Spring/Summer 2026 Fashion Week Recap: Trends, Fabrics, & Top Runway Shows

Post Summary

Fashion Month is officially wrapped for Spring/Summer 2026 — and wow, what a season. From sustainable fabrics, textiles and sculptural silhouettes, this year’s shows proved that fashion is not only about style — it’s about innovation and intention.

In this recap, I’m breaking down the biggest runway trends, the future of fabrics, and standout shows from New York to Paris. Expect bold colors, layering, recycled sequins, and more. If you’re curious about what’s next for the industry — and which collections absolutely amazed me — keep reading for the full Fashion Week breakdown.

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Introduction

To my fashion expertise (or lack thereof)…

If you don’t already know from my Instagram, I’m a fashion girly. I post my daily OOTDs and am constantly trying to come up with my next best outfit — usually ending up sprawled on my floor at 9 p.m. debating whether to layer a long sleeve or short sleeve, or whether blue or green looks better. Eventually, I give up and go with my first instinct — which is always what I should’ve done from the start.

I often get compliments and questions about how I style my outfits, but honestly, I don’t have a specific formula. I just mix pieces I think look good and take inspiration from others online.

Even though I wouldn’t call myself a fashion expert, I love styling myself and creating clothing — especially from crochet and knit fabrics.

That’s why I decided to take an online college course, Intro to Fashion, to learn more about the fashion business. One of our recent assignments was a discussion on fiber and fabric trends for Spring/Summer 2026, and I had to share my findings (and opinions!) with you all.

I’ve been diving deep into fashion — watching designer runway clips and even bingeing Next in Fashion on Netflix again (seriously, why did they stop the series?). I’m so inspired by the creativity and craftsmanship that goes into these designs and hope to one day be part of the industry myself.

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What Is Fashion Week?

Fashion Week refers to a weeklong event where designers and brands present their new collections — often to live audiences during runway shows and it’s a huge part of the fashion industry and global economy.

It’s where designers showcase their newest collections to the press, buyers, and influencers, setting the tone for upcoming trends. Beyond that, it brings massive business to host cities — hotels, restaurants, and event venues thrive during these weeks.

Typically, invitations to Fashion Week shows are reserved for people who provide value to the brand — stylists, buyers, influencers, and media professionals.

Spring/Summer 2026 Fashion Week Dates

• New York Fashion Week: September 11–16, 2025
• London Fashion Week: September 18–22, 2025
• Milan Fashion Week: September 23–29, 2025
• Paris Fashion Week: September 29 – October 7, 2025

At the time of this post, all of these shows have wrapped up — and I have thoughts!

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The Future of Fabrics and Textiles

Before Fashion Week began, a report revealed that 60% of consumers consider sustainability when purchasing fashion (Singh, 2025). This points toward a growing demand for certified natural fibers and a continued rise in the recycled polyester market as we approach 2030 (Singh, 2025).

At New York’s Functional Fabric Fair (Summer 2025), they discovered innovations like:

• Biodegradable and bio-based fibers
• Mycelium and plant-based leathers
• Tech-infused and smart textiles
• Recycled and circular yarns

These sustainable materials dominated the runway this season.

Across Fashion Weeks, several trends stood out: light layering, mesh, crochet, knitwear, bold colors, and rich textures.

Designers like Isabel Marant highlighted distressed knits and intricate crochet details. Acne Studios showcased sheer pencil skirts and translucent lace, while Bottega Veneta leaned into tactile fabrics with dyed fiberglass furs and feathers. Even Stella McCartney impressed with sequins made from recycled bio-plastics and lab-grown, sea-based materials. All according to Thompson, H., & Banks-Walker, H.

Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword anymore — it’s shaping the future of fashion, starting right on the runway.

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References

• Singh, P. (2025, August 6). Fabric Forecast 2026: What Textiles Will Define the Next Year? TESSUTI.
  Link
• Thompson, H., & Banks-Walker, H. (2025, September 18). All the Highlights from the Spring/Summer 2026 Shows So Far. Harper’s BAZAAR.
  Link

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My Standout Shows

I haven’t seen every runway from this season, but here are the collections that caught my eye and left the biggest impression:

Christian Dior – Paris

Their runway was very unique — it was an open space between rows of people standing, but the models in the middle looked like normal people wearing the clothes. It made it easier to imagine yourself or others wearing these pieces in real life.

I loved the various dresses and matching sets with flowy ruffles and patterns. The jackets were also a huge highlight — one with black and white fur reminded me of Cruella de Vil, while another green fluffy trench-style coat had hand holes cut out the front (so cool!). There were also more fitted jackets with wide sleeves.

A lot of blacks, whites, and muted rich colors were featured. The styling of some outfits was better than others, making it feel more realistic to everyday fashion — though I’m not sure if that was intentional.

Overall score: 3/5

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Balenciaga – Paris

I only knew them for their viral sock shoes a few years ago, but I loved how they played with multiple different silhouettes and shapes in this collection. The skirts of their dresses and the rich pops of color throughout — between all the neutrals (black, white, brown) — were such a nice touch. The square-cut tops, ruffly and flowy bottoms, and feathers created a lot of diversity while still keeping a clear theme. Sticking mostly to solid colors also made it easy to mix and match between pieces.

Overall score: 4/5

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Sergio Hudson – New York

I loved the use of holographic belts and large print patterns throughout the collection, paired with flattering cuts and designs that mixed in denim. The exaggerated puff sleeves gave a very grand look.

The colorful glitter-patterned pieces looked like something you could totally wear to Coachella or any concert, but the collection overall had a ton of versatility — from fun, funky, and elegant to office and more casual looks. It was also cool to see zebra and cheetah prints reimagined with uniquely structured pieces.

Overall score: 4/5

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Nardos – New York

The pops of bright yet pastel colors, florals, and big flowy silhouettes — mixed with short structured skirts — created a nice diversity and contrast between styles. The various patterns and textures throughout the collection stood out to me.

You can really see all the different trends from Fashion Week (like big puff sleeves, silk, mesh, floral, and sparkles) come together beautifully in this one collection.

Overall score: 4/5

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Celine – Paris

The simplicity of this collection was stunning. It included pops of color through stripes and other patterns — either in full outfits or by breaking up black-and-white pieces in subtle ways. Jackets of various lengths, long-sleeve dresses (which you don’t see often), and sweaters were highlighted as spring wardrobe staples.

They also had so many beautiful shorts and dresses with unique structural designs like tie-front capes and off-the-shoulder tops.

Overall score: 4/5

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Sherri Hill – New York

I have always thought their designs were beautiful ever since they popped up on my TikTok FYP with girls wearing their prom and homecoming dresses, and this runway show’s collection was no exception! Literally every dress was gorgeous — especially the multi-color floral rhinestone gowns and chain-esque sparkly ones. The asymmetrical ruffle blue dress was also reminiscent of the early 2000s, which was cool to see.

Overall score: 5/5

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Coach – New York

I didn’t even know Coach made clothing until I saw this runway show, but I loved the color scheme and styling of all their models — and their accessories were on point. The variation in patterns and proportions while still keeping everything wearable for everyday life was perfect. I would honestly buy all the items and wear them myself.

Overall score: 5/5

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McQueen – Paris

The corset button-up tops and open-front suit jackets were so well done. Dresses with open slits and loose tie-string details created such interesting silhouettes. True low-rise pants made a comeback, and asymmetrical, ruffled designs added dimension.

Some pieces reminded me of royal military jackets — like something a palace guard or prince might wear — which elevated simple designs. There were also industrial-inspired elements like cargo pants, mostly in white and gray tones.

The boots were stunning, and the flowy lightweight dresses with long round capes were breathtaking on the runway. Sparkly tinsel dresses and feather details made a striking appearance. Not exactly my personal style, but a very well-executed collection.

Overall score: 5/5

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Zimmermann – Paris

Zimmermann’s designs were beautiful yet simple — with pastel patterns and denim pieces. The bodysuits and matching sets featured many different styles, including wide ruffly bell bottoms and parachute pants.

Off-the-shoulder tops, large collars, and the overall elegant boho vibe were so well done. The tiered skirts and silk wrap dresses were gorgeous, and the gold jewelry worn by the models tied everything together perfectly. The mesh cutouts on some pieces added just the right amount of flair.

Overall score: 5/5

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Balmain – Paris

I loved the bags used as accessories with all the outfits and how they balanced oversized and flowy silhouettes on both the top and bottom while still giving the illusion of shape to the body. The neutral and earth tones throughout the collection were gorgeous, and the shoes matched the aesthetics of the outfits perfectly — the boots with no heel were something I’ve never seen before!

I would wear the whole collection myself, and I don’t even like oversized clothing. The beads used throughout added to the bohemian vibe and gave everything a crafty touch — even the crochet and braiding on some clothing pieces, like the ones used to make the bags. All the different materials and textures worked perfectly together and elevated every look.

Overall score: 6/5

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Dolce & Gabbana – Milan

I loved how they took a play on nightwear and made it more stylish and fitting for everyday life. So many Gen Zers wear sweatpants and PJs all day, and this collection reimagines that as a comfortable yet stylish alternative — with the iconic pajama stripe design we see in old movies now covered in sparkles and embroidery.

I absolutely loved this collection — and I hate wearing PJs outside, but I would wear these pieces all day, every day! Even the denim, lace, leather, and satin pieces styled with the stripes elevated the looks and made them feel intentional, not like you just threw a jacket over your pajamas to run to the store.

The exposed bra tops looked comfortable, and the corsets and dresses with lingerie-inspired details didn’t feel too revealing thanks to the use of oversized pieces. The addition of structured one-pieces and blazers made the looks even more powerful.

The collection is just a work of wearable art.

Overall score: 6/5

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Paul Costelloe – London

This collection felt like a reinvention of the 1950s and 60s in the most beautiful way — with iconic suit patterns, bright colors, and rich textures. Even the bangles on the models’ wrists added a nostalgic touch (and I wasn’t even born when that kind of fashion was popular!).

The new dress designs — with subtle tie-dye patterns, ruffles, and front bows — were adorable. The quarter-length sleeves with horizontal stripes, chunky shoes, and ultra-puffy mini skirts all mixed old-school charm with modern flair.

The colors and sparkles on the suit jackets were subtle but elevated the looks so much. All the jewelry was stunning, and I couldn’t take my eyes off the bright colors and patterns — it’s refreshing to see styles like this that we don’t often find in stores today.

Overall score: 6/5

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Etro – Milan

This collection gave me a western boho-chic vibe. The metallic tassels, dark browns, and colorful patterns with tons of ruffles were something I didn’t know I needed in my life until I saw them.

It was such a unique collection — using similar design elements to other shows but in a completely unconventional color story with a dark, moody vibe. I loved the bra tops paired with suit jackets and flowy pants featuring metallic and colorful patterns. The wide-leg, ruffled bell bottoms were stunning, even when translated into maxi skirts.

And those giant cowboy hats? Iconic. I’m not a cowgirl by any means, but I would willingly wear this collection any day. It’s hard to describe — just one you have to see for yourself.

Overall score: 6/5

Conclusion

There’s so much to look forward to in the future of fashion. Sustainability, craftsmanship, and creativity are leading the charge — and I can’t wait to see what designers bring to the runway next.

Personally, I’m already dreaming of seeing (and buying!) more of these pieces at affordable price points in the near future.

What about you?
Did you have a favorite collection?
What do you think about the direction the fashion industry is heading?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!