The Best Fall Trends Are All About Subverting Expectations

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The best trends from the fall 2026 shows were all about disrupting expectations. Knitwear became an evening layer; tuxedos took a spin in the sunlight. From Miuccia Prada’s satin dresses worn with scarves to Chloé’s chiffon skirts in folksy plaid, so-wrong-it’s-right statement dressing ruled the runways.

Even the more subtle styling tricks and silhouettes felt a little bit tweaked. Michael Rider at Celine and Cate Holstein of Khaite made the case for pulling your outfit together with pops of red. Simone Rocha, Tory Burch, and Chanel’s Matthieu Blazy dropped waistlines on dresses lower than we’ve seen before, giving us the shape of the season. And Julian Klausner revived Dries Van Noten’s usual waist theory with statement cummerbunds, a hero accessory of fall.

Still, whether you gravitate towards the classics or take an experimental approach, the fall 2026 collections had something for everyone. Below, I break down seven of the key trends of the season.

Waistmaxxing

The waist has been a focal point for multiple seasons now. Back in the spring, it was all about tying a boho scarf around your middle. Now, designers are taking inspiration from menswear. There were cummerbunds all over the runway, and while some felt quite traditional, others came in unexpected colorways or were adorned with surprising embellishments.

For an easy twist on the look, try securing a silky opera scarf around your waist to add interest to an outfit of black trousers and a blue button-down. Or, if you want the effect built in, try Róhe’s double-waist pants (personally, I can’t stop wearing them). These small details can make your typical office uniform feel that much more thoughtful and chic.

Dries Van Noten Embroidered Cotton Belt

Helsa Silky Opera Scarf

Comme Si Cotton Poplin Shirt

Róhe Double Waistband Trousers

Trafalgar Silk Cummerbund

Dressed-Up Plaid

This season, plaids were not giving your typical pumpkin patch energy. Plaid was chic. Dressed up. Sophisticated. The colors felt brighter (as opposed to dark hues for the fall) and the silhouettes, such as dresses, skirts, going-out tops, and evening bags, felt elevated. Not to mention the textures: chiffons and silks made the usually down-home pattern feel luxurious. Whether you wear a plaid skirt to the office with knee-high boots and a neutral blazer or choose a plaid dress for a cocktail party, this trend can breathe new life into your wardrobe.

Etsy Mini Market Bag

Massimo Dutti Oversized Blazer

Chloé Ruffled Check Skirt

Phoebe Philo Slouchy High Boot

Dries Van Noten Draped Plaid Dress

Undone Lady

This season, the runways embraced ladylike pieces styled in a way that reflects the messiness of everyday life. Sweaters and trench coats were thrown over arms, gloves were clutched in hands, and Prada even gave us a cuff stained with coffee. The formula here is quite effortless—that’s the point—but investing in a top-handle couchette bag is always a good idea. Ditto a pair of leather gloves. Look for silhouettes with imperfect cutouts, like Jil Sander’s pencil skirt with a sliced waist, and try replacing your sweater top with a more ladylike shell top. It’s the contrast that makes it all work.

Agnelle Leather Gloves

Savette Symmetry Pochette

Studio Nicholson Trench Coat

Theory Shell Top

Jil Sander Cut-Out Pencil Skirt

Pops of Red

Red became a new neutral this season, taking every look to the next level. Brooches, belts, and jewelry appeared in crimson, while basics like sweaters and denim took on new life in scarlet. A great starting point is in the accessories. Whether you add a brooch to your favorite black jacket for the office, or finish off a pair of raw jeans with a white T-shirt and red belt, it’s the easiest way to make your entire wardrobe feel refreshed.

Khaite Floral Brooch

House of Dagmar Slim Blazer

Massimo Dutti Leather Belt

Toteme Straight-Leg Jeans

Loewe Small Amazona Bag

Knits for Evening

Sweaters are a fall perennial, but this season, designers made them feel exciting by tapping into less-traditional categories (like Dries Van Noten’s Fair Isle sweater set, or Chloé’s matching balaclava and sweater) and opposites-attract styling. From satin dresses worn with sweaters and chunky knit scarves to a floral-embroidered sweater with dressed-up bottoms, there were plenty of ways to wear sweaters for evening.

Prada Multicolor Wool Scarf

Dries Van Noten Fair Isle Sweater

Ulla Johnson Satin Wide-Leg Pants

Chloé Floral-Embroidered Wool Cardigan

A.L.C. Leather Midi Skirt

Tuxedo Dressing for Daytime

One of the coolest tailoring trends this season was the way designers interpreted tuxedo dressing for daywear. Whether you replace your oversized shirting with a tuxedo button-down or trade your blazer for a tuxedo jacket to wear with jeans, the look borrows from the boys in a distinctly feminine way. The cummerbund trend fits into this category too, offering a refined way to break up a silky dress or pull together denim and a jacket.

Argent Silk-Lapel Tuxedo Blazer

Polo Ralph Lauren Cotton Tuxedo Shirt

Atelier Jéa Tassel Cummerbund

Nili Lotan Slim-Straight Jeans

Khaite Liv Bowtie

Drop-Waist Dresses

Looking for a dress silhouette with high style? The key is to go low. Drop-waist dresses were everywhere, with the shape giving otherwise polished or uptight pieces an edgy twist. Some of the waistlines came with belt loops, which really accentuate the drama of the drop. For others, a straightforward approach did the job on its own. Either way, a classic pump heel (pointed- or almond-toe) streamlines the look, balancing the proportions of the dress for an elegant finish.

Christopher John Rogers Drop-Waist Dress

Le Monde Béryl Leather Pump

Bottega Veneta Drop-Waist Midi Dress

Jude Leather Pumps

Proenza Schouler Drop-Waist Midi Dress

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