this time, with a distinctly zesty twist.

The designers, who will serve as jurors for the Loewe Craft Prize for the first time this year, seemed keen to position craftsmanship not as reverent tradition but as a playground. Much of the collection was inspired by artist Cosima von Bonin, whose work merges meticulous technique with a sly sense of humor. That spirit came through in garments that felt both handmade and mischievous: sculptural knitwear, tactile embellishments, and pieces that revealed their construction almost proudly.

Polly Pocket Madness

If there was one moment that captured the gleeful weirdness of the collection, it was the latex. Dresses molded close to the body arrived stamped with intricate patterns, while rubber scarf details twisted around necklines and shoulders as surreal accessories plucked from a toy box. The effect felt almost Polly Pocket–like in spirit; kind of like a miniature world blown up to runway scale. Honestly, the clothes looked good enough to chew on.

Behind the playfulness was serious innovation. The house experimented with a new latex stamping technique that allowed for delicate textures—floral impressions, ripples, and embossed bow motifs—to appear almost sculpted into the surface.

Swim Shoe Style

Every season has its conversation-starting accessory, and this time it came in the form of a shoe that looked like it had wandered straight out of a beach bag. Loewe’s standout footwear transformed humble swim shoes you'd find at a summertime water park into cool kitten heels, creating a silhouette that was equal parts aquatic practicality and date-night glamour

The shoes were paired with sleek black mini dresses, dramatic fur stoles, and sharply cut outerwear, turning what could have been a novelty into a genuine fashion moment. It was wacky, unexpected, and oddly chic, the kind of accessory that instantly telegraphs a new delightfully strange direction.

The New Era of the Loewe Army

For years, Loewe’s front row functioned as a cultural mood board, filled with the kind of A-list personalities who shape the internet’s fashion discourse in real time—figures like Luca Guadagnino, Taylor Russel, and Josh O'Connor. Now, in their second season, McCollough and Hernandez appear to be building their own version of that ecosystem.

The guest list suggested the beginnings of a new Loewe “army,” one that reflects the designers’ broader creative universe. Actors, musicians, and internet-era tastemakers mingled in a crowd that felt intentionally eclectic. Sarah Pidgeon brought a rising-star cool factor, Emily Ratajkowski added downtown polish, and Metro Boomin injected the kind of cross-industry energy that fashion houses increasingly covet. Julia Garner, the brand's first global ambassador under McCollough and Hernandez, also attended.

The Proenza Boys Are Designing for Loewe Men

The Loewe fall/winter 2026 show marked a milestone: it was the first time McCollough and Hernandez extended their vision for the house into menswear. Their take on Loewe men leaned into classic tailoring—sharp wool coats, structured jackets, and neatly cut trousers—but injected it with the bold color instincts that have cemented Loewe as a kooky, playful maison. Neon green outerwear collided with royal purple corduroy pants, while traditional suiting fabrics were reimagined in unexpected color palettes.

The morning of the Schiaparelli show in Paris, creative director Daniel Roseberry posted a video on the maison's Instagram. In it he is seen walking through the streets of Paris, reflecting on when he first arrived at the brand.

"When I first got to Schiap," he says. "And I looked through the archives, the only thing that spoke to me was this brooch from Giacometti that was of a sphinx. I loved this half human, half animal, sphinx-like quality to Schiap." His inspiration has always been to build on that idea and to create a brand that contradicted itself.

The result is clothing that follows in Elsa Schiaparelli's footsteps. The late designer questioned the medium of fashion by making pieces that felt entirely unconventional, like dresses with skeletons embroidered on the torso and pockets with drawer pulls. Roseberry's latest collection for the brand featured tops made of crushed CDS, kitten heels that hiss at you, and knitwear that almost defies the rules of gravity. To many, Schiaparelli represents the clothing one might wear in a surreal dream, except the dream is very much a reality.

The Enigmatic Keyhole

At the beginning of his shownotes, Roseberry wrote about the enduring codes of the house. "There’s a secret inherent in Elsa’s most famous iconography: the keyhole. For some, it may just be a pleasing shape," he wrote. "But I think it symbolizes something more—both a challenge to the designer to unlock the potential of this brand, and a reminder that every woman is herself an enigma: to others, and to herself. Fashion is how she externalizes the mystery of who she is to the world." The keyhole was featured throughout the collection, on the tips of shoes and as a cut-out on long gowns.

Impossible Knitwear

Roseberry also said that he really wanted to explore the tension in fashion between fashion as a business and as a dream factory. This idea came across most clearly in the looks that he said contained "impossible knitwear," Aran cable knits with panels of illusion tulle that allows them to appear as though they are floating on the body of the wearer.

The Radicalism of Feeling Alive and As You Are

The reason that so many are drawn to Schiaparelli is the fact that Roseberry has created something that is radical without being alienating. He pondered this notion at the end of the show notes, writing, "Maybe that’s the ultimate legacy of what Elsa built: clothes that made women feel more alive with the dream of who they were…while also feeling comfortable with who they actually were. It was a paradox that worked a hundred years ago. May it be ever so." While his ready-to-wear feels entirely unlike anything else happening in fashion right now, it still feels wearable.

A New Kind of Kitten Heel

The most talked about piece from this collection is certainly the kitten heel known as the "Sphynx," which has gone viral now on every single social media platform. The heels look to be taxidermy but isn't. Instead fabrics and techniques were used to create something animalistic without hurting any animals. The heels are certainly fierce in a way no other kitten heel has been before, with it's toe tips covered in an open-mouthed cat's hiss.

Chloé is dialing the clock back from its signature '80s energy to the bohemia of the late '60s. In the show notes for the fall/winter 2026 collection, designer Chemena Kamali remarks that she was profoundly inspired by traditional costume and folkloric craft. "I felt drawn to the essence of making," she muses, "the human touch, the spirit of community, connection, and shared values." In an age when advances in technology seem to be hurdling us into the future at top speed, Kamali envisioned a fall wardrobe that centered craft and storytelling—in all their imperfection—as a means of imbuing a sense of humanity. The slower the better, she seemed to say.

It was a sentiment that the folk musicians of the '60s famously embodied, especially Joni Mitchell and Carole King, both of whom famously resided in Laurel Canyon during a moment when creativity and ideas were flourishing. Perhaps Kamali had these ladies of the canyon on her mind as she designed the looks for the Chloé show because the same ideas and overall aesthetic were mirrored throughout this collection, from the circular Woodstock-esque sunglasses to the long, free-flowing hairstyles that accompanied the looks.

Here, discover everything to know from the Chloé fall 2026 show, from the new decade of influence to the It accessory everyone will be preordering.

Ladies of the Canyon

Mitchell's third studio album Ladies of the Canyon (1970) was the singer's portrait of the artistic sisterhood she was a part of in 1960s-era Laurel Canyon. It was a community where creativity and free-wheeling ideas abounded, and the energy of Chloé's fall runway seemed to envision what Mitchell and her peers might have been wearing to sit around at one of their famous jam sessions and write songs together. Aesthetically, that looked like billowy maxi skirts, ruffled collars, and plenty of prairie-style embroidery.

Embroidery and Craftsmanship

Embroidery was a major detail of the show, where knitted cardigans and airy blouses arrived with hand-stitching. "What moved me most about these garments is not only their beauty but also to feel how much effort and time was put into them," says Kamali. The unique irregularities of these pieces are, she insists, what make them so special. They're the product of generations of skills and stories that no machine could ever come close to re-creating.

The It Accessory: Horse-Buckle Belts

As for accessories, there was one clear winner that stood out: the belts sculpted with horse-shaped statement buckles that cinched that waists of leather pants and skinny-leg trousers. Chloé's offering is always ripe with It buys, and come fall, I'm placing bets on these belts becoming especially sought-after. It is the year of the horse, after all.

Victorian Blouses

Is it just me, or have we all been caught up the Wuthering Heights craze? While this Chloé collection was obviously crafted well before the film's mid-February release, the blouses bore an uncanny resemblance to those of the Victorian era, although I doubt that Catherine would have styled hers with a leather apron dress or ruffled genie pants like the women of fall 2026.

The Chloé Girls in the Front Row

The Chloé show brought out a cast of familiar celebrity faces from all walks of the creative world, including Love Story breakout star Dree Hemingway, whose been having a banner PFW this season, and Oprah herself, a rare sight to behold at fashion week. Olivia Rodrigo, Alexa Chung, Nina Dobrev, and more all arrived in their best boho looks for the occasion.

Pictured: Dree Hemingway

Pictured: Olivia Rodrigo

Pictured: Nina Dobrev

Pictured: Oprah Winfrey

Pictured: Alexa Chung

Tom Ford Creative Director Haider Ackermann debuted the fashion house’s F/W 26 collection in the most dramatic of ways. As the show opens in a stark-white room, overhead lights flicker, the music signals for you to be on edge, and models creep aimlessly throughout the space rather than in a single file. They looked around at each other obsessively in passing, dressed similarly to American Psycho’s protagonist, or should I say antagonist, Patrick Bateman in officewear such as crisp button-downs and trousers. For the collection, Ackermann intersected the exquisite tailoring with the seductiveness Tom Ford is known for, notably through suiting with strong shoulders and double-breasted closures.

A hint of the '90s was expressed on the runway, with simple basics, from a plain white T-shirt to a black turtleneck to low-rise pants with belts that sit through one loop, creating a negative-space effect. Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's understated glamour came to mind when I saw the Dalmatian-print coat and croc-embossed pencil skirt styled with a sweater.

The soundtrack shifted from haunted to upbeat as models walked in PVC accessories styled to perfection in cheeky yet chic ways. Sensuality and luxury were the through line in this collection, and I predict the playful sexiness will be the aesthetic that people draw from the Tom Ford F/W 26 runway when fall hits. Ahead, take a deeper dive into Ackermann’s masterful collection.

Classic Tailoring

While there were just a few examples of suiting throughout this collection, the ones featured were excellent. The proportions were slim rather than the oversize, laid-back suits I’m used to seeing on runways. Clean lines, strong shoulders, and the perfect shoe-to-hemline ratio proved that classic tailoring will always reign supreme. Fashion’s era of nonchalance just might be no more.

Faded Denim

This inclusion of denim admittedly surprised me. This is a new development for Ackermann’s Tom Ford. The deep blue wash with fading at the knees and the shape of each pair varied slightly, from tapered to straight-leg to cigarette, high-waisted fits. I’m curious to see if the creative director will continue to play with denim.

PVC Accessories

Nods to American Psycho emerged throughout the collection, including Bateman's clear, slick raincoat. The man is meticulous with every detail, including what he wears to commit a crime. The collection featured not just a PVC coat but also a rain cap, pencil skirt, vest, and cropped jacket. This could have gone terribly wrong, but these pieces were executed so well. Who knew PVC could be so chic in 2026?

Croc-Embossed Leather

Croc-embossed boots were a major trend last year; now it's expanded further to clothing. The croc-embossed collared leather jackets and pencil skirts throughout the collection were proof. Textures within a minimal outfit will always do wonders, in my humble opinion. I can't believe I'm saying this, but this trend actually has me looking forward to cold weather again.

In a fashion landscape still reverberating from recent seismic leadership shifts across luxury houses Christian Dior and Chanel to fresh chapters unfolding at Gucci, the fall/winter 2026 fashion month calendar reached a poignant crescendo with the final presentation from Alaïa under Creative Director Pieter Mulier. The Paris show wasn’t just another collection drop; it was a definitive farewell. After five years at the helm of the Parisian house, Mulier has officially concluded his tenure with Alaïa, capping his run with a collection that both honored the brand’s storied codes and looked forward to what comes next.

The show unfolded less like an over-the-top farewell and more like a carefully composed reflection on the brand’s ecosystem—its atelier, its architectural tailoring, and the community that has gathered around it during Mulier’s tenure. In a world where new directions are still being cemented at major houses—Mulier included, who is set to lead Versace later this year—the collection stood apart for its quiet intentionality.

Rather than chasing spectacle for a final bow, Mulier presented something more grounded: a wardrobe that balanced the house’s historical codes with the sculptural signatures that have made his Alaïa resonate so strongly on contemporary runways and across social media.

"This collection is not about me. It is about the Alaïa team—our family—and an expression of all we have learned, and felt, and loved across the past five years," the show notes, written by Mulier, read. "In turn, this collection is itself a portrait of Alaïa. Not my Alaïa, our Alaïa."

Below, read our full runway review of the Alaïa fall 2026 show.

Pieter's Emotional Goodbye

If there were a prevailing emotion in the room, it was gratitude. Pieter Mulier’s departure from Alaïa has been quietly looming over the season—even more so since the Belgian designer was announced to succeed Dario Vitale at Versace—but the weight of it sunk in the moment guests took their seats. The audience itself felt like a living archive of the brand’s orbit—longtime collaborators like Raf Simons and Matthieu Blazy, editors who have chronicled the house for decades, and younger fashion voices who discovered Mulier’s work during his tenure at the maison.

Several social media posts quickly went viral following the show—one in particular, which scanned the room to see figures like Simons, Blazy, Anna Wintour, and Mel Ottenberg all giving a standing ovation to honor Mulier’s final bow to mark his end at Alaïa.

An Ode to the Atelier

If the collection looked inward, the show’s visual language made that intention unmistakable. Show notes, set design, and preshow social media all centered on the people behind the garments—the atelier itself. A series of portraits shot by Japanese photographer Keizo Kitajima of the Alaïa artisians was compiled into a book and left on attendees' seats in the form of show notes.

The decision reframed the collection before the first look even appeared on the runway. Rather than positioning the designer as the sole creative force, the narrative celebrated the collective ecosystem that sustains the house. The portraits also decorated the screens of the runway, hanging above the clothes like a larger-than-life visible reminder of every person who makes the maison greater than a single creative director.

Reflecting on Legacy

The collection itself unfolded like a quiet dialogue between past and present. The opening looks leaned heavily into the foundational codes established by Azzedine Alaïa: sculpted waists, body-conscious silhouettes, and sexy yet provocative knitwear. The restraint felt deliberate from Mulier—perhaps a nod to the house’s foundation cores before assuming the role as creative director.

As the show progressed, the energy subtly shifted. The latter half introduced the kind of sculptural experimentation that defined Mulier’s tenure—jackets curved around the torso like armor, dresses molded into shapes that felt closer to wearable sculpture than traditional ready-to-wear. These were the pieces that have consistently ignited conversation online during his run: garments that photograph dramatically, circulate virally, and reaffirm Alaïa’s place in the cultural imagination.

The Power of the Jacket

Where the collection risked drifting into simplicity with strapped body-con dresses, tailoring stepped in as its structural backbone. Jackets and coats punctuated the lineup with sharp vision, reminding the audience that construction has always been Mulier's quiet superpower.

Some silhouettes hugged the torso before flaring subtly at the hip, echoing the sculptural precision that has defined the house for decades. Others introduced subtle textural drama: glossy crocodile-embossed leather and delicate lambskin were particular highlights.

Modern Dressing for the Modern Woman

At first glance, the collection felt almost restrained—unexpectedly so for a designer whose Alaïa has often thrived on spectacle and sculptural extremity. Some early murmurs from social media suggested the opening stretch felt subdued, even slightly underwhelming. But backstage conversations and the show notes reframed the intention. Alaïa, very consciously, was a commercial fall/winter 2026, with Mulier laying a blank page for his successor who has yet to be named.

The strategy read less as compromise and more as pragmatism. In his final outing, Mulier seemed intent on leaving the house with a collection that stores could confidently sell and clients could genuinely wear. Mulier's final collection was found in accessibility—luxury garments designed not just to be admired but to be worn by the modern woman in her everyday life.

Paris Fashion Week fall/winter 2026 is still in full swing, but one silhouette has already started to emerge as a clear frontrunner: the basque waist. It's defined by its scooped, elongated V shape that dips below the natural waistline. Lately, the historic cut has been popping up across runways in fresh, modern versions. And once you start noticing it, it’s hard to unsee.

Some designers are leaning into the drama. At Jacquemus, Saint Laurent, and Alaïa, the basque waist appears in sharply structured, almost architectural forms that exaggerate the torso and carve out a striking silhouette. The waist dips low before flaring outward, creating a look that feels corseted, sculptural, and incredibly intentional. Elsewhere, the approach feels softer. Christian Dior, for example, played the basque waist shape for its fall 2026 collection in a more fluid, conceptual way—less rigid, but still clearly defined, elongating the torso without feeling overly severe.

On the Runway

The return of the basque waist also makes sense when you zoom out and look at the bigger silhouette conversation happening right now. For the past few seasons, designers have been experimenting with sculpted waistlines, tightening and shaping garments to reframe the midsection. This season's peplum explosion is a big part of that. Peplum jeans and flippy flared jackets have been everywhere—from New York to Milan to London and now Paris—bringing playful volume and movement to tailoring.

Seen through that lens, the basque waist feels like a natural evolution. While peplums flare outward, the basque cut pulls the eye downward, creating a longer line through the torso and playing with proportion in a more controlled manner. Designers are clearly having fun with the female form right now—sculpting, exaggerating, and rethinking classic silhouettes in ways that feel both historical and new.

On the Runway

While everyone is (rightfully) talking about the peplum craze, I have a feeling the basque waist might end up being the real sleeper trend of the season. The silhouette has already been gaining traction in the bridal world (corseted bodices and dropped waists have been quietly trending for the last few years), and now, it's making its way firmly into ready-to-wear lines.

In other words, don't be surprised if the basque waist starts showing up everywhere this year. Think your best friend's wedding, yes, but also your favorite cool-girl watering hole in the West Village.

Shop the Trend

This is a debut that has everyone at the edge of their seat. After 14 years with Olivier Rousteing at the helm, it's been quite some time since Balmain had a brand-new creative director. Once it was announced that Antonin Tron would be assigned the role, a new layer of excitement and buzz has surrounded the brand and what it would come to be. Spectacle and statement has long been part of its runway-show DNA, but this season felt more intentional while making a quiet statement.

What makes this debut compelling is how it deliberately looks backward in order to move forward. With it's forward-thinking designs and exciting celebrity placements, Balmain feels brand-new season after season, but we can't neglect that the house was established in 1945. Tron sought to create a collection that would spotlight the female form not only in physical shape but also in society. It's a collection that simply can't be missed.

Once the looks start appearing on the runway, the direction becomes clear. Tron’s vision for Balmain is what he calls “minimal opulence”—sensual, sculpted, and just a little bit dangerous. The result feels like a reset for the house, especially with a theme that is set to define a new era.

1. A New Face in Town

For Tron, stepping in as the creative director at Balmain, after Olivier Rousteing's 14 years at the helm, isn’t about rewriting the house—it’s about starting a new, aligned chapter. He's known in the fashion industry as a protégée to Anthony Vaccarello, so ahead of the show, it was expected that this collection could draw inspiration from his time at Saint Laurent. He is also known for his work at Atlein, where draped jersey and body-conscious silhouettes became a signature. Tron brings a sense of thoughtfulness to cut and movement that feels like a natural evolution of how Balmain fits into this modern era.

2. Back to the Beginnings

A noteworthy guiding principle behind the collection was a return to origin. In recent years, the brand has evolved to a different place than where the original collections took us. Tron has spent the past few months immersing himself in the work of Pierre Balmain, pulling from the house’s earliest years to shape its future. That influence comes through not in literal reproductions but in the shoes of the woman the brand was initially designed to dress.

The Balmain woman, as originally envisioned, was classy, feminine, and unapologetically herself. She was glamorous, yes, but never conventional. Tron taps into that spirit through silhouettes that nod to the late ’40s where the brand story begins: sculpted shoulders, draping at the waist, and that emerging peplum line that feels poised for a comeback. It’s a reminder that Balmain’s roots weren’t about the maximalism the brand has become known for—they were about precision, allure, and a certain kind of confidence that doesn’t need to announce itself.

3. Liquid Leather

One of the most striking elements of this collection is the leather that doesn't behave like leather. Instead of being stiff, strong, and structured, it moves. Glossy, fluid, almost weightless and buttery soft—it even catches the light upon every movement. It's a subtle but important shift as the fashion house has been known for structured moments but takes on a new persona with these leather looks.

4. Modern Drapes

Draping has always been part of every fashion house's vocabulary, but in Tron's hands, it feels brand new. The past few seasons, designers have had an eye for this technique and Balmain is fully on board. This is a fabric that doesn't just decorate the body; it becomes it. Jersey fabrics twist and contour to create an opulence that feel quite modern.

5. The 2026 It Jacket

Starting in New York and finally settling in come Paris, this is the fashion month that honored one controversial jacket silhouette: peplum. It would be harder to find a show that didn't spotlight a peplum jacket than it would to find one that did. Structured shoulders, an emphasized waist, and a flare at the hips makes for the ideal silhouette, so naturally designers are buzzing about it. Balmain's take is subtle yet strong.

In a Milan season defined by transition, Dolce & Gabbana made a pointedly steady statement. While much of the city’s fashion houses are exploring new directions under fresh creative leadership, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana leaned into what they know best: a language of identity rooted in history, heritage, and unmistakable Sicilian emotion. Their fall 2026 collection, titled Identity, was less about reinvention and more about presence, a reminder that authenticity and tradition can be radical in a city chasing the next new thing. "Identity is the ultimate luxury," the show notes, posted on the label's social media, declared. "This is not nostalgia. It is presence."

Naturally, the runway felt like a manifesto of the house’s enduring codes. Black dominated the palette, tailoring reinforced the structure, and lace and texture layered sensuality atop authority. The silhouettes affirmed the body without hiding it, blending femininity (in the form of moody lace slips) and masculinity (in classic, oversize striped suits) in ways that felt both intimate and bold.

In a season of experimentation, Dolce & Gabbana stood as a quiet counterpoint, showing that remaining true to yourself can be its own kind of luxury and that a house rooted in its own story can still feel entirely of the moment. The Dolce & Gabbana fall 2026 show reminded Milan that confidence doesn’t come from change—it comes from knowing who you are.

A Bold Return to House Identity

At a time when Milan is in the throes of creative recalibration—new creative directors are tenures at houses like Gucci, Fendi, and Marni—Dolce & Gabbana stands apart in its refusal to dilute its irreverent codes. Rather than recalibrate with the rest of the market, designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana doubled down. The fall/winter 2026 show was steeped in Sicilian history—Catholic iconography, widow’s black, baroque sensuality—signaling not reinvention but reaffirmation in where the brand gets its historic roots.

Where other brands chase newness through minimalism or conceptual pivots, Dolce & Gabbana leaned into a vocabulary it has spent four decades refining. The sharp tailoring, corsetry, lace, and veiled drama were less about nostalgia and more about stability.

Milanese Color Codes

The runway was almost entirely submerged in black—a choice that felt both aesthetic and anthropological. Black, in Milan, is less trend than uniform. Unlike the flamboyant color narratives of Rome or the bourgeois polish of Paris, Milanese style has long communicated power through restraint. The city’s fashion DNA—industrial, pragmatic, quietly sensual—has historically favored sharp tailoring and a subdued palette.

Honoring Madonna

The presence of Madonna in the front row felt less like celebrity placement and more like homecoming. Few figures are as intertwined with Dolce & Gabbana’s ascent in the 1990s. They dressed her during the height of her erotically charged, Catholicism-reframing era—when lingerie-as-outerwear, crucifixes, and Sicilian widow silhouettes became global pop iconography.

Fall 2026 seemed to channel that precise moment: the dark lace slips, sharp corsetry, sheer veiling, and controlled sensuality evoked Madonna’s late-’90s wardrobe: powerful, slightly dangerous, steeped in religious tension. Her influence on fashion cannot be overstated—she legitimized the fusion of sacred and profane, a tension Dolce & Gabbana has long mined in its 40-year run.

Behold, Nonna-Core

Amid the high-gloss sensuality, there was elderly tenderness. Crochet shawls draped over shoulders. Needlepoint-embroidered handbags evoked heirloom upholstery and Sunday sitting rooms. The references were unmistakably nonna-esque—the Italian phrase for grandmother—but elevated beyond gimmick into respect. The designers behind Dolce & Gabbana have always cited their mothers and Sicilian upbringing as creative bedrock. Since their earliest collections in the 1980s, the archetype of the Italian matriarch—devout, resilient, commanding—has shaped their sartorial worldview.

Era-Defining Beauty

Beauty has always been central to Dolce & Gabbana’s storytelling, and fall 2026 sharpened that legacy. The makeup was unapologetically defined: inky eyeliner, sculpted brows, and bold lips in oxblood and deep crimson. Hair was sleek, controlled—often center-parted and smoothed close to the head—once again a nod to the first moments of virality the brand had pre–social media days.

The look echoed the house’s 1990s runway heyday, when supermodels embodied a distinctly Mediterranean glamour: polished yet faintly undone and sensual yet slightly unaware.

Last season may have been the one to capture countless headlines with its many historic designer debuts that shook up the major fashion houses, but the fall/winter 2026 shows are proving to be no less worthy of all the industry chatter. In Milan, there was so much to discuss, including several more designer debuts that demanded their own moment. So no, this season will not be overshadowed, at least if the Italian houses and the collections they're proposing for fall have anything to say about it.

First and perhaps the most buzzed-about was Demna's runway debut at Gucci. Marni was another label that ushered in a new era with the arrival of Belgian designer Meryll Rogge, who's taking the brand back to its quirky, art school–esque roots much to the delight of OG Marni fans. Meanwhile, Simone Bellotti at Jil Sander and Louise Trotter at Bottega Veneta both showed sophomore collections that kept the excitement going from last season's introductions. And who could forget Prada's innovative runway, which showed each look four times, each time discarding a layer to reveal a new element?

Now that the style set has packed up their things and headed to Paris to close out fashion month, let's sit down and discuss everything we just saw from the Milan Fashion Week F/W 26 shows—specifically, the top trends to know.

Collar Pop

The funnel-neck outerwear trend continues to develop, and designers put their stake in the ground as to where the trend will progress in 2026. While full-on funnel-necks are still as chic as ever, the fall collections indicated that soon all the chicest people you know will be wearing their jackets, coats, and blazers with the collars flipped up to create a sort of effortless, DIY-style high neckline.

Louche Layering

If the spring 2025 shows were all about preppy style and prim-and-proper layers, the fall shows took that idea and lived in it a little bit longer. The result is a series of ideas on layering that's much more relaxed, down-to-earth, and, well, how the busy women wearing these looks really get dressed.

Royalty

No need for Pantone—the Milan shows were resolute in their color predictions for fall. The consensus? It's all about purple, specifically this deep violet shade that's often referred to as royal purple. The richer the tone, the easier it becomes to wear, as it's akin to burgundy and therefore ripe for becoming your new fall staple color.

The Skinny on Pants

Designers have teased us with the return of skinny pants for the past few seasons. Although, what's happening on the street in any fashion capital right now tells a different story. But skinny-pant silhouettes seemed to dominate the runways in Milan this week, which has us questioning whether the tides will actually be turning sooner than later. Looks featured trousers that toed the line between pants and leggings (and even tights), and many were styled with boxy blazers and roomy coats to give the overall silhouette a sense of balance.

Low-Pile Fur

While maximalist fur has been a headline of winter style this year, designers are presenting the next gen of fur outerwear for 2026, and instead of bold statement pieces, it's all about a more discreet take on the texture with low-pile fur and calf-hair coats taking center stage.

Sciura Glam

In Milanese slang, the term sciura refers to a specific breed of older woman who can always be spotted dressed to the nines with no detail spared about her outfit. It's such a phenomenon that the Instagram account @sciuraglam documenting these stylish ladies has amassed over 400K followers. Clearly, they were on the minds of Italian designers this season, as calling cards of sciura style can be spotted throughout the fall collections, whether through a statement-coat-and-matching-hat moment or a pair of socks layered with polished pumps. In essence, we'll all be dressing like a fabulous nonna come fall.

Oxford Circus

Is this the death knell to ballet flats? There's no question that flat shoes will continue to remain on top, but as far as fall 2026 is concerned, derby shoes are set to be the It style to know. Designers including Bottega Veneta, Moschino, and Tod's showed minimalist versions of the lace-up flats that arrive with slim soles and glove-like fits, and given 2026's focus on preppy fashion, all signs point to these modern derby shoes becoming big.

Animal Instincts

Animal prints were notably absent from the fall collections, but in their place arrived animal embossing instead. Whether on jackets or boots, croc embossing was a detail that popped up countless times in Milan and while it's hardly a new trend, the finish is set to get a renewed emphasis this year.

The Dior fall/winter 2026 show opened up with a video of Jonathan Anderson in conversation with Bella Freud of the fashion podcast Fashion Neurosis. They were seated in two green park chairs at the Tuileries Garden in Paris, where the runway show itself was also held. Anderson said the iconic public garden reminded him of "pleasure gardens—where people used to dress up to go somewhere."

For the Irish creative director now based in Paris, the city will always feel like a destination he is visiting instead of home. "I always feel like a tourist in Paris," he told Freud. But they both decided that being a tourist isn't a bad thing. Freud continued, "It's a way of finding the things that attach you to a city." Anderson's latest collection was inspired by the gardens and the people who visit them.

It's not a French-girl uniform, but the uniform of a curious individual, experiencing the beauties of the city and allowing it to influence the way they get dressed. There are hints of the Tuileries Garden in everything Anderson designed for fall/winter 2026, but the biggest through-line in the collection is a sense of wonder you only get from falling in love with a place you'll never call home.

The Return of Dramatic Peplum

Anderson's designs are always whimsical, like something you'd see described in a fairytale but can't possibly imagine being real. His Dior features billowing silhouettes with movement, like peplum. Jackets, coats, and even skirts jet out at the hips with bell sleeves, often mimicking the shape of an upside-down tulip.

Water Lily Shoes and Peanut Bags

But the whimsy isn't just for the ready-to-wear. If anything, Anderson's accessories feel even more fantastical. This season, there were green heels with water lily embellishments, like a lily pad that allows just enough room for the toes to peek out from underneath. There were also bags, either peanut-shaped or covered in flowers that appeared to be blooming from the leather.

The Enduring Theater of Parisian Park Life

Something Anderson was particularly inspired by was the notion of Parisians and visitors alike truly dressing up to go to the gardens. The clothing reflected that in the sense that there was nothing really casual about it. Anderson was designing for the individual who wants to go out and be seen. He was dressing for those of us who treat the park walk like one would a runway.

There are countless reasons Paris Fashion Week remains one of the most beloved stops on the fashion month calendar, be it the sheer number of heavy-hitting designers on the calendar or the celebrity star power in attendance, and one of the most anticipated shows of the week is none other than Saint Laurent. Well, if one can even call it a show—full-on production is a more apt term for how and where the winter 2026 runway was staged. It was set inside a modernist residence, all floor-to-ceiling glass windows, with sweeping views of the Eiffel Tower, even complete with an oversize replica of a bust that once stood at the heart of Yves Saint Laurent's private home.

While the front row was stacked with A-listers from Kate Moss to François Arnaud, the runway was a parade of top models, including one Bella Hadid, who were all outfitted in a uniform of louche tailoring, dramatic outerwear, and what Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello is calling "nocturnal elegance." The collection was defined by two themes: on the one hand, the masculine tropes of the tuxedo and on the other, the femininity of sheer lace. It was a study in contrasts and one that revealed the designer's ultimate strength: his take on sexy that's somehow always sophisticated, never contrived, and endlessly sought-after.

Le Smoking, Revisited

In 1966, Yves Saint Laurent revolutionized the world of tailoring—and who gets to participate—with the release of Le Smoking, the first tuxedo concept designed with women in mind. Since then, designers past and present have interpreted and reinterpreted the silhouette for their time. Creative Director Vaccarello revisited the iconic suit for his fall 2026 collection, presenting a series of single- and double-breasted suits that were striking in their precision and simplicity. Styled with bold crystal earrings, a dark lip, and presumably nothing but a great set of undergarments underneath, his relaxed tuxedoes take on an aura of both power and refinement, a conversation "between the parameters of masculinity and femininity," declare the show notes.

Lots of Lace

Vaccarello's take on sexy incorporates lace—and a lot of it. The majority of looks on the fall runway were defined by sheer lace, whether that meant lace pencil skirts layered with strappy lace tanks and bodysuits or floor-length lace gowns. In his show notes, the designer calls his approach "nocturnal elegance" and remarks that the attitude is "more insouciant shrug than swagger."

Drop-Waist Fur Coats

The excess and drama of the '80s has been an ongoing theme throughout designer Anthony Vaccarello's recent collections, and while this runway had a quieter overtone than in seasons past, the era's codes showed up nonetheless in the form of drop-waist fur coats with plenty of volume and impact to balance out the show's pared-back opening looks. The coats featured shawl necklines, slouchy sleeves, and fluted skirts that made them less of a layering piece and more of a whole look in and of themselves.

It Piece to Know

Saint Laurent doesn't play when it comes to the accessories, and models finished off their looks with just one of a few decisive styling pieces including wire-frame sunglasses, crystal statement earrings, glossy waist belts, and, perhaps most notably, big bejeweled brooches. The brooches were used as a sort of top button to fasten lace evening jackets that otherwise fell open over plunging lace bodysuits. We've been charting the antique accessory's rise over the course of the year, but with a major stamp of approval from Saint Laurent, the accessory is set to be an It piece to know for fall.

The A-List Arrivals

The Saint Laurent show remains one of the most star-studded affairs of Paris Fashion Week, and this season's production only further cemented the French house's position at the heart of the cultural zeitgeist. House regulars like Zoë Kravitz and Kate Moss were present, of course, but we were also delighted by appearances from the likes of Heated Rivalry star François Arnaud and Rosé, all of whom were decked out in their sleekest Saint Laurent–coded looks consisting of lots of cool tailoring.

Milano—season after season, you seduce us with your enduring glamour and inimitable cool. As the home of Prada, Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Fendi, Marni and more, the city thrums with creativity, and never more than during Milan Fashion Week. A high-shine confidence runs through its storied fashion houses. Unafraid of a little excess, Milan embraces sparkle, sequins and sheer with open arms, making other fashion capitals feel almost restrained in comparison.

Long considered a bellwether for the season ahead, especially when it comes to party moments, Milan Fashion Week’s autumn/winter 2026 collections delivered exactly what we hoped for: drama and decadence. After closely watching the runways and revisiting the standout shows, a handful of clear themes emerged—trends the city’s most influential houses seem unanimously aligned on.

Read on to discover the defining Milan Fashion Week autumn/winter 2026 runway trends to know now.

5 Runway Trends from Milan Fashion Week to Know Now

1. Royal Purple

Style Notes: If the past few seasons were defined by sumptuous burgundies and decadent browns, consider this their bolder successor. For A/W ’26, designers leaned towards a richer, punchier palette, with royal purple emerging as the standout shade. Long considered a tricky, even divisive hue, it has suddenly found favour among the industry’s most directional houses, including Gucci, Ferragamo and Sportmax. Whether worn in saturated, head-to-toe sweeps or tempered with inky black and dark chocolate brown—royal purple reigned.

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2. Colourful Cuffs

Style Notes: This season, designers punctuated looks with a flash of colour at the wrist. At Prada, Bottega Veneta and Ferragamo, sleeves were finished with vivid trims that peeked out beneath coats and knits. It’s a subtle styling trick, but one that feels primed for rapid adoption among the street style set.

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3. Frothy Collars

Style Notes: A romantic mood swept the runways, as ruffled, voluminous and deliciously frothy collars crowned dresses, blouses and outerwear. As Victorian influences continue to permeate pop culture—fanned by the recent adaptation of Wuthering Heights and the enduring pull of Bridgerton—fashion’s embrace of the trend feels right on time.

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4. Skirt Suits

Style Notes: Perhaps the most polished pairing of the week, the skirt suit found its feet in Milan. At Gucci, single-breasted, slim-fitting jackets were styled with knee-grazing pencil skirts for a sharp effect. Fendi offered a softer interpretation, presenting longer hemlines with slouchier, elongated blazers, while Jil Sander leaned into minimalism with marl-hued sets that gently skimmed the frame.

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5. Lace-Up Knee Boots

Style Notes: In place of prim Mary Janes, designers embraced sharper, more commanding lace-up knee boots. A progression of the knee-high styles that have dominated in recent years, these iterations come tightly bound, laced from ankle to calf in a subtle nod to Victorian dressing. Witchy and dramatic they tap into the same romantic undercurrent seen across the collections.

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In September 2025, Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani passed away at age 91, leaving a 50-year legacy. For the fall 2026 season, Silvana Armani—Mr. Armani's niece and collaborator for over 40 years—stepped into the role of womenswear creative director and debuted her first ready-to-wear collection at Milan Fashion Week.

Silvana's solo collection for the Italian house maintained the brand's timeless, elegant charm while adding a fresh sense of exploration. The brand described it in a press release as "a new perspective on the Armani style," emphasizing its drapey and "perfectly imperfect nature." The collection highlighted the harmony between contrasts—soft versus structured, constructed versus free-flowing. Outerwear lacked padding and rigidity, with long jackets flowing naturally and moving with the wearer. Trousers relaxed and skimmed the ground, while layered turtlenecks and sweaters wrapped the body comfortably. Rich materials like velvet, chenille, crepe, cashmere, and leather provided deep textures, complemented by classic hues such as gray, beige, dark blue, and black, along with earthy tones like sage green, introducing a fresh breath of air.

Concluding the show in an emotional way, "A Costo di Morire," an unreleased song by Italian singer Mina, was played, celebrating the late designer. The lyrics inundated the Via Borgonuovo theater, as the collection honored tradition while reinventing it and signifying continuity. Here, discover everything to know about Giorgio Armani's fall 2026 collection and what the new era of Armani looks like.

Silvana Armani's Debut

Silvana, who spent over four decades working alongside her uncle at Giorgio Armani, has successfully stepped into his role following his passing. Her collection felt distinctly created by a woman for women. Silvana focused on the redefined Armani woman—someone who confidently moves between past memories and the present. The collection treated the past not as something to forget but as a foundation to acknowledge, reinvent, and bring forward. This was achieved by combining practicality with elegance while staying true to Armani's heritage and design codes.

Fluid Tailoring

The fall 2026 collection was rooted in the concept of "Exploration as a state of mind in constant pursuit: a way of reading landscapes—even familiar ones—in ever-changing ways," as noted in the brand's press release. This philosophy was reflected in the collection's soft yet defined silhouettes, featuring fluid trousers and jackets stripped of padding. This approach to soft tailoring evoked the quiet power of landscapes. Like the layered shapes of peaks and valleys, the clothing was intentionally draped, creating a feeling that is protective, practical, expansive, and graceful.

The Armani Way to Layer

The fall 2026 collections so far have highlighted the art of layering. Key examples include Tory Burch's crewneck sweaters over collared shirts, Prada's sheer skirts over chunky knits and button-downs, and Burberry's hefty faux-fur scarves worn with double-breasted jackets. Armani, however, interpreted the trend in its own way. The brand focused on layering lightweight jackets and pullovers, revealing a sheer turtleneck underneath. This contrast, particularly between the sheer blouse and rich cashmere knits or wool outerwear, created an intriguing visual moment. Additional layering included long tunics over knit tops and relaxed trousers, as well as scarves wrapped around the upper body and tucked into leather belts.

The Burgundy Thread

Burgundy proved to be a consistent theme throughout the collection. Though most prominent on leather belts used to anchor trousers, the shade also appeared on long wrap jackets, dresses, trousers, and handbags. Known and loved by the style set as a chic alternative to black, Armani demonstrated the versatility of the deep bordeaux hue by pairing it with sage green, gray, white, charcoal, navy, and blue lapis.

Velvet Galore

Silvana closed the narrative of the Armani women's collection, focusing on rich velvet fabrics in deep burgundy and navy. These opulent materials were used in various ways: velvet cocooning jackets were paired with silk tops and pleated trousers, while matching velvet turtlenecks and pants were layered under embroidered open-style jackets. Silvana also used the fabric in dresses with deep-V, strapless, and high-neck styles, embellished with a delicate shimmer.

The problem with doing something great the first time is that it sets expectations on the ceiling. Fortunately, when you're Louise Trotter, that's not really an issue. The designer—who joined Bottega Veneta in December 2024 after Matthieu Blazy left his seat as creative director to take a new one at Chanel—shocked and awed the crowd at her debut runway show for the house from Vicenza, continuing the groundbreaking work she had started in her former role as creative director of Carven. Mesmerizing fringe was paired with artful uses of Bottega Veneta's signature Intrecciato, crafting (emphasis on the craft part) a collection for women by a woman.

On Saturday, the designer unveiled her much-anticipated second collection for Bottega Veneta at the brand's headquarters in the Palazzo San Fedele, showing a total of 81 looks for both men and women to a crowd that included Lauren Hutton, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Lauryn Hill, Julianne Moore, and Lux Pascal. The men's side was noticeably more tame, a ruffled collar and fringe jacket made of fiberglass being among the most obvious exceptions. For women, the collection felt far more varied, starting with quieter ensembles colored in soft neutrals that leaned heavily on Bottega Veneta's history as a leather-goods house, before developing into louder, more playful looks using the aforementioned fiberglass fringe she debuted for spring/summer 2026. This evolution accurately portrayed the duality of women—casual and laid-back one second and larger-than-life the next, captivating any room. In this case, it was with hot-pink outerwear and a bright-red hat, among other combinations. It also mimicked the duality of Trotter's adopted home of Milan (she's from London but has lived in the city for a year since taking this job), which she described to Vogue and other media outlets backstage as "very brutalist with a sensuality that's a little hidden."

Milan's shows have appeared to be a lot more about storytelling this season than just debuting beautiful clothing, and Prada's show was a lesson in dressing and undressing, peeling off layers as one passes through a day and a life. Bottega Veneta's fall/winter 2026 unveiling shares a similar sense of peeling back, showing the multifaceted nature of places and people. Comparing Look 1 to Look 80 might feel jarring at first glance, but are we to expect our wardrobe to show only one version of ourselves? The quietest or the loudest without any room for change? I would hope not, and the latest Bottega Veneta collection would suggest that Trotter is on my side.

Scroll on for more on Bottega Veneta's F/W 26 show.

Duality

We saw everything from an elegant, somewhat subdued ensemble fit for a well-dressed Milanese woman to wear throughout the first half of her day—grabbing coffee, chatting with friends, and catching up on work in the office—to a fantastical, furry look for the most special of occasions. That is the breadth of what Trotter debuted in her sophomore collection for Bottega Veneta. The Bottega Veneta woman is not just one thing. She is multifaceted, and her wardrobe should reflect that duality.