Let's Get Dressed
The Details That Signal 2026
As fashion looks forward, the mood is unmistakably lighter, bolder, and more expressive. After seasons defined by restraint and reality-driven dressing, there is a growing desire to rediscover the joy in getting dressed. This renewed optimism is shaping a fashion landscape that feels imaginative yet grounded. For 2026, style moves away from rigid trends and more towards personal creative direction. Drawing from multiple aesthetics and making them our own is at the core of 2026. Bold colour coexists with refined tailoring, and playful detailing is balanced by wearability and ease.
One of the biggest fashion mindsets I’m carrying into the new year reflects this shift. Enjoying the act of getting dressed. Taking the time to assemble an outfit I’m excited about, and wearing the pieces I already have in my wardrobe. It’s easy to fall into familiar formulas, and gravitate towards the same items. Reaching for something different, or simply slowing down to style a look with intention, can shift the entire tone of your day.
This renewed sense in the art of dressing is translating into a series of aesthetic directions for 2026. Distinct moods that invite interpretation rather than imitation. Some of the styles I’m currently tracking include Pirate and Poet Core, 80’s Maximalist, Boho Glam, Victorian Romantic, Countryside Cool to name a few.
Each aesthetic speaks to a desire for expression, individuality, and a more considered approach to getting dressed. Accessories become central to how an outfit is completed. Hats, belts, gloves, scarves, bags, hosiery, jewellery - every piece is chosen with intention, turning even the simplest look into a statement of personal style. A silk scarf, for example, can add a pop of colour or an unexpected styling detail - sometimes that’s all it takes to elevate a look.
Leather gloves, particularly longer opera-length styles, feel both practical and undeniably chic for winter. Styled with bracelets layered over the top, they add a playful and fashion-forward edge to cold-weather dressing.
Headwear leads this movement: from pillboxes and berets to scarf-wrapped heads and bonnets. Belts worn over coats or low-slung over dresses and knits, reinforcing softly structured clothing. Jewellery moves away from minimalism and more toward playful expression, with chunky yet lightweight forms, organic shapes, and touches of colour serving as focal points. We all have unworn accessories in our wardrobe. This is a perfect time to go through your collection and bring items forward to style again.
Do you have any brooches? That’s going to be a big trend this season and you should definitely add it to your favourite winter coat or sweater!
Footwear is always one of my favourite categories, and it continues to play a quiet but decisive role this season. Pointed shapes return as the ultimate finishing touch. Elongating the silhouette, adding polish, and punctuating an outfit without overwhelming it. From sharp flats and refined low heels to sleek boots, these shapes balance comfort with style.
Beyond accessories and finishing touches, the overall mood for 2026 feels playful, expressive, and confident. Nostalgia meets modernity, with Boho and 1970s-inspired silhouettes reinterpreted through cleaner tailoring and rich fabrics. Texture is equally important: bouclé, shearling, fur, lace and fringe add depth and tactility to everyday dressing.
‘Countryside Cool’ continues to influence how we dress day-to-day: relaxed knits, layered outerwear, and practical footwear. Colour palettes are joyful but sophisticated. Warm neutrals, jewel tones, and unexpected pops of brightness bring energy to familiar shapes.
Keep an eye out for Argyle check sweaters this winter season. A Countryside Classic!
Across aesthetics, the unifying thread is the return of considered dressing: clothes and accessories are curated, layered, and styled to express personality while remaining wearable in everyday life.
2026 is about embracing fashion as a form of creative freedom. It’s less about following rules and more about discovering what makes you feel confident, joyful, and fully yourself. From a statement hat to the perfect pointed shoe, every detail becomes an opportunity to celebrate intention, texture, and personal style. The most exciting trends are those that let us play, experiment, and reconnect with the simple pleasure of getting dressed. A reminder that fashion, at its best, is both expressive and deeply personal.