Statement jewellery
If you’re suffering from minimalist malaise, 2026 will be your antidote. According to Pinterest’s predictions of trends for the year ahead, personality dressing is back, defined by decadence, with a trend they’re coining “Glamoratti”. Think power dressing with sculptural tailoring, funnel necks and chunkier, bolder jewellery. This shift away from fine, barely-there pieces was clear on the runways of Celine, Saint Laurent, Balmain, and Givenchy, where layered beaded and chain necklaces and stacked bangles took centre stage.
Boudoir dressing
Struggling to peel yourself out of your pyjamas after the festive season? The spring catwalks say you don’t have to. Designers leaned into softer, boudoir-inspired tailoring with sleepwear silhouettes at Dolce & Gabbana and Erdem. Toteme, Tods, and Givenchy went pared-back with white-sheet-style dresses, while Simone Rocha and Martine Rose sent models clutching pillows as accessories.
Balloon
If you don’t want to get caught out in your PJs but still crave comfort, enter balloon trousers. Evolving from last year’s barrel leg-shape, 2026 trousers are all about exaggerated volume, according to the catwalks of Michael Kors, Bottega Veneta and Zimmerman. The good news? It’s already filtering down to the high street, too. Comfy, roomy and chic, the inflated style often features a stretchy waist, cuffed ankles, and breezy volume through the leg. Style it with sleek, fitted pieces for a modern play on proportional dressing.
Haute harlequin
Supersized spots, stripes, and frills. For spring, designers embraced big-top fashion with a fantastical flourish. Think joyful colour-clashing at Versace and harlequin checks at Khaite, Jacquemus, and Dries Van Noten. Pinterest predicts a rise in circus-themed interiors, too, from striped walls to sculptural furniture, proof that fashion’s appetite for playfulness is extending beyond the wardrobe.
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The new duo
The effortless fashion formula for 2026? Well, according to Chanel’s critically acclaimed show, it’s the combination of a crisp shirt and a statement skirt. For the season ahead, skirts take on an expressive role, rich with texture, fringing, and frothy tulle, and benefit from a crisp layer on top. The shirt grounds the look, and the skirt does all the heavy lifting. Simple and impactful.
The scarf
Last year, the silk scarf emerged as a big styling tool tied across dresses and tailoring, but in 2026, its role has expanded. On the spring catwalks, the scarf was no longer just an accessory but the backbone of outfits. Scarf prints were transformed into blouses at Celine, asymmetrical dresses at Lanvin, and breezy co-ords at Alberta Ferretti.
Colour story
Pantone’s colour of the year may be Cloud Dancer, a soft, serene off-white, but the runways painted a far bolder, brighter picture. Across the spring collections, vibrant primary hues, crayola-box brights, and clashing saturated shades brought a sense of vibrancy to Versace, Givenchy, Loewe, and Saint Laurent. The takeaway? Joyful colour is back.
Collaborations
Once a novelty, designer-high-street collabs are a fashion constant, and in 2026, they aren’t losing their shine either. Stella McCartney returns to H&M, two decades after collaborating with the brand in 2005. Launching in spring, the collection will feature certified, responsibly sourced materials and reworked pieces from her archive.
Irish design
Closer to home, Irish designers continue to make their mark on the international red carpets. From Laura Whitmore in Sasha Donnellan, to Kate Nash in Rion Hannora, to Nicola Coughlan in Colin Burke and Loah in Caloum McCabe, emerging and independent Irish designers are increasingly visible on red carpets and beyond. For 2026, expect a stronger showing from home-grown designers.
