Words by Sophia Miller
Fashion week is the ultimate trend incubator. Want to know what to wear now? Look to the pavements of New York, London, Milan and Paris, where our buyers and editors have been busy gathering intel throughout the month. Here’s what the Harrods team spotted outside the AW26 shows this year – the trends you don’t have to wait until next season to wear.
Whether you’re a firm advocate of leopard print as a neutral or shy away from the pattern's bolder connotations, it was hard to ignore the prevalence of animal print at fashion month. We noticed that, beyond leopard, popular prints ran the whole gamut – tiger and zebra, cow and deer, via the lesser-spotter tapir. May we convince you to take a walk on the wild side?
If the notion of an oversized belt conjures up Noughties flashbacks, you wouldn’t be far from the truth. This season, the oft-forgotten accessory was a noticeable focal point, with show-goers using belts to cinch jackets and dresses with more than a little flourish. Chunky silver buckles, animal-print textures and multiple belts layered at once were all styling tricks immediately jotted down in our little black book of chic.
When it comes to trending colours, red is the fire that never burns out. Perhaps inspired by the sizzling shades paraded down the SS26 runways at Celine, Givenchy and CHANEL (who could forget that feathered skirt), we noticed fashion’s favourites embracing red with more wholehearted fervour than ever. If you’re not quite brave enough to go head-to-toe, a bag, a pair of heels or even a phone case is enough to tap into the ‘unexpected red’ theory.
All things prim and proper have been headline news for a few seasons now – see Miu Miu’s ‘fashion aprons’ – and accordingly, this season’s hemlines hovered politely at the knee. But these aren’t your grandma’s midi skirts – patent leather, unexpected textures, pastel hues and asymmetric detailing were all on the menu. As for recreating the look? Try pairing a ’90s-inspired midi with tights and knee-high boots if you’re not quite ready to give your bare legs their first outing of the year.
Buttons? Boring. Our editors spotted plenty of alternative fastenings adorning the shirts and jackets of fashion month, all the way from frog closures to wooden toggles. Elsewhere, off-kilter silhouettes – think zig-zag plackets, tie-side detailing and crossover belts – offered just the right amount of look-twice energy. We’ve got our eye on staples (with a twist) from Palmer Harding, Vivienne Westwood and Loewe to emulate the look on home turf.
From tomato red to high-acidity lime and tangerine, this season’s trending colours mark a return to bold, playful experimentation.
From tactile texture to ’00s-style oversized totes, these are the bag trends set to rule Spring/Summer 2026.
