The fashion styles and designs that are trending in 2026
Fashion trends change all the time, and keeping up with everything that’s new can feel quite exhausting unless you really love fashion. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t have a personal style and invest in pieces that you love regardless of whether they’re fashionable or not, but looking around and understanding what fashion is, how to pair pieces together, and how to create outfits will go a long way when it comes to elevating your own looks. If you’re thinking of making a change this year, the trends that are already starting to be popular this year could lend a hand in that regard and help crystallise things for you a little bit.
Accessorise
Having a lot of clothes is not always a good idea. Recent studies indicate that many of the clothes people buy nowadays remain completely unworn before they are discarded, while another significant portion are only worn once or two times and then are thrown away. This behaviour is incredibly unsustainable and leads to a massive waste problem. Since almost 70% of clothing contains plastics, this means that the items that are thrown away end up disintegrating into microplastics that are harmful to the environment and human health.
Being a conscious consumer and only buying the clothes that you know you’re going to wear at least 30 or 50 times is an absolute must. To make outfits more diverse, you can count on accessories. Ankara fabric, a cotton textile created through wax-resist dyeing techniques and featuring vibrant, colourful designs, is a popular item since it isn’t just a fashion piece but an item with a complex identity, history, and strong cultural ties. The motifs added to the fabrics convey messages, being tied to historical events, stories, and proverbs.
Some of the other kinds of accessories you can expect to see a lot this year include silk capes (perfect for formal occasions), woven leather bags (the best addition to a minimalist, understated look), brooches and pins (which can make daily outfits a lot more festive), and classic grey socks (which fashion lovers see as the perfect mix between neutrals and a bit of colour, and which are worn with anything from loafers to dainty kitten heels for a nice contrast).
The jeans
Jeans are an absolute classic, the type of piece that will never go out of style, no matter how much time passes and how trends change. They go with any outfit and are great for pretty much any occasion. They’re more comfortable than formal trousers but more structured than track pants, so when you wear jeans, you are put together yet casual at the same time. The focus this year remains on baggy, oversized styles, the way it has been for a few years now, with the 90s inspiration still strong.
However, a few other choices are becoming more popular too, and you’ve probably seen them around more as well. Bootcut jeans are one of them. The subtle flare at the bottom looks amazing when draped over shoes, whether you’re a fan of chunky soles or prefer the slimmer look. A classic look is to wear them with a basic t-shirt or top (either white or black) and a vibrant headwrap from AfricanFabs for a pop of colour. Red jeans (which were popular during both the 90s and the early 2010s) are making a comeback as well. Wear yours with a simple linen shirt or a cream jumper to really make the hue pop. Workwear, a well-known trend over the last few years, has impacted jeans, too.
In the denim world, the utilitarian look is represented by a relaxed shape as well as extra pockets and loops.
Shoes
When it comes to the shoes, though, things are a bit different from the jeans. Here, slim silhouettes reign supreme regardless of whether you prefer styles that are more elegant or are the type of person who lives in sneakers. V-cut ballet flats are particularly popular, an understated design that looks good with everything, and especially a flowy look consisting of a trench coat, wide-leg trousers, and a relaxed but crisp white shirt. Ballet sneakers remain popular in 2026 too, as a result of their striking look and the comfort they provide.
While some of them are closer to the standard sneaker look, others aim to be cute and include bows and colourful ribbons as part of their designs. When it comes to sneakers, the slimmer, low-profile iterations are the most popular ones as well, but that doesn’t mean that they’re always in the simplest, most neutral colours as well. Designs in green, bubble gum pink, vibrant yellow, and deep green are increasingly popular as people look to bring a little more variety to their looks and seek to avoid monochrome looks (which many have started to see as boring).
Unique trends
Fashion is about self-expression, so if you want to try a certain look, you should feel free to experiment. A trick that fashionistas love a lot is wearing your clothing backwards. It might sound strange, but with a few adjustments, it will make you feel like you have an entirely new piece of clothing on. Detachable collars are starting to be popular again after their brief time in the spotlight only a few years ago. Originally created to make laundry an easier chore (since you only had to wash the collar instead of the entire shirt or jumper), they are now the ultimate fashion statement if you want to add a bit of softness to a look that would otherwise be quite stiff (such as an outfit you’d wear at the office).
Sports teams' jerseys have been on the wishlists of fashion lovers from around the world recently, since they are out of stock almost immediately. The idea is to wear yours with contrasting pieces that feel like they shouldn’t look good together but actually do. Sports socks (which are typically decorated with stripes and graphic lines) have started a trend in which they are worn visibly, and often with shoes such as heels to bring some sportiness to tailored looks.
To sum up, trends this year could essentially be summed up as being “cosy cool” and “elevated comfort”. Comfortable pieces that give you plenty of room for movement and are not constricting have been increasingly popular since the days of the pandemic, but things have changed since then. Now the focus is on blending that ease with a look that stands out as well.
