Let's decode the couture trends!
The Paris haute couture shows have come to a close, wrapping up one of the most exciting weeks on the fashion calendar. While the giant gowns, abstract shapes and heavy headdresses might seem worlds away from the practical clothes we wear every day, I'm here to tell you that these runways actually have a knock-on effect on the rest of fashion.
After all, it was Miranda Priestly's famous, oft-quoted speech in The Devil Wears Prada that outlined how fashion trends trickle down from the upper echelons of couture to the ready-to-wear runways, and then to the high street. (This ignores the fact that couturiers must get their inspiration from somewhere, too, and sometimes that involves lifting ideas from existing subcultures, the youth, the streets… But I digress.)
In the age of social media, this model has been thrown a bit askew as fashion trends are disseminated by algorithms. Still, the couture runways are a powerful tool for predicting what will trend in the upcoming year. For instance, this time last year, the couture shows were full of corsets, hip pads and other curve-enhancing contraptions. While that didn't get the general population wearing huge hip pads overnight, we have definitely seen a rise in the trend for corsets. Plus, panniers have been spotted on celebs like Charli XCX.
So, what do the latest batch of couture shows prophesy about fashion in 2026? Below are all the couture trends you need to know.
Art Deco
A big trend on the couture runways this past week was Art Deco style, evoking the 1920s and '30s. The Valentino show featured many looks that could have been pulled straight from Erté's illustrations (one of the era's iconic artists). In fact, there were so many Art Deco references that we had to split them up.
Fringe has been popping up on runways over the past year or so, not least because of the popularity of bohemian style. But this feels slightly different: the flowy dresses made of fringe give a nod to the flapper style of the '20s.
Capes had quite a moment in 2025. Is 2026 the year of the opera coat? This garment reached the peak of its popularity in the ‘20s and ’30s, which is why it feels so decadently vintage. Made of luxurious fabrics and often long and sweeping, these coats are designed to top off opulent dresses for occasions like (you guessed it) the opera.
Metallic silvers and golds were a staple of the Art Deco era, signifying both modernity and excess. We've already seen flashes of chrome in fashion, like the trend for silver trainers, but it looks like clothes are set to follow suit.
Hats and expressive headwear have been trending recently, and if the couture runways are to be believed, it's about to get even more extravagant. Tiaras, sparkly headdresses and look-at-me headwear are in: if you're brave enough to wear them.
2010s
What the hell are the 2010s doing on a couture runway, you might ask? Surely, all this indie sleaze nostalgia is better saved for your TikTok FYP and the occasional ready-to-wear show, right? Hear me out. There are actually a few strands of 2010s style that have popped up on the runways, whether couturiers are purposefully channelling the era or not.
When I think of cringe-inducing 2010s trends, I think of galaxy print leggings. But designers like Gaurav Gupta and Robert Wun are here to say that this nostalgic print can be chic, actually. In an era where Earth feels so dark, and people are increasingly turning to spirituality, perhaps these galaxy motifs are a reminder that we are but a speck in the universe.
Neon is another trend that evokes both the 2010s and the ‘80s. On the Schiaparelli runway, highlighter yellow appeared only as a tiny pop of colour. Enough to create some tension, without becoming too garish. Will you be partaking in neon’s revival?
If you were a teen in the 2010s, you will certainly remember this trend by the girls in your school who tried to dip-dye their hair, but instead ended up sporting awful half-brown, half-bleached hairdos. Ombré nails were a big one too; you might have even used a sponge to attempt to blend two of your favourite nail polish colours together. Thankfully, the couture runways present a vision of ombré that is much more stylish.
Scales
It seems like every season there's a new, niche animal print to fawn over: deer print, dalmation print… whatever happened to leopard and snake? Well, it looks like faux snake is on the cards for 2026, since the recent couture runways were full of scales. Ashi Studio showed leather embossed with snakeskin patterns, while Chanel went even further and emulated fish scales from tiny slices of mother-of-pearl.
Birds
Another animal motif, birds and feathers, was everywhere this season. Not necessarily out of the ordinary for couture, but what was interesting was how often they appeared. Miss Sohee's show featured a taxidermy peacock, while Schiaparelli featured formidable structured jackets made of feathers. However, it's important to note that while feathers can be a byproduct of the poultry industry, certain practices of feather plucking are incredibly cruel. So, if you want to participate in the trend ethically, why not take inspiration from Chanel and opt for bird embroidery instead?
Bonus: ice blue
And, finally, a bonus colour trend for you: ice blue. Pinterest actually predicted this hue would trend in 2026, and it seems like the runways have just confirmed it.
