The Fashion Trends Defining Autumn/Winter 2026
Words by Sophia Miller
Following last season’s monumental wave of new creative directors at the world’s biggest houses, Autumn/Winter 2026 could well have become fashion’s tricky second album. But the likes of Matthieu Blazy, Jonathan Anderson and Louise Trotter showed no signs of slowing down – in fact, fashion is striding ahead with fresh momentum. The shows at fashion week were a whirlwind of fantastical set design (think a moss-covered 'neo-landscape' at Louis Vuitton and a parade of life-size stuffed animals at Loewe), alongside innovative next-gen fabric and handiwork so exceptional that critics dubbed it the new craft race. As for how to keep in step with the new season? Our guide to the AW26 trends to know will help you propel all that good energy into your wardrobe.
Spotlight On: Loewe
“For us, the act of making is, at its core, an expression of joy” say Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of their sophomore collection for Loewe. The resulting Autumn/Winter 2026 offering is a riot of colour, texture and – most importantly – innovative craft: think 3D-printed latex dresses, chunky cord trousers and rubberised swim shoes-turned-heels, plus the Amazona 180 bag in a fiery palette of sunrise orange, daisy yellow and chilli-pepper red. This is fashion that’s fun again.
Layer upon Layer
As Miuccia Prada herself put it: “As a woman, your life is layered – each day demands not only a shifting of clothes, but a richness of identities within yourself.” This philosophy inspired a novel yet somehow intuitive show featuring just 15 models stripping away four layers of garments to reveal another look worn underneath – from the classic jumper-over-shirt combo to organza anoraks layered over printed cocktail dresses. Celine, CHANEL and Acne Studios were just a handful of the other houses that showed multi-layered looks in a tribute to the power of clever styling – and the creative appeal of transitional dressing.
Rich Pickings
Each year, the Autumn/Winter collections bring with them an awareness that, as the days draw in, we want a wardrobe that reflects the season’s darker, moodier atmosphere. The challenge becomes: how to do darkness without drab? AW26’s laser focus on craft meant that the latest collections are anything but, employing velvet, jacquard and embroidery to create a sense of richness and opulence that looks back to heritage techniques with one eye firmly on the future. Givenchy trimmed its gothic florals with rainbow fringe, Erdem decorated jewel-toned tweed overcoats with clusters of black beading, and Schiaparelli showed jackets and skirts studded with a constellation of tinsel-like embellishments for a tactile take on party dressing.
Wild Thing
As if embellishment wasn’t glamorous enough, the Autumn/Winter 2026 runways embraced a print trend that could be described as maximalist marmite: all things wild animal. Adorning sweeping calf-length coats at Tom Ford and Bottega Veneta and crisp-cut separates at Balmain and Carolina Herrera, the prints on show ran the full gamut of the animal kingdom: think snake, tiger and cheetah as well as the ubiquitous leopard. Now that’s what we call a fashion safari.
Phenomenal Woman
At a time of year that often asks you to cover up, choosing when to reveal a little more is a delicate art. This season, femininity is all about form. Slinky shapes and cut-outs were the order of the day at Gucci, Balenciaga and Victoria Beckham, while mid-century style nipped waists and elegant tailored jackets at Dior, Jacquemus and Givenchy offered another side to the trend. The key takeaway? Embrace your silhouette.
Related Stories
Colour Trends to Know for AW26
From icy blue to autumnal burgundy, these are the shades set to dominate the new season.
Print Trends to Wear Now
Embrace a maximalist mood with these three key trending prints,
