This fashion month felt like one of the best in a while. Last season brought many much-anticipated debuts to fruition, and for Fall/Winter 2026, it was all about the sophomore ready-to-wear collections to see how everyone was settling in. Most notably, Demna’s Gucci spectacle had everyone arguing over taste, Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel ignited joy within our hearts, Jonathan Anderson was Dior’s golden boy, and Pieter Mulier gave his final bow at Alaïa.
From a trend perspective, there were plenty of themes on the runway that transcended individual collections and cities, and will provide ample inspiration come fall for those in the Northern hemisphere. From an emphasis on texture to a new way of wearing a train, these are the biggest trends from the Fall/Winter 2026 runways.
Long Exit
Dior FW26; Kallmeyer FW26; McQueen FW26; Loewe FW26
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This season was all about trains. Everywhere we looked from New York to Paris, the trains followed. At Kallmeyer, Daniella Kallmeyer created silk shirts with bias-cut fabric trailing from the hips, while at Dior, Jonathan Anderson introduced a series of layered tutu skirts with frothy trains trailing behind. Over at Loewe, textured trains were secured to knitted mini dresses like great big tails, and at McQueen, a neat little black dress was finished with a translucent organza train, further emphasizing the high-low effect.
Tactile Texture
Chanel FW26; Bottega Veneta FW26; Louis Vuitton FW26; Diotima FW26.
Texture was a focal point of the runway for Fall/Winter 2026. Most notably, Louise Trotter’s sophomore Bottega Veneta collection overflowed with an offering of fur, pile, shearling and fringe. At Chanel, Matthieu Blazy focussed on layered sequin pieces that looked like scales, alongside floral appliqué motifs. Over at Louis Vuitton, shearling and fur overtook the runway, while back in New York, Diotima’s Rachel Scott offered a show-opening dress and pair of long skirts using a three-dimensional organza intarsia technique that almost looks like shearling if you squint.
Pin It
Dior FW26, Khaite FW26, Simone Rocha FW26, Chanel FW26.
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Brooches have been circulating the trend cycle for a time now, especially on the red carpet. But this season, bigger, more statement-making pieces appeared on the runway. In place of jewelry-focused pins, floral appliqués and rosette ribbons abounded. In New York, Khaite’s Catherine Holstein attached a series of vibrant flower pins onto the lapels of stark black jackets; in London, Simone Rocha put an emphasis on rosettes, and in Paris, it was all florals at Dior and Chanel—both collections included oversized flower motifs that looked pinned to clothing.
Dark Romance
Dreaming Eli FW26; Ann Demeulemeester FW26; Saint Laurent FW26; McQueen FW26.
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It’s the era of Wuthering Heights and all things tragedy, and naturally the runways are reflecting this cultural moment with plenty of gothic, romantic references. In the city of love, Saint Laurent’s Anthony Vaccarello offered a supremely moody collection, with a finale streaked with black lace pannier gowns; Stefano Gallici brought gothic romance to the Ann Demeulemeester runway, which featured silk and chiffon bodice dresses, asymmetric hems and high necks, while over at McQueen, Sean McGirr blended regency silhouettes with a sense of subversion. At Dreaming Eli’s London Fashion Week show, it was all about lace corsets and thorn crowns.
Checked Out
Chloé FW26; Acne Studios FW26; Burberry FW26; Rabanne FW26.
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Arguably one of the biggest trends on the runway this season was plaid, tartan, and checkerboard prints and weaves. This was best demonstrated at Chloé, where Chemena Kamali showed a Fall/Winter 2026 collection that was filled with check prints, from button down shirts to translucent shirred tea dresses. Over at Acne Studios, we saw a similar approach, where different check prints were styled together to create a visually busy, yet cohesive look. There is no point in talking about tartan without talking about Burberry, and for Daniel Lee’s latest collection, which felt heavily evening-focussed, the British designer offered a series of tartan fur trimmed coats in navy and garnet for the Burberry check fix.
Statement Fur
Valentino FW26; Chanel FW26; Gucci FW26; Schiaparelli FW26.
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It wouldn’t be a Fall/Winter 2026 trend report without a mention of fur, which has come back in a very significant way this season. After a vintage fur revival, faux fur has returned to the runway and showed up everywhere we looked. At Gucci, the Gucci archetype was explored through belted fur coats, while at Chanel, Matthieu Blazy offered multicolored versions. At Schiaparelli, Daniel Roseberry took the trend far enough to add fur pants into looks, while at Valentino in Rome this past week, Alessandro Michele offered versions of fur coats that looked as though they were plucked out of an heirloom closet.
The New Suit
Tom Ford FW26; Jil Sander FW26; Ferragamo FW26; Chanel FW26.
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Skirt suits took over the runway this season in every possible way. Once relegated to the likes of Chanel (where this season Matthieu Blazy placed an emphasis on the core house silhouette), brands this season fixated on the humble skirt suit. Perhaps a CBK-inspired effort? At Jil Sander, a lapel-less purple skirt suit made its way down the orange runway, while at Ferragamo, Maximillian Davis experimented with deconstructed tailoring. At Haider Ackermann’s Tom Ford, it was all about the suede skirt suit in poppy red and ecru for a modern feel.
Open Season
Louis Vuitton FW26; Chanel FW26; Loewe FW26; Balenciaga FW26.
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In the accessories department, one bag trend ruled over all: open bags. From Chanel flap bags to Loewe’s Amazona shape, a new interpretation of the work bag from Balenciaga, and exposed duffles at Louis Vuitton, this season was all about interior exposure.
