Forecast, SS26 to FW26

Every woman knows the feeling. You're eyeing something you love right now, but there's that nagging voice: "Won't this be totally over by next season?”

I myself was mulling over the exact same thing when a scroll through the FW26 collections revealed something interesting. Several SS26 keywords aren't just passing through. They're settling in for the long haul.

So here it is. If you're stuck clicking in and out of your shopping cart right now, consider this your green light: a list of trends that will hold up from SS26 all the way through FW26.

GIRLS DREAM

The Sweet Stuff Isn't Going Anywhere

We all have a soft spot for it. Cute prints, sweet details, the whole girlish thing. It owned SS26 and it's not letting up for FW26, with Simone Rocha, SANDY LIANG, and Ashley Williams leading the way.

 

2026 New York Fashion Week ⓒGetty Images

 

But this isn't cute just for the sake of cute. Ribbons, lace, frills, yes, but there's always something a little rebellious and off-kilter underneath. That's what draws you in, isn't it? The prettiness has teeth.
And what really matters: these pieces don't live and die on the runway. They fold right into everyday basics, which means you can actually wear them.

 

SANDY LIANG SS26 ⓒvogue.com

  

The detail I can't get over is ribbons going full main character. They used to be small accents on a blouse collar or tucked in your hair. Now, in looks like SANDY LIANG's, the ribbon becomes the dress, or it sets the whole mood of the outfit. There's just something about adding a ribbon to a look that makes everything feel a little more lovable.

 

SANDY LIANG FW26 ⓒvogue.com

SANDY LIANG FW26 KIMHĒKIM FW26 ⓒvogue.com ©maison_kimhekim

 

No girlish look is complete without knee-high socks. My favorite way to wear them is pulling all the way up and pairing them with heels. On their own, knee-highs are adorable, but the moment they meet a heel, suddenly the whole look becomes grown up and balanced. That subtle back-and-forth between sweet and sophisticated is exactly what makes this pairing so good for switching up everyday outfits. 

 

©@sandyliang

KIMHĒKIM FW26 ©maison_kimhekim ©vogue.com

 

I’M NOT CUTE ANYMORE 

The sweet mood is growing up. Across SS and FW 2026, that girlish sensibility has been joined by a wave of elegant lace. At the center of this is the boudoir look built around sheer fabrics and lace. From the French word for bedroom, boudoir style leans on silk, satin, and relaxed silhouettes to blur the line between what you sleep in and what you step out in.

 

Simone Rocha SS26 ©vogue.com

©_jeanettemadsen_

 

Here’s the interesting part. Boudoir doesn’t just read as skin-baring anymore. Now it’s about layering, letting that intimate softness filter into the look naturally. If you’ve been out and about lately, you’ve probably already noticed. Sheer pieces mixed into sweet, put-together outfits are everywhere right now.

 

©_jeanettemadsen_

ANNA SUI SS26 Chloé SS26 ©vogue.com

 

ANNA SUI and Chloé both went dreamy with sheer lace dresses, and full boudoir fantasy. ASHLEY WILLIAMS took a more everyday route, layering kitsch illustration-print pajama tops and jackets over satin skirts and trousers.

 

ASHLEY WILLIAMS SS26 ©vogue.com

 

Ribbons to lace to sheer. The thread keeps extending, getting more delicate and more personal as it goes. And it's not stopping next season.

ANN DEMEULESMEESTER went all in on lace for both SS26 and FW26, but never let it take over completely. Looks featuring sharp Napoleon-cut jackets paired with softly draping lace skirts give toughness and delicacy in the same outfit, and that’s entirely the point. Hard textures against flowing ones, structure against fluidity. It’s the brand’s signature poetic sensibility, distilled into pure mix-and-match.

 

ANN DEMEULEMEESTER FW26 Front Row ⓒGetty Images

ANN DEMEULEMEESTER SS26 ©vogue.com

 

 

Into the World of Maximalism

Go Bigger with Ruffle Skirts

 

This is the look I’ve had my eye on lately. The more you get into getting dressed, the more mix-and-match starts to feel like the most fun part. Keep the top casual, throw on a voluminous ruffle skirt, and suddenly we have something. GANNI, ASHLEY WILLIAMS, Simone Rocha, and Dior all showed us ruffle skirts in their own way, and every length imaginable is about to be fair game. Which one you pick is entirely up to you.

 

GANNI FW26, Ashley Williams FW26 ©vogue.com

Simone Rocha FW26 Chloé FW26 ©vogue.com

Dior FW26 ©vogue.com

 

Bold Color Is Here to Stay

The maximalist wave extends to the palette. One of the biggest SS26 keywords was vivid color, period. Red, pink, blue. Clear, confident shades flooded both runways and sidewalks, and that energy isn't dying down for FW26.

 

SANDY LIANG FW26 ©vogue.com

 

The color to watch right now is Mint. Cool and soft, it pairs with cute, girlish looks better than you'd expect. Ribbons and lace that might tip into too-sweet territory get some welcome breathing room when mint enters the picture.

 

The rule for color this season? Stop overthinking it. The old idea that vivid color only works as an accent is already out the window. So if you're also going back and forth on a bold piece right now, the answer is clear. We don’t have to keep starting at all the cute stuff in our shopping carts. This is just the beginning.

 

 

Time Machine to the Past

We Keep Going Back to the 2000s

Had to rub my eyes. The visuals were just too familiar. Those headbands in MIU MIU's FW26, dripping with early-2000s nostalgia. Watching them come down the runway was a fresh reminder that fashion really does come full circle.

 

 

The real comeback that caught my attention was skinny jeans. Wide-leg and relaxed fits pushed them out for a while, but they've been quietly making their way back. Pair them with a tight top and that sleek, clean-line attitude just clicks into place. There's something kind of welcome about seeing them again, isn't there? If you're stuck on which trousers to buy right now, a pair of skinnies is a solid pick.

 

JIL SANDER SS26 MM6 Maison Margiela FW26 ©vogue.com

 

7 For All Mankind captures it best. Like a scene straight out of Gossip Girl with layered scarves, mini dresses, and fearless styling. None of this effortlessly-undone business. Getting dressed, fully and unapologetically, is the core of 2000s-era confidence. That said, today's Y2K isn't just rehashing the originals. It's sharper, more intentional, with a polished edge the first time around never quite had.

 

©kr.pinterest.com 

7forallmankind FW26 ©7forallmankind

 

Take Notes from '80s Silhouettes

Few things change a look faster than silhouette. One shape that kept showing up across both SS and FW 2026 is the rounded oversized shoulder. Not sharp, not exaggerated. It wraps the shoulder softly, giving oversized pieces a fluid, relaxed feel that reads way more polished than your typical oversize. The '80s reference writes itself. Power shoulders, big attitude, one of the most extravagant decades in modern fashion.

 

KHAITE SS26 THE ROW FW26 ©vogue.com

BOTTEGA VENETA FW26 PRADA FW26 ©vogue.com

VAQUERA FW26 ©vogue.com

The '80s callback doesn't stop at shoulders, though. There's also the peplum. Back then, peplums and power shoulders were a package deal. If you're not familiar, it's a top or jacket where fabric fans out right below the waistline, creating that hourglass flare. 

Think of it as sitting right at the border between top and skirt, which is part of what makes it so appealing. It cinches at the waist, flares below, and plays up the contrast in a way that's just flattering. STELLA McCARTNEY, JACQUEMUS, Proenza Schouler, GIVENCHY, Dior, and TOD'S all showcased it this season like they'd made a collective decision.

 

STELLA McCARTNEY SS26 ©vogue.com

JACQUEMUS SS26 Proenza Schouler FW26 ©vogue.com

GIVENCHY FW26 STELLA McCARTNEY FW26 ©vogue.com

 

There you have it. Trends that hold from SS to FW 2026. Not one-season fads, but something worth investing in. If you've been going back and forth, this is the sign. Go ahead and buy it.