Life is a long game – and, ideally, it requires a long-life wardrobe. Whether you’re a millionaire or a pauper, it’s really not cool to buy new stuff simply for the sake of it any more. In these cash-strapped, environmentally-conscious times, most of us try to replenish rather than replace. Like the Princess of Wales (a woman who could justify buying new clothes if ever there was one), we also try to “re-wear”.
All of which casts the idea of discovering “shiny new year trends for 2026” in a rather different light. I love to know about them, but less so that I can rush out and buy them, and more so that I can peer into the darkest recesses of my wardrobe and see which ones I already own.
It would be so easy to wear only your favourite shades of blue, as one “big” new year trend suggests, or to pin on two brooches instead of one.
To find out how 2026-ready your wardrobe may already, unwittingly, be, read on.
January blues
Good news for Chelsea, Everton and Man City fans: blue is the colour. Pantone may have predicted Cloud Dancer (a dirty white) as the hue of 2026, but the catwalk begs to differ.
At Jil Sander, Loewe, Tory Burch and Victoria Beckham, “Klein blue” (in the Eighties it used to be called “electric blue”) and “Capri blue” were the order of the day, with high street brands such as Cos and Zara already following suit.
If a paler iteration feels more manageable, that’s okay: according to Pinterest, searches for “icy blue” have increased by 50 per cent. On a more alarming note, searches for “frosted make-up” have also increased by 150 per cent. Do with this information what you will.
The literary look
This trend has a number of names – “librarian chic”, “dark academia” and “book club-core” among them. Whatever the label, all you really need to know is that it involves blouses, cardigans, knee-length skirts, tank tops, brogues and ankle socks (if you’re brave), in earthy, tactile textures such as cotton, tweed and wool.
Print-wise, clashing is not merely acceptable but encouraged: mix plaids and checks, or florals and Fair Isles. If you’re already under the influence of Claudia Winkleman’s enviable Traitors wardrobe, you’re basically nailing the look already.
Oversized white shirts
When Nicole Kidman arrived at Matthieu Blazy’s debut Chanel presentation wearing a capacious white shirt, women across the developed world took note. Paired with jeans, Kidman’s shirt was a wilfully dressed-down look in a traditionally dressed-up environment and set the tone for Chanel’s new era. No matter that you can’t afford Chanel: the message for spring is “simple basics”, of which the white shirt is a classic exemplar. If you don’t already own one, how have you lived?
Polka dots
They may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but they are coming for you. On the catwalk, labels including Miu Miu, Tibi, Khaite and Alessandra Rich embraced the trend, as have the Princess of Wales, Kaia Gerber and Kendall Jenner – if not quite as enthusiastically as Lily Allen. Those who consider polka dots too stark can avoid black-and-white iterations; if they feel too girlish, avoid them in pastel hues.
Bags with chain handles
Be warned: spring 2026 is a strong season for bags, and if you’re going to splurge on one item, these might tempt you. With competition intensified, the proliferation of designer debuts has yielded a slew of compelling new styles and shapes – most notably the chain handle, a style that’s been out of favour since “quiet luxury” strictly forbade any easily identifiable hardware.
The style never went away at Chanel, but it is now evident at Chloé, Givenchy, Gucci, Valentino and Bottega Veneta.
Glove flats
If you’ve loved the recent ballet-flat trend, you’re likely going to love the glove flat. Both styles share the same chic utilitarianism, but the glove flat has a slightly uglier bent, courtesy of being cut higher on the foot (good news for those with an aversion to toe cleavage).
They’re also designed to fit your foot like a glove, meaning they’re soft, supple and usually supremely comfy. If you’re looking for height, try a cone-heeled glove court shoe. First seen at Celine in 2015, you may well already own a pair from last time around.
Flowing/loose trousers
What with loose white shirts and flowing trousers, it’s fair to say that fashion is really spoiling us next season – or certainly those of us for whom comfort is always front of mind. “Flowing” may be a descriptor beloved of the Zara website, but it’s the perfect one for spring’s fluid new shape.
In silk, satin, cotton, linen or canvas, these are designed to be worn slightly too long and one size too big, lending them a slouchy feel. Bonus points if they come (as many do) with an elasticated waist. Think of them as a dressed-up version of the sweatpants you know and love but feel too skanky to wear in public.
Brooches
Big earrings, begone: spring’s boldest jewellery hack is the brooch. It’s a great way of stamping your identity on a look and brings a quirky, one-of-a-kind feel to any outfit, particularly tailoring. If you feel too frumpy wearing one on your lapel, that might say more about your brooch than its placement.
Try an oversized ceramic or enamel iteration, ideally with a Surrealist feel. You could even “double-brooch” – the new way to enliven a coat collar. For a more modern take, pin one at your waist to cinch in a jumper (see the Lacoste show for crib notes), or use one to fasten a blazer in place of a button.