The spring/summer 2026 collections arrived with a palpable sense of excitement, and for a good reason. This season marked a true industry reset, with nearly 15 newly appointed creative directors debuting their visions and setting the tone for the spring/summer 2026 fashion trends across the major fashion houses. The overarching sentiment was expressive, celebratory, and deeply personal—driven by individuality and the pure joy of getting dressed.

For summer, designers toyed with the idea of hobby dressing. We saw bike helmets at Celine, aprons at Miu Miu, and board shorts at Dries Van Noten. A sense of proportion play also came through with billowy balloon trousers, Bermuda shorts, and peplum tops.

A certain kind of soft, relaxed elegance was also explored this season, characterized by scarf styling and drop-waist silhouettes. Elsewhere, bold retro prints brought nostalgic charm to the collections; from Chloé’s ’80s-inspired florals to Khaite’s oversized polka dots, these colors and patterns are what make summer dressing so fun and intoxicating.

The spring/summer 2026 collections pick up where we left off in the fall, with personality-driven looks rooted in wearability. Think of it as real-life dressing with a flourish. Find an introduction to the key summer 2026 trends below—with all the pieces to shop to recreate your favorite mood this summer.

Want even more trends? Make sure to check out our guide to the top summer shoe trends and the key summer handbag trends.

Scarf Styling

With blown-up prints and exaggerated proportions, scarves went from accent to key element of the look. Multicolored and patterned silks were fashioned into tops and dresses, wrapped around the waist, and knotted over the shoulder for styling that pushed the limits.

Balloon Trousers

For those looking for something other than a linen trouser, the balloon pant offers a more directional summer alternative. Billowy and lightweight, the silhouette appeared at Michael Kors, Brandon Maxwell, and Altuzarra—we love it with flat sandals and thong-heeled flip-flops alike.

Retro Summer

Planning your next holiday in the sun? Look to retro-inspired prints to bring a nostalgic charm to your vacation wardrobe. Channel the mood with Suzie Kondi’s striped trousers, Chloé’s floral bodysuit, or Dries Van Noten’s kaftan pieces that feel equal parts glamorous, relaxed, and ready for an escape.

Peplum Revival

The peplum is back! We saw modern versions of the ladylike top—think more sculptural and defined, less fussy and flowy—walk the runways at Ashlyn, Dries van Noten, Adam Lippes, Khaite, and Stella McCartney. There’s plenty of outfit ideas to explore, from tapered trousers to capri pants to Bermuda shorts.

Recreation Dressing

From the runway to real life, this season’s fashion took cues from the hobbies and pastimes that shape our everyday routines. Lifestyle staples became standout fashion moments, from Celine’s riding helmets and Miu Miu’s aprons to Dries Van Noten’s embellished board shorts and bold red swimwear seen at Kent and Curwen.

The Bermuda Way

Bermudas are the short silhouette for the summer. At Fforme, they were styled with sweeping duster coats and flip-flops; at Loewe, a denim drawstring version came paired with a sculptural tops and red mules, while at Dries Van Noten, board short shapes were elevated with beading and other embellishments. The appeal lies in their versatility, which can be easily dressed up or down with heeled thong sandals or minimalist flats.

Lady of Leisure

Driven by a sense of elegant ease, soft, draped tailoring and robe-like silhouettes define the mood—think of these as the kind of clothes Marella Agnelli might wear sailing along the Amalfi coast. Long scarves are a key styling detail, wrapped around the neck or waist, with swishy tassels that sashay with each step. Look for pieces in silk and satin that move with the body just so, like Khaite’s butter yellow skirt or Fforme’s maxi dress.

Fashion as Feeling

There was a shared love of craft and bold use of color in the collections of Chanel, Bottega Veneta, Loewe, Balenciaga, Khaite, and Altuzarra. We saw several statement skirts paired with simple tops; the texture and dramatic proportion being the focal point of the look. Try Loulou de Saison’s fringe dress, which is still neutral yet bold, or opt for Diotima’s handkerchief skirt with a simple white shirt for playful charm.

Utility Dressing

Utility dressing answers the call for clothes that work as hard as you do. Designers leaned into uniform-inspired silhouettes made from durable fabrics, with details rooted in functionality. Earth tones define the palette, however, their sensible nature doesn’t mean boring—especially not when paired with something unexpected for contrast (see: Burberry’s metallic tunic and cargo jacket mashup).

Mode Sportif

Nylon anoraks and technical bottoms styled with heels and tailoring prove that the contrast is key when fashion-ifying sporty staples. Prada shows us how it's done by pairing a citron-hued snap jacket with crisp shirting and a full skirt.

Jazz Age

A silhouette favored by icons both fictional and real, the 1920s shift dress returns in modern fabrics and prints. Its drop-waist and relaxed, midi-length fit offers an elegant alternative to tailoring or overly draped pieces; its inherent ease perfectly aligns with the season’s softer approach.

Literary Chic

Fans of fall’s modern prep look will find much to love in spring’s take, as designers pushed the idea of uniform dressing into more expressive territory with offbeat color combos and layered styling. The look here is built around functional staples—cardigans, pencil skirts, button-downs, and V-neck sweaters—animated by the element of surprise, like a flash of red peeking out from a printed shirt, or vibrant leather gloves that contrast a more muted color palette. Recreate the lit-chic look with &Daughters’s cardigan over TWP’s blue button-down and Jil Sander’s pleated skirt.

The Art of the In-Between

When the weather can’t make up its mind, it’s time to get ultra-creative with your layers. Out-style mercurial forecasts with clever—and lightweight—pieces that offer warmth without the bulk. In practice, that might look like colorful shirting paired with cropped outerwear and a silk scarf (à la Miu Miu or Bottega); or a cropped jacket atop a button-down and knit.