With the Fall 2026 collections coming out this New York Fashion Week, there’s lots to talk about this year. It is looking to be one of the best for fashion! I’ve included some of my favorite trends that I’ve noticed–both those that have continued into this year and those that are new to look out for so that you have the most fashionionable year yet. I will also share whether it’s just a runway/influencer trend or whether you can and should include this in your wardrobe as well.
Lace on jeans: Peak-a-boo lace
With the return of the “messy French girl vibe” lace has been all over the place and it was something I started to notice at the end of 2025, but it has become a winter (and possibly even spring) trend in 2026. It’s showing up everywhere with the lace on jeans, peaking out under long sleeves, as trim on tops, and as pants. It’s always been a beautiful detail underneath a sweater and this is something I have loved doing for a long time so seeing this trend makes me especially happy. I think that there’s a way of incorporating lace into your daily wardrobe without it being too “runway.” The lace peaking out under tops, either with the neckline or out from under the sleeves are a great way to do that. I think anything more than that leans into influencer/runway territory. The lace on jeans feels like something you wouldn’t wear on a day to day basis but it’s cute if you’re going for Instagram vibes in NYC. Overall, lace can be a beautiful detail you can add to your outfits to make them a little more interesting and special and it’s something I love to see.
Fun jeans – Sparkles, sequins, (Zara) kinda 2016
I love a good pair of fun jeans. Whether they’re studded, have sequins, or even sparkles, a cute pair of fun jeans can instantly elevate your wardrobe and outfits to a whole new level. While regular jeans provide a good base for any outfit, in order to really elevate your style, adding fun details instantly improves any basic outfit. This could even be a fun DIY project to do on a cheaper pair of jeans (so that you don’t mess up really expensive ones) or you could buy them pre-done. I have a pair of studded jeans and I must say, they’re my favorite out of all the jeans I own.
Colored tights – Baby blue and burgundy
It’s safe to say that tights have been coming back in waves since 2024. Wearing thermal tights in winter has been a nice way to include skirts back into the colder season wardrobe and it’s something I love to do. Putting them under dresses and skirts is a fun way to keep some summery items throughout all seasons. We’ve seen a comeback of the burgundy tights for a fun pop of color, and while those are still very prevalent (especially the ones with lace more recently), baby and electric blues are predicted to be the colors of the year. Personally, I like my tights to be a little less in-your-face so I tend to opt for more of a muted baby blue pair. These can be fun to add a unique detail under a dress or skirt for the winter and can instantly make you look more alive during these cold months.
Clean girl is out, enter messy French girl vibe: Messy hairstyles
While the clean girl still has a chokehold on a lot of us, (you know, the girl with the slick back ponytails and glowing glass skin who wears white and grey all the time and looks “clean”?) the messy French girl is starting to come back. How, you might ask? Hairstyles have become messy and unkept in a chic way, layering tops under sweaters, red lipstick, tucking pantlegs into boots (even though I personally HATE that trend and think it looks too try-hard to be messy), and even showing up fashionably late looking a bit disheveled are all key indicators that this style has started to make a big return. The art of the messy French girl is one that never ceases to amaze me and the Parisian Cowgirl aesthetic is what I aim to look like all the time (though I don’t think I’m fully executing it correctly ever).
Y2k vibes workout set vibes are back: Out with the matching sets
While I love a good matching set moment as much as the next person, the return of the y2k matching workout sets intrigues me and I have to say I’ve been loving what I’m seeing. Layering tops over sports bras and tanks so that the color blocking peaks through is a beautiful way to look put together on your way to a pilates, SoulCycle, or Corepower class. Foldover pants/leggings/shorts have made a huge return and I absolutely ADORE this trend! There’s something so different about being so fashionable that you wear multiple tops and layers even on your way to a sweaty class. It’s chic, put-together, and instantly catches my attention.
Sneakers are out (unless it’s for a workout class), enter everyday heels: Slingbacks
All I have to say is THANK GOD!! While sneakers are a great comfort shoe and have their place, they don’t look good with every outfit! Finally 2026 has brought more of an elevated style to the point where people have stopped wearing sneakers outside for the comfort they bring, but have started to wear low, kitten-heeled shoes like slingbacks and boots. This has been a long time coming because I love to wear heels more than sneakers regardless of whether or not I’m walking 20,000 steps in NYC or going for a nice dinner with my family or fun night out with my friends. Sneakers have their place: in a gym! While they’re more comfortable than any other shoe, they don’t look as good with outfits. If you’re looking for a way to elevate your style instantly, I encourage you to find a pair of comfortable heels, they can be high heels, kitten heels, slingbacks, or my personal favorite: boots. I promise you with these additions, you will look instantly chic and better than if you had just worn sneakers.
Midi skirts + knee high boots
This is one of THE BEST trends I have seen all year! I’m totally and completely obsessed with it! If you want to look like you know what you’re doing fashion-wise, I really encourage you to try this style. It’s not only chic and put-together, but it’s great for spring and in-between seasons when you don’t know how to dress for the weather. It works for a shopping day and coffee, a night out with your friends, or a nice dinner with your family. It’s so versatile. Not only has this specific style made a return (and mark my words you will see it in fall 2026) but the midi skirts in general (especially the black ones) have made a big comeback! They are gorgeous for a chic office siren look or even a trending Carolyn Bessette Kennedy inspired look paired with a mock turtleneck.
Scarves (as belts) + interesting hats: Big accessories
I love a good scarf accessory! Any chance I can get to incorporate a scarf into my outfits, I will take. They’re so versatile (as you can see here), as you can wear them in a myriad of ways. My personal favorite is taking an oversized scarf and making a top out of it. I have a Moroccan scarf that I turned into a top and it’s my favorite piece in my collection. Wearing scarves the way they were intended (around your neck) is beautiful but try to experiment with the way you tie them because that makes all the difference. Seeing them atop people’s hair is stunning too and around people’s waists atop jeans is also beautiful. They’re a nice, small detail that can elevate any outfit and screams that you know exactly what you’re doing! You can even tie them around your purse for an elevated accessory that will have people giving you compliments left and right (I promise). For a trend that sparked up late 2025, I expect this to continue this year in even more unique and special ways than what we saw last year.
Long necklaces: Pendant Required
I don’t have much to say about these, just that they’re beautiful! A long necklace brings more depth to your outfit and makes it look more put-together and chic than it did without. While they’ve been in for a while now with big chunky pendants, the long thin ones that extend really far in a straight line have been returning as well and they are just stunning. I haven’t had a chance to hop on this trend just yet, but when I find a really unique piece, I will be trying this for myself, as it’s a showstopper.
Capris: Back from the ’00s!
With the return of this big trend last summer after seeing both Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber put these back into the wardrobes of admiring fans, capris have made a return and I’m predicting that they’re here to stay this summer. They’re a cute way to still be able to wear pants in the summertime and they make any outfit instantly adorable. Personally though, in order to avoid being too runway with these and having a staple pair of pants you’ll wear past summer of 2026, I would only get them in black and white. The other colors and prints (like polka dots and zebra print) are cute, but trust me when I say that these are a micro trend and will become a waste of money if you can’t wear them past this spring and summer. So stick to the basics with this one!
Less showy is more – ex. high neck tops: High neck/low back tops (Zara)
Last but certainly not least, there has been a recent movement to steer more towards showing less skin than we have previously seen in the last 20 years. High neck tops are all the rage right now and they are here to stay for at least a few more years, if not longer. They’re fun to experiment with and can be dressed up or down regardless of the season. My personal favorite way to style these is my polka dot version (or the Zara ones that have been all over the place) and a cute pair of low rise black trousers or jeans with a belt, hair up in a ponytail, and lots of chunky bracelets/earrings, and boots. This is the most perfect going out with friends outfit and it’s one that I would love to see more of this coming year!
Those were all of my predictions based on what I’ve seen so far this year and it’s safe to say that this year is going to be an amazing one for fashion! I’ve been loving almost every single trend that I saw at New York Fashion Week (especially Ralph Lauren’s fall 2026 collection) and I think by incorporating these ideas into your wardrobes, you’re bound to have a fashionable year. I can’t wait to see what you all choose to wear or not! Comment down below if you’ve tried any of these outfit ideas and what your thoughts are, I’d love to hear from you!
xxxx
Maddie
