For what feels like an eternity, fashion has been obsessed with being quiet luxury minimalism. Clean, tailored, muted palettes, slicked-back hair, barely-there makeup, quiet luxury the kind of dressing that looked expensive precisely because it never tried too hard. As someone who dives into minimal fashion because it is practical, I do long for fun, sexy, and a little less predictable. 

But at New York Fashion Week, the mood is shifting.

New York Spring/Summer 2027 is about dressing for fun again.
The runways brought an appetite for bold color, texture, movement and clothes that don’t simply blend into the wardrobe. There was texture in all its iterations, skin-baring cutouts, flattering silhouettes, and unexpected combinations of fabrics and finishes. If the clean girl wanted everything perfectly coordinated, her SS27 successor seems considerably less interested in following the rules.

Vogue has already called time on the “clean girl” aesthetic, forecasting a season of maximalist styling, colour clashes, romance and playful self-expression. And looking at the wider fashion mood, it’s easy to see why. After years of pared-back dressing, there’s only so long we can pretend another beige blazer is going to change our lives. Vogue: “Bye Bye Clean Girl: 6 Trend Predictions for Spring/Summer 2027”

Bold Colour
The antidote to beige.

SS27 is saturated. Red continues to dominate, while lime green has emerged as one of the season’s more unexpected additions. Michael Kors played with bold colour blocking, Sergio Hudson made a case for vibrant pink, and Tory Burch brought a softer, almost unexpected take on orange. Prabal Gurung made a particularly strong case for the shade, draping a vivid lime green dress over a contrasting black silhouette, creating a look that felt both dramatic and effortless.

But this isn’t necessarily about abandoning minimalism altogether. Colour can still be used sparingly, as one statement against an otherwise pared back look. Think quiet luxury with a little more oomph. And for those willing to go further, mixing unexpected shades together feels increasingly natural. The idea that everything needs to coordinate is starting to feel a little dated.

Animal Print
The new neutral.

Animal print is getting a personality upgrade for SS27. Leopard and cheetah are still around, but zebra is arriving in unexpected colourways, while LaQuan Smith introduced deer inspired prints. What feels different is how wearable it suddenly looks. Once considered a little too loud, animal print is being pulled off the runway and into the everyday wardrobe. Cult Gaia‘s ruffled leopard dress feels sexy and playful, while Proenza Schouler‘s coat could easily become an everyday staple. Diane von Furstenberg also made her return to the New York runway after nearly a decade, with Henry Zankov stepping in as the house’s new creative force. I loved seeing him bring the spirit of DVF back to life while still making it feel fresh, playful and very now.

And perhaps that’s the appeal. A simple wardrobe doesn’t have to mean a boring one. A statement coat, dress or jacket can be styled with otherwise minimal pieces and suddenly feel completely personal. The new neutral doesn’t necessarily have to be beige.

Floral
Romantic, but not delicate.

Florals have always belonged to spring, but SS27 is giving them a different attitude. Less whimsical and more romantic, edgy and artistic, designers are working flowers into lace, mesh, embroidery and darker silhouettes. Carolina Herrera paired florals with lace, while Khaite‘s sheer floral skirt felt simultaneously sexy, feminine and slightly undone. PatBO went in a lighter direction with an airy blue embroidery floral dress, while Anna Sui brought florals into a darker, almost rock and roll world.

The flower is still romantic, but it no longer needs to be delicate. This season, it feels playful, confident and made for a woman who wants her femininity with a little more attitude.

Texture
Fashion is getting tactile.

Texture has always had a place in fashion, but this season it is taking over the garment itself. Bibhu Mohapatra took a theatrical turn. Inspired by the eccentric Marchesa Luisa Casati, he played with texture through an exaggerated feathered hem, transforming an otherwise polished blush pink skirt suit into something theatrical and playful.At Area, sequinned fringe became the entire look, while Monse transformed a blazer dress with a fringe skirt that seemed to melt as it moved. Palomo brought texture to the runway through feathered details, inspired by what the brand described as “the darkness of the garden just before dawn.” The result was sensual, slightly mysterious and beautifully tactile, capturing the collection’s celebration of freedom, sensuality and beauty.

And that’s what makes it so seductive. The clothes move with you. Every step creates something different, almost synchronized with the body. There is something inherently sexy about that kind of movement. For SS27, texture isn’t simply decoration.

It moves, it performs, and it becomes part of the way you wear the clothes.

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The post Maximalist Glamour Is Back: The Biggest Trends From NYFW SS27 appeared first on Style Cartel.

For trends that are ahead of their time, look no further than London Fashion Week.

Autumn Winter Trends from London Fashion Week 2026 

Sharp, Clean, Structured – Tailoring is so Back

London Fashion Week designers are returning to definition, structure, and tailoring. Whether you’re looking at the chic monochrome looks from the Labrum runway, the various skirts found on the Tolu Coker models, or the impeccable silhouettes characteristic of the late Paul Costelloe – they all have one thing in common. London brought us the sharp, clean tailoring that marks the technical skill of all talented designers. It’s a subtle shift in the fashion tides. If London Fashion Week is telling us anything, it’s that as the weather turns cold again people will be opting for a slim fitted denim rather than their baggy boyfriend jeans.

Another silhouette to note is the rise of strong shoulders – padded blazers, structured jackets, blouses with puffed sleeves. London Fashion Week may have singlehandedly brought back the return of power dressing. The silhouette of these shoulders is precise and deliberate; an 80s revival may be in our future. Again, this distinctive silhouette can be seen in the Paul Costelloe collection. The perfectly tailored pantsuits and shoulder pads go hand in hand, and we’re seeing their return in real time.

The final silhouette to pay attention to is the high neck. Whether it’s a mock neck, a turtleneck, or the funnel (especially the funnel) – this silhouette can be seen on countless runways. Selasi had several looks with the high neck, including on a cropped leather bomber with balloon sleeves. The Natasha Zinko collection gave us a pointed-shoulder blouse with a dainty scarf tied around its turtleneck. And, of course, we can’t forget the funnel neck. It seems that every chic jacket in 2026 has a funnel neck. The designers at London Fashion Week have continued to play with this silhouette, but this time with even more drama. Clearly, the funnel neck is going nowhere.

No Jewelry

The Hemline Index is often referenced as a recession indicator, but it seems like jewelry – or a lack thereof – may be the newest gauge. Several designers this season sent their models down the runway in simply the garments, with not a single piece of jewelry in sight. It’s a statement in itself, to see a bare sternum when you’re expecting an opulent necklace, or to see naked earlobes instead of a dangling earring. It allows the outfit to speak for itself. Interestingly, these minimalist choices reflect the same choices of a currently trending style icon, Carolyne Bessette-Kennedy.

Famously, CBK wore only her engagement ring and wedding band, with little to no other jewelry. Even at her wedding, the late style icon opted to wear no earrings and no necklace. With Ryan Murphy’s most recent show, American Love Story, CBK has been taking the internet by storm and inspired a whole new generation with her incredibly unique style.

With the lack of jewelry on the London runways, and the newfound interest in CBK’s classic minimalist style, a no jewelry look is soon to be trending.

To quote Coco Chanel, “before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory”.

Ways to Accessorize Instead 

While the runways were opting out of jewelry, this same philosophy clearly did not apply to other accessories. In fact, it seems that the consensus for bags, scarves, hoods, and gloves was more, more, more! That’s certainly how it felt watching model after model strut down the runway with an oversized purse, bordering on duffle bag size. A clutch is no longer confined to a purse that fits in the palm of your hand. This is a trend that will most certainly be adopted by the coolest of fashion girls – the art of holding your large, oversized, overfilled bag. A reimagination that Jane Birkin herself would be proud of.

This trend wasn’t only confined to bags. Hoods are seeing a new revival. Johanna Parv’s collection showed us hoods attached to dresses; Derrick gave us hoods attached to blazers. Hoods are no longer simply a practical accessory, but rather a statement. It’s about paying attention to the little details, of styling every aspect of your outfit, even the ones most people tend to overlook.

Fringe & Fur

Some trends only get stronger with time, a phenomenon that can be clearly seen with fringe and fur. Miranda Priestly famously once said, “florals? For spring? Groundbreaking”. While some may extend this same sentiment to fur and the Autumn/Winter season, there’s a reason why the trend continuously returns. In the colder months, a jacket can make or break the outfit – in fact, it often is the outfit. No piece of clothing comes close to the effect of a floor length (faux) fur coat.

Interestingly, this season, fur extended beyond just coats. From the fur cuffs on the Toga runway to the fur shoulders at Agro Studio, this season showed us how seamlessly fur can be incorporated into outfits. It doesn’t need to be the showstopping statement piece we all know and love, instead it can be used to accentuate – to provide texture, to make an outfit just a little more interesting.

Fringe falls into that same category. Inspired by the Woodstock, love not war, peace-and-love hippies of the 60s and 70s, bohemian fringe has been trending for the past couple of years. This season, however, has reimagined the potential of fringe. Instead of remaining solely in bohemian or Western inspired looks, the fringe seen in countless collections at London Fashion Week is sophisticated. It’s now used as a tool for movement and texture. Like fur, it adds an element of drama to a garment. Take the Central Saint Martins’ collection, for example. The designers of tomorrow added fringe to the hems of shirts, the cuffs of sleeves, to the brim of hats, as detailing on pants, and on the edges of scarves. No longer retro, no longer tacky – fringe has finally made its full comeback, and it’s here to stay.

London Fashion Week 2026

Keep these trends in mind as you shop for the upcoming Autumn and Winter season. Follow us on Instagram for more fashion trend reports and fashion related content: @StyleCartel and @StyleCartelMedia on TikTok, too, and leave a comment below!

The post London Fashion Week AW26 Trends: Power Dressing and Fringe appeared first on Style Cartel.

London Fashion Week has long been synonymous with avant-garde designs and a fearless approach to fashion. The 2025 edition was no exception, delivering a fun mix of trends that both celebrated the city’s rich history and pushed the boundaries of contemporary style. 

Check Mate: Classic with a Twist Check patterns made a strong statement on the London runways, but not in the way one might expect. While traditional tartans and plaids were present, designers reimagined the check in exaggerating neck lines or cuffs, colors, and textures. 

Fringe made a dynamic appearance, adding a sense of movement and playfulness to garments. From delicate, wispy strands that danced with every step to bold, chunky fringe that created a dramatic effect, this trend was all about texture and dimension. 

Floral: Oversized blooms in vibrant colors commanded attention, while abstract floral motifs added an artistic touch. Whether it was a romantic floral dress or a statement floral dress coat, this trend brought a touch of nature’s beauty to the runway. 

Blue Hues: A Spectrum of Serenity and Boldness Blue emerged as a dominant color, showcasing its versatility and timeless appeal. Blue was seen in everything from flowing gowns to tailored separates, proving its adaptability for any occasion. This trend appeals to a wide range of tastes, offering both subtle elegance and bold statement options.

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Photos Courtesy of Tagwalk

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