January 12, 2026 by Katie Plue (‘27)
With polka dots falling out of favor, 2026 is looking for a new fashion fad. But what will come out victorious? Here are my 2026 fashion trend predictions.
1. Cobalt blue
In seeing an increase in celebrities wearing this color after the decline of butter yellow, stores have started producing more casual clothes in cobalt blue. Brandy Melville has stood out with a recent release of cobalt blue sweatpants, tank tops, and hoodies. Despite this color being vibrant and bright, it stands out better in a winter pallet. Other spring colors like yellow, pink, and purple usually end up as pastels mixed into the floral designs. Cobalt blue is a mesmerizing color, which is probably why Dakota Johnson wore a Gucci cobalt blue dress at the Zurich film festival in fall of 2025.
2. Tartan
For those who don’t know, yes, tartan is different from plaid. Plaid is an umbrella term meant to describe any pattern of crisscross lines including gingham and argyle. Tartan refers specifically to patterns from Scotland and have identical lines running up and down. Look up for more info, but besides that, we aren’t talking about the Christmasy red and black pattern. I’m talking pinks and greens, blue and greys, yellow and blacks. It’s about time for its revival, and we are already seeing it with the rediscovery of scarves. Well, a rediscovery for teens. Why did we never want to wear scarves as kids? They make for perfect layering in the winter. Shout out to Pink Pantheress, who told Fashion Magazine on their TikTok, she’s trying to “make tartan a thing,” and I am so down.
3. Ballet Flats
Everyone is wearing knee-high boots now, but once spring reenters the scene, ballet flats are really going to flourish. Wearing flats with any pair of jeans makes the outfit look more put together and classy. Not to mention, there are so many kinds of ballet flats one could buy. However, if you buy one nice comfy black pair of ballet flats, you immediately evolve your wardrobe and give way to the “off duty model” style, which I am very much obsessed with at the moment.
4. Lace
We’ve seen the coquette style come and go but it left one thing behind: lace. Wearing a lace layer can bring a kind of softness to a look that is similar to the effect of bows. I could see lace lining pockets, bags, and shoes this year, as well as lace lined tank tops layered under sweaters or shirts. We have seen lace getting somewhat popular amongst a niche group of people with the lace patterned phone cases. Lace is timeless, elegant, and feminine and could easily claim back its throne in 2026.
5. Fur
Fur coats and boots have been popping up everywhere lately. They are the perfect layer for a going out winter outfit. Fur has been tragically out of style but are now following suit and coming back to life. Wearing a fur coat does not just make you look expensive, but it makes you feel expensive. Even if you just find a cheap one on Amazon, a fur coat can bring so much life and dimension to a basic outfit. Bonus points for being a piece that will actually keep us warm in the winter.