WHO WILL YOU BE IN 2026?

What does 2026 look like? The last 12 months set in motion a chain of cultural shifts, high-profile events and societal resets that have affected how we consider style. As the culture shifts, as does how we get dressed. From the resurgence of ‘80s power dressing to anti-algorithm fashion, these are the trends set to define 2026, and the tribes destined to adopt them.

If you want to see what good style looks like in the year 2026, look no further than Jennifer Lawrence’s recent paparazzi photos. Her low-key approach to wearing extremely luxe fashion is the antithesis of the ultra-groomed, Instagram-ready aesthetic that we’ve become accustomed to over the past decade or so. Arguably more culture-defining than most of the red carpet looks we’ve seen in the past year, Lawrence’s street style retains all the hallmarks of extreme wealth befitting an A-list celebrity (understated separates from The Row contrasted with statement jewellery, a satisfyingly beat-up Birkin). And yet, she evokes the sense that they were simply what she had closest to hand before heading out the door that morning. Ultimately, Lawrence is serving us something that’s been sorely missing in popular culture lately: a sense of cool.

This runs deeper than just celebrity fashion. JLaw’s new look seems to have tapped into a societal shift that we all feel – and that’s why it resonates. A Vogue article from late last year by Hannah Jackson is titled This Year Jennifer Lawrence Changed the Way I Dress. An earlier piece from the same author proclaims Jennifer Lawrence Has Perfected Everywoman Style. Perhaps this explains the root of the obsession. In the age of fears over AI and long-term side effects of social media, what we’re collectively craving from fashion is something that feels more personal, suited to real life, and ultimately human.

The environment we live in has evolved dramatically in recent memory. The question has shifted from how to prevent these changes to how we cope with them now that they’re here - and how they inevitably shape the way we dress. As weather conditions grow increasingly extreme on both ends of the temperature spectrum, the gap between form and function is no longer tolerable. Subconsciously or not, we’ve been gravitating towards fashion that is not only aspirational, but equipped for survival in increasingly inhospitable conditions.

Remember that obsession with those The Row flip-flops that quickly escalated into a full-on viral moment? Their appeal lay in their balance of novelty and utility: designed for the beach, yet perfectly suited to navigating London streets during heatwaves. It marked a broader shift towards pieces that blur traditional boundaries - between seasonal dressing, elegance and endurance.

As a result, the way we understand seasonality itself has begun to disintegrate. Dressing “for the weather” no longer aligns neatly with spring/summer or autumn/winter collections, and designers are responding accordingly. The SS26 runways were awash with coats - oversized, enveloping, and often technically minded - despite the calendar suggesting otherwise. Lightweight trenches at Prada, dramatic cocooning silhouettes at Loewe, and sculptural outerwear at Miu Miu all pointed to a future where protection is a year-round concern rather than a seasonal one.

In 2026, the Environmental Adaptors dress for unpredictability. Their wardrobes are built not around climate ideals, but climate reality.

Addison was right: money really is everything. Although the song was released last year, the sentiment holds in 2026. Quiet luxury is long gone, and its successor is infinitely more fun-loving and extravagant. For Gen Z and Millennials alike, a minimalist aesthetic holds little appeal. It offers none of the escapism craved as a reprieve from unforgiving job markets and skyrocketing monthly expenses. If the system has been set up for us to fail, can’t we at least look gorgeous while doing so?

In winter ‘25, American food chains Cava and Chipotle reported weaker sales than in previous quarters, citing younger consumers packing their own lunches as a key factor in the slowdown. Meanwhile, Tapestry - Coach’s parent company - recently reported that Gen Z now accounts for roughly 35% of its new customers. The statistics reflect a collective preference to forgo small conveniences in favour of the spending power required to acquire a $400 handbag detailed with a ‘C’ monogram logo plaque. It functions as a signifier of status and taste - even if buying it wipes your bank account until next payday.

Another example is the resurgence of Christian Louboutin. According to The New York Times, searches for stilettos with the unmistakable lipstick-red soles on resale platforms such as The RealReal have surged 82% among Gen Z, thanks in large part to public endorsements from the likes of our girl Addison Rae. Recently wearing a custom look from the house to the Museum Academy Gala in LA, Rae was also a poster girl for Dario Vitale’s Versace. Although short-lived (he only lasted the SS26 season), Vitale’s colourful, chaotic, ‘80s-infused Versace vision is the symbolic final nail in the coffin for subtlety in 2026.

Perhaps the style tribe growing the fastest is the one made up of those who are actively rejecting the notion of being in a tribe at all. Wrapped up in the movement symbolised by JLaw’s fawned over street style, these are the people who prize individuality above all else; using their style to rebel against the algorithm instead of assimilating with it. Molly Rooyakers, of @style.analytics, noted:

“Over the past year, I’ve seen a noticeable shift in my audience, where when I post a trend, a common response is now, “great, now I know what to avoid.” That sentiment wasn’t there two years ago.”

In a landscape that feels oversaturated, people are feeling the urge to loudly declare their uniqueness. Their preferred method of doing so? Accessorising. Just like back on the playground, we’ve taken to displaying our individuality and distinction from each other through bag charms, bracelets, bangles and personalised small accessories. Google has reported that searches for ‘bag charms’ have increased by 135% over the past year, and searches for ‘vintage store near me’ increased by 110% over the same period.

Another term that’s shot up in the rankings? ‘Personal style’ - it increased by over 440%. Someone who demonstrates the cultural clout individuality yields who’s been at the top of social feeds lately is Rama Duwaji, wife of Mayor Zohran Mamdani and First Lady of New York City. Duwaji’s preference for using her newfound fame to spotlight under the radar designers and to utilise her fashion to draw attention to causes she believes in has secured the public’s adoration. Duwaji’s style is overshadowed only by her own personality and art (that she’s posted to her personal Instagram); proving that in the age of the Individual, your fashion is only as good as your character.

Brace yourself for this: 2016 is now officially a decade ago. It’s impossible to look forward to what 2026 will look like without looking back to this milestone, especially since nostalgia for this period is at an all-time high amongst young people. It was the year that marked Rihanna’s last album release, the global phenomenon that was Beyoncé's Lemonade and Drake’s Views. But beyond the anthems that still hold today, for many 2016 was the last time that everything didn’t feel performative and optimised, and being online could actually be carefree.

A yearning for 2016 has unlocked a newfound appreciation amongst Gen Z for the years prior. What began online as a general (usually light-hearted) poking fun of the Millennial ‘cringe’ has given way to genuine envy. During the 2010s there was a hopefulness in the air that we now desperately want to tap back into. Cultural phenomena like the TV show Girls that was ridiculed at the time has been rediscovered by the younger generation via streaming services, unlocking a time capsule of a not-so-distant past. The uniform for these nostalgic youths? Modelled after the Millennial It girls, of course. A 2010s paparazzi shot of Alexa Chung traversing through London or a festival can never go without a repost. Burberry has co-opted this nostalgia in a big way; casting Chung in a recent High Summer campaign. The accompanying runway show also showcased more than one model with an uncanny resemblance to Kate Moss during her messy, Glastonbury-attending Noughties era.