I Love a Statement Trend—I'm Stealing These 6 From the Spring 2026 Runways
How I'm wearing them now.
Fellow maximalists, rejoice! We’re having fun with fashion again. The Spring 2026 collections go heavy on the adornment, whimsy, texture, and color, inviting us to embrace joy in our wardrobes. And not a moment too soon, in my opinion.
I love figuring out ways to incorporate trends that excite me into my own personal style, so I decided to style looks inspired by some of my favorites from the spring shows and presentations using all plus-size and size-inclusive brands. As I played around, I realized that many of the biggest spring trends complement each other really well, so I went ahead and mixed and matched them in a way that felt perfectly me. Read on to see the six I’m the most excited about, and how I married each of them.
Fringe + Blazers over Bras
One of the most omnipresent trends I spotted across Spring 2026 shows was fringe. It came in every material and texture, from floaty tulle at Aknvas to long silky strands at Calvin Klein to quirkier treatments, including a dress made of what looks like a sheet of printed leather ran through a paper shredder at McQueen. Some of my runway favorites brought volume too, like the spiky vinyl Christian Siriano mini worn by RHOSLC star Bronwyn Newport to a recent Watch What Happens Live appearance.
Voluminous tea-length fringe skirts were also a standout in Louise Trotter’s excellent debut collection for Bottega Veneta (now being cheekily referred to as the “New New Bottega” by the fashion crowd), and this slightly shimmery, metallic-tinged fringe skirt from Eloquii is a great option to get that same deliciously lush vibe in plus sizes.
Another trend that popped up on runways around the world was risqué blazers-over-bras styling. The contrast of boxy, oversized jackets with bare midriffs and barely-there bras was a theme across a truly varied range of designers, from Tom Ford and Ralph Lauren to The Attico and Prada. I particularly loved the idea of pairing this with a voluminous skirt, so I decided to style the trend with the fluffy fringe vibe I kept coming back to.
The combination is fashion gold, in my opinion: The higher waist and longer hemline on the skirt keeps the overall look from feeling too bare to wear in real life, and the structure of the blazer gives it a casual, unfussy vibe. With a little double-sided tape (to make sure I don’t accidentally expose more than I bargained for), I’d feel comfortable to wear this out and about, mesh bra and all.
Poetcore + Balloon Pants:
As a child that did things like recite the entirety of Tennyson’s “The Lady of Shalott” at my mom’s friend’s art opening, I can’t lie: I’m thrilled that poetcore is set to be one of the biggest trends of 2026. It’s a little dark academia, a little Diane Keaton (RIP to a true fashion icon!), and a little romance. This aesthetic was present on a lot of runways, from Coach’s casual take with off-kilter ties worn over denim jackets to Erdem’s high lace collar shirts worn under slouchy suits to Khaite’s polka-dot blouse and buttery leather coat combo that would’ve been a hit with the beat poets of yore.
It’s also a wonderfully attainable trend, as it can be achieved by combining pieces you already have in your closet. If layering is a pain point, though, this faux bustier necktie top from Eloquii is an amazing all-in-one alternative. Personally, the difference in measurements between my bust and waist can make finding a good button-down for a close-fitting layer a challenge, so the fact that there’s a thick stretch ponte knit through the torso on this one really makes it the best of both worlds. The tie hits at just the right length for me, too.
Another thing I’m loving is the next step in the evolution of barrel-leg jeans: balloon pants. This is an even more exaggerated silhouette, nipped in drastically at the ankle for a genie-friendly amount of volume. Sometimes referred to as the pantaloon trend, this is another one that’s not for shrinking violets. You have to be at least a little comfortable taking up space to make this style work. On the runways, pantaloons transcended aesthetics and vibes, from a utilitarian khaki cargo version at Derek Lam 10 Crosby to massive semi-sheer pleated chiffon poofs at Bronx and Banco. I especially loved Altuzarra’s tailored trouser, so I was delighted to see a similar one available in plus sizes at Eloquii (a go-to for finding current trends in sizes 14+).
Paired with the neck tie up top, this felt like my own personal take on poetcore. I’m already envisioning adding a relaxed trench to amp up the lightly frazzled author vibes more.
Primary colors + Pirate inspired:
Pirate dressing is all about embracing the kind of chaotic maximalism one would expect if Captain Jack Sparrow had access to couture, with flourishes like ruffles, rococo draping, and exaggerated neck bows. It also goes hand in hand with some of the other big trends this season, like the silky green balloon pants at Balmain or the short capes at Dior that could go either poetcore or pirate, depending on the styling. I also appreciate that this is one that you can dip your toe in (like Christian Cowan’s coordinating pink satin hair kerchief) or fully embrace (like Dior did with tricorn hats).
I chose to go somewhere in the middle with a look based around this gorgeous velvet skirt from Tamara Malas. It was actually inspired by theater stage curtains, down to the adjustable ruching ties, but it’s also undeniably pirate-adjacent to me, especially paired with a cream balloon-sleeve blouse. If I wanted to amp up the “arr matey” energy, I could add a low-slung belt (or three), but I decided to go less literal here. I completed the look with my beloved Baacal car coat. (I’ve had it since 2019, and it still looks fantastic despite heavy wear!)
This look incorporates another major Spring 2026 trend: primary colors. Classic reds, yellows, and blues made countless appearances at tastemaking runways. As a lover of color, I’m very here for this. And while I will absolutely be reaching into my closet for vibrant pieces in every hue, I have to admit a personal affinity for red (I just love the way it looks on me!), so I decided to focus on that for this look. These red boots coordinated perfectly with the skirt and actually brought a little more pirate energy to the ensemble. I love how very me the final look is.
