From lace accessories to making space for yourself, 2026 is soft by design...
From lace accessories to making space for yourself, 2026 is soft by design.
One of my favourite things about beginning a new year is seeing other people’s trend predictions. I love how creative people are, and how often they’re so well thought out. This year, I wanted to create my own, focusing more broadly on ‘trends’ rather than just fashion. In my planning, I realised I was curating a theme- a feeling of softness, which ran through all of my predictions. So that’s what I’ve settled on for 2026: it’s a year for softness.
So, here’s my take on the ins and outs of 2026.
Something that has really caught my attention lately is the concept of ‘chic’. It’s almost the cousin of soft: timeless, feminine, simple. Over the last year, I’ve loved seeing people give their own definition to the word chic, approaching this trend through personal style. Throwaway concepts such as using a personalised pen, French pins, or having a messy handbag have made their way onto people’s lists of what’s ‘chic’, and I think the creativity of this trend is so important. It allows us to start replacing microtrends and fast fashion with personal style and art. Could this be the start of a modern renaissance?
Following on from this idea is something I’ve seen circulating the internet more and more over the last few months; something that can’t be replicated by the runway. Wearing or owning something that has clearly been loved for many years is something I would put at the top of my own list of what I find chic. Maybe this is an item of clothing you’ve had for as long as you can remember, or something passed down from a relative. Or maybe it’s a notebook you carry around everywhere, an ‘emotional support water bottle’, or a bag that contains the entire contents of your life in its pockets.
This idea of slowing down, owning things with sentiment and emotion embedded within them, and finding new ways to love and style them rather than always buying into what’s new on the high street feels especially relevant. And if we are buying new things, I think this year will be about quality, buying investment pieces we see ourselves owning for a long time, pieces that will age gracefully. This means we can be more selective about the trends we choose to follow without compromising on quality.
As I’m sure many people are aware, fashion week has recently been taking place in Paris. In fashion, this is often where trends are born, on the runway in extravagant and creative ways, before filtering down into high street shops. This year, there have been some clear themes running through the week, once again focusing on the softness of 2026.
Let’s talk about lace- one of the most timeless fabrics, which can sometimes look like grandma’s curtains when done wrong. Recently, at Paris Fashion Week 2026, Teyana Taylor was described as a ‘literal queen’, dressed in a sheer, floral-patterned lace set, offset with a floor-length black blazer for the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2026 show. Her look was striking and dramatic in all the best ways, capturing the timelessness of lace, modernised by a strong, juxtaposing silhouette.
My hope is that this will filter down to the high street in a different way to what we’ve seen before. Continuing the theme of hyper-femininity that’s been apparent in recent years — through ribbons, bows and polka dots, I think lace accessories are going to be a girl’s best friend in 2026. I see it popping up in ways we maybe haven’t seen as much before, particularly in bags, belts, shoes and hair accessories. This one’s exciting for lovers of soft femininity.
Continuing with the theme of softness in fashion: fur. This has been brought to life in new and intriguing ways, such as in trousers or as an accessory to other statement pieces. Jennifer Lawrence was dressed for Dior in a simple jeans, t-shirt and trench coat combination, accessorised with oversized fur cuffs that took the look from basic to elevated and modern. Of course, the ethical concerns surrounding this material are at the forefront of conversation. Methods of fur production raise serious animal welfare issues, and faux alternatives can be damaging to the environment due to their plastic content. However, there are ways around this. By wearing second-hand pieces, not only are fur accessories having their moment, but sustainable fashion is trending too.
And what about outs?
The rise-and-grind mentality. As I’ve said, this year is all about being soft, and by that, I don’t mean giving up or being lazy. I mean committing to balance, putting less pressure on ourselves, and working towards long-term goals in a sustainable way. The world of the 9-5 isn’t going to disappear overnight (or anytime this year), but I think this will be the start of leaving behind the idea of simply living to work and instead focusing on working to live. Having personal goals outside of work is so in, because there’s more to life than a 9-5.
I’ve been considering the other outs I want to include, which has been much harder than deciding on the ins. Of course, fashion trends come and go, as do lifestyle, fitness and food trends. But the reason many of them don’t feel right for this section is that they’re too regimented, they’re missing the softness that I’m so excited about. Maybe what I’m really saying is that trends altogether are out for 2026?
That’s not to say this year will mark the end of microtrends or social media making things popular for a minute. I don’t think that’s going anywhere, nor do I think it should — after all, it’s fun, isn’t it? I’m more so talking about a shift in how much weight we place on social media trends versus how much we focus on authenticity. And maybe I’m completely wrong, but I hope this will be the case.
I think that concludes my predictions for the year- a year for softness in every aspect. I hope 2026 is a good year for everyone, and that it brings you softness in whichever way you need it.
Written by Grace Kelly