Industry Insights & Inspirations Part 2: 4 Runway Trends Worth Watching Right Now

Insights & Inspirations May 2026 Part 2

INSIDE FASHION DESIGN — MAY 2026

Hello Conscious friend- Did you watch any of the recent runway shows online? I'm delighted that we can now access shows and reports, unlike before when pricey magazines and trend-forecasting books were essential. Even though I'm no longer preparing "trend presentations" for a design team, I still love discovering what's happening, what's exciting, and what new ideas are surfacing. I use this information purposefully, and it's simply enjoyable to learn about because it's part of what makes fashion fascinating and fun! As the Met Gala theme suggests, Fashion is Art! Do you have a favorite designer, collection, or new eco-friendly material? I'd love to know! If you haven't seen videos yet, just hop over to YouTube and search for NYFW or any other of your preferred city shows.

This season's message is truly exciting! As mentioned, we are not watching trends for the sake of being "on trend", but it'ds important for awareness and to make thoughtful, intentional decisions for your product. This is what we see trending now (not future trends), so if you're working near the market or eager to infuse some of these ideas into your work, here are the must-see highlights for the current season!

ulla-johnson. Image from START by WGSN

S/S 2026 is not a quiet season. After a few years of pared-back, safety-first dressing, designers came back with shape, movement, color, and intention. The collections that resonated most weren't the loudest — they were the most considered. Every proportion, every detail, every color combination felt like it had a point of view.

That is the energy we are bringing into May.

Below are four runway directions for S/S 2026 that we think are worth your attention right now — not because they are everywhere, but because they are saying something meaningful about where fashion is heading. Each one is framed through the lens of independent design: what it means for your practice, your collection, and your creative direction.

'What's on the runway right now' or 'S/S 2026: Four trends worth watching.'

01 — Sculptural silhouettes — architecture meets the body

One of the most consistent signals across the S/S 2026 runways is a renewed appetite for shape that does something. Not volume for volume's sake, but considered, architectural proportion — pieces where the silhouette itself is the design statement.- Remember the 80's shoulder pads??

The peplum is the clearest example. It has returned this season, but not as we remembered it. Gone is the pretty, ornamental version. In its place: a sharply sculpted, almost structural take that reads as modern and deliberate. It appeared across nearly every major show, confirming this isn't a flicker — it's a direction.

Alongside it, balloon trousers with exaggerated hems, gathered at the ankle in soft, neutral fabrics, create a more playful yet equally intentional volume in the lower half. The styling trick across shows: pair the dramatic silhouette with something quiet — a plain top, restrained accessories, clean footwear. Let the shape speak.

The shift: volume is back — but it's considered, not excessive. The architecture is the point.

For your practice: This trend rewards designers who lead with pattern cutting rather than print or embellishment. If sculptural shape is part of your creative vocabulary, this is your season. For those earlier in their practice, try one architectural detail — a structured peplum hem, an exaggerated sleeve — on an otherwise simple silhouette. One strong shape is more compelling than a complicated design with no clear focal point.

Keywords: Sculptural silhouettes, peplum, balloon trousers, architectural proportion, exaggerated volume

02 — Elevated utility — safari chic enters the fashion conversation

Utility has been circling fashion for several seasons, but S/S 2026. The safari silhouette is the season's clearest expression of it. Balmain, Burberry, Isabel Marant, and Saint Laurent all sent utility jackets, refined cargo trousers, and khaki-toned pieces down their runways — each brand interpreting the direction through their own design language. The result is a trend that feels simultaneously effortless and fashion-forward.

What makes this version of utility different is its styling. There's an ease to it — undone, not labored. Pieces are worn with confidence, not self-consciousness. Buckles, pockets, rope ties, and a rich interplay of earthy color are the details doing the work. (Tip: Shop thrift and vintage stores for Safari items to upcycle!)

The shift: utility no longer needs to justify itself. It has arrived on its own terms — and the industry is listening.

For your practice: For independent designers, this trend is a strong commercial opportunity — the customer for elevated utility is clear, the wardrobe need is real, and the aesthetic doesn't require a large collection to execute convincingly. A single well-designed utility jacket in a refined fabric, or a cargo trouser with considered detailing, can anchor a capsule with real market relevance. The keyword across all the runway interpretations is 'refined' — the details are precise, not rugged.

Keywords: Utility, safari chic, cargo trousers, khaki, elevated functional fashion

03 — Statement fringe — texture and movement, not Bohemia

Fringe is having a significant moment on the S/S 2026 runway — but the version worth paying attention to is not the one you might expect. This is not bohemian fringe, not festival fashion, not a nostalgic reference to another era. It is a fringe as a design tool: a way to add movement, texture, and visual energy to otherwise restrained pieces.

At Fforme, fringe appeared in a way that felt particularly elevated — applied to minimalist pieces where the movement of the detail created all the interest the design needed. The juxtaposition is the point: a sleek, simple silhouette with fringe that responds to every movement brings the piece to life without visually overcrowding it

.

Across other shows, fringe appeared on leather tops, structured evening dresses, statement bags, and as a trim detail on tailoring. In each case, the styling kept everything else quiet — the fringe was trusted to do the work.

The shift: fringe as a precision detail, not a bohemian reference. Movement and texture in service of a considered design. Tip: Add fringe to an existing product as a quick update)

For your practice: This is a trend that works especially well in a focused, capsule-led approach — one or two deliberately fringe pieces are more compelling than a collection built around it. Consider where movement adds value in your existing design vocabulary: a hemline, a sleeve, a collar detail. Fringe in an unexpected placement on an otherwise minimal piece is the most interesting interpretation of this direction for independent designers.

Keywords: Fringe, movement, texture, minimalist detail, statement trim

04 — Color as confidence — bold combinations with intention

Color has re-entered the conversation with genuine confidence this season. Across Milan and Paris, saturated hues appeared in deliberate combinations — cobalt against tangerine, pistachio layered with lilac, hot pink alongside red — creating looks that feel expressive yet controlled. This is not maximalism. It is precise with color.

Color of the year: Transformative Teal. Image from START by WGSN

The key distinction between the color story of S/S 2026 and generic 'bold fashion' is intentionality. The combinations that resonated across shows were not random — they were considered. Each pairing had a relationship: contrast, temperature, proportion. The designers who made color work this season were the ones who understood how colors speak to each other, not just how loud they can be individually.

street style in London. Image from START by WSGN

Alongside the bold pairings, softer tones — neutrals, chocolates, dusty pastels — are providing the balance that makes the bolder choices land. The most wearable color story of the season is one that gives the customer both a moment of color confidence and a quieter piece to ground it.

The shift: color is no longer tentative. But the designers doing it best are the ones who know exactly why they chose each combination.

For your practice: For independent designers, this trend is an opportunity to define a color point of view, which is one of the most powerful things a small brand can have. You don't need a large collection to express a strong color story. Three or four pieces in a deliberate, unexpected combination will say more than a full range in safe neutrals. Start by asking: what two colors would feel surprising together but right? That tension — between surprise and rightness — is where the most interesting color work lives.

Keywords: Color, bold combinations, cobalt, saturated hues, color confidence, palette

These are not trends to follow. They are signals to interpret — through your own creative point of view.

Read through all four, notice what resonates, and bring your own question to the Mentorship Lab or the Monthly Spark workbook this month.

Sources & Further Reading

1. "I'm Convinced These Spring 2026 Trends Will Be Everywhere" — Refinery29 https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/spring-2026-fashion-trends

2. "6 Spring/Summer 26 Runway Trends You Can Actually Wear Right Now" — Who What Wear UK https://www.whowhatwear.com/fashion/trends/runway-trends-to-wear-now-spring-2026

3. "7 Spring 2026 Runway Trends Editors Are Buzzing About" — Who What Wear https://www.whowhatwear.com/fashion/spring/luxury-fashion-trends-spring-2026

4. "From Runway to Cart: The Top Spring 2026 Runway Looks That Have Finally Hit The Shelves" — Who What Wear https://www.whowhatwear.com/fashion/luxury/spring-2026-runway-collections

5. "The 7 Spring 2026 Fashion Trends Every Woman Is Wearing" — Runway Magazine https://www.runwaylive.com/the-7-spring-2026-fashion-trends-every-woman-is-wearing.html

6. "Top Summer Spring 2026 Trends: From Runway to Streetwear" — Social Life Magazine https://sociallifemagazine.com/the-archive/top-summer-spring-2026-trends-from-runway-to-streetwear/

7. Spring/Summer 2026 Fashion Trends Overview — FashionUnited https://fashionunited.com/specials/spring-summer-2026-fashion-trends

Want to go deeper?

This post covers four trends that are shaping fashion right now, in this season. But as an independent designer or small brand, you are also building for what comes next. That is exactly what the Inside Fashion Design S/S 2027 Trend Report is designed for.

Join now

Available exclusively to Inside Fashion Design members, the full report goes beyond the surface of the season and gives you the forward-looking intelligence you need to make confident decisions for your next collection — before the rest of the market catches up.

The S/S 2027 Members Report includes (coming May 26th- a quarterly publication):

• 17 material directions across womenswear, menswear, and beachwear — with sustainable sourcing notes on each

• 16 print and pattern families, with context on commercial application for independent brands

• 6 styling themes across womenswear and menswear, each with specific guidance for small brands

• Designer notes throughout — practical, honest guidance on how to approach each direction at an independent scale

This is not a trend deck for buyers. It is a working tool for designers who want to build with intention.

As an Inside Fashion Design member, you also get access to:

• The Monthly Spark workbook — a guided monthly action guide for your design practice

• The Monthly Thread — curated industry events, signals, and insights each month

• The Resource Hub — development checklists, sourcing guides, sample briefs, and production templates

• Mentorship Lab — live weekly sessions with real-time feedback and industry guidance

Thanks for reading today!

See you on the "inside"!

Cheers!

Britta- Founder, Inside Fashion Design

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