We might be in the thick of fall, but the spring/summer 2026 runways already have us dreaming of warmer weather. Across New York, London, Milan, and Paris, designers delivered collections that leaned into the whimsical, free-spirited allure of the season. (And no, the biggest trends we noticed waltzing down the catwalk were definitely not just floral prints.)
Instead, inspiration was found in returning to the power of styling and moving away from trite one-note clichés. Built-in capes, shrugs, and shawls transformed sleek silhouettes into something more striking and showed that movement can be just as powerful as cut. Regency romance was another throughline with puff sleeves, empire waists, and delicate lacing nodding to period dressing while still feeling fresh.
Color helped set the mood for the season. Candy shades of pink, lilac, and lemon yellow showed up across Fendi and Saint Laurent's dresses and accessories, breaking up the streak of neutrals we’ve seen in past seasons. Designers also brought a sense of playfulness through headwear, from wide brims that made a look feel complete to classic pillbox hats that leaned on nostalgia. Sequins had their own shift this season. Instead of being saved for nights out, they appeared on casual separates, styled with jeans and button-downs to make sparkle feel like something you could wear during the day.
1. All Swaddled Up
This season's outerwear took on the caccoon, swaddling models in fabric across Paris and New York. Prabal Gurung's fancy spin on the trend came in the form of a blue satin housecoat. Celine tied a cozy knotted cape over a matching dress. And Issey Miyake pondered the question, what if we all started wearing bathrobes outside?
2. Bedspread Florals
Yes, florals are always in for spring, but this season's crop has a 1980s bent. Chloe's archival prints, as shown on crop tops, tea-length dresses, and ruffle separates, had a distinctly Laura Ashley feel, while Sandy Liang's washed-out prints, displayed on puffed sleeves and drop waists, evoked the Molly Ringwald era. At Carolina Herrera, rustic roses took eveningwear to new romantic heights.
3. Hourglass Shapes
The hourglass is so back after years of oversized styles dominating the outerwear space. Mugler offered a double-breasted camel peacoat with a dramatic violin shape, while Diotima showed a duster cut low and close to the body. Even minimalist favorite Jil Sander went for a form-fitted silhouette, sending a white, barrel-sleeved coat down the catwalk with a gorgeous sheen.
4. Candy Colors
The palette for spring is a feast for the eyes with candy colors like taffy blues, gummy bear greens, and bubblegum pinks popping up on runways. At Fendi, bright colors made floaty pieces extra punch, Saint Laurent had shiny, translucent trench coats that looked like glossy gelatin, while the sweet shades at Tory Burch gave clothes extra bite.
5. Clash Attack
Designers’ spring collections call for casting aside dress codes and embracing a devil-may-care sensibility. From plastic-coated, mismatched clothes at Margiela, free-spirited styling at Etro, and Collina Strada’s colorful confections with matching shadow twins, designers far and wide seemed to acknowledge that good taste isn’t just reserved for the primp and proper. Chaotic clothes allow us to move the fashion needle forward, so why not throw caution to the wind next season?
6. Drop It Like Its Hot
Consider this decade as the second coming of the roaring twenties. While Taylor Swift has showgirl style on everyone’s minds, designers looked to 1920s flappers for inspiration, featuring unconstrained drop waists that appeared everywhere from low-slung skirts and pants at Boss and Ferrari, respectively, to Coco Chanel-inspired styles by Matthieu Blazy.
7. Tropic Thunder
Warmer months mean diving into easy, breezy clothes in bright and bold colors and punchy prints. However, on the designer runways, tropical-inspired outfits took on an edgier look. At Rabanne, beachy attire was rendered in ice-cream colors and covered in ASMR-worthy embellishments. Surfer’s wetsuits were the inspiration at Dries Van Noten, where clothes took on the rounded, streamlined shapes splattered with colors. Meanwhile, Isabel Marant sent models out in cool, cabana clothes that were ready for a night out.
8. Defying Gravity
According to the spring collections, it's time to lighten things up—literally. We've had enough of overly serious clothes, so shed those bulky layers and basic pieces in favor of floaty fabrics, puffy sleeves, and voluminous hemlines. Need some inspiration? Then look no further than the gauzy and daphenous dresses at Altuzarra, Cecilie Bahnsen, and Louis Vuitton.
9. Silver Linings Only
For a while, gold metal jewelry’s crown couldn’t be tipped in the fashion world—but change is in the air, and it’s come with a vengeance. Across global runways, silver metals are gleaming brighter than ever. Whether it’s a stack of dramatic pendants at Gabriela Hearst or bracelet-heavy wrists at Isabel Marant, silver’s edge has never felt sharper. The once-overlooked metal now feels like a modern rebellion against gold’s reign with an inspired grunge-forward and unapologetically cool new attitude.
