Global Trend Report From SS26 Runways And What It Says About The Style DNA Of The Fashion Capitals

In early October, fashion month for Spring/Summer 2026 officially closed in Paris. In reviewing all the shows across the four fashion capitals, two trends consistently surfaced to the top: pastels and florals. However, each city put its own unique stamp on them, reflecting its distinct design personality. Let's break down how these trends manifested and what it tells us about the cities themselves.

Powerful Pastels

Pastels were ever present on the runways, inserting a whisper of optimism in a world that can feel rather dark. While a range of pastels were included in clothing and accessories, it was clear designers favored baby blues and light pinks as they showed up more often and across a larger breadth of lines.

London: The Eclectic Dreamer

London embraced pastels with a whimsical and eclectic spirit. Much like its multicultural population, designers who showed during fashion week offered a playful mix of interpretations. Ashley Williams captured the city's unique essence by incorporating child-like graphics and patterns into light pink and blue garments. This creative approach brought a sense of wonder and imagination to the runway, perfectly encapsulating London's daring and diverse personality.

Courtesy of Ashley Williams SS26 Runway

Paris: Expansion of Effortless Femininity 

Paris, however, took pastels in a distinctly soft and feminine direction. To honor the effortless French-girl style trope—rooted in natural confidence and understated sex appeal—designers made the colors the central focus. They created alluring, solid-colored garments in baby blue and light pink, showcasing the shades within classic and highly flattering silhouettes.

Courtesy of Burk Akyol, Veronique Leroy, Courrèges and Dior SS26 Runways

Fun Florals

Spring is synonymous with florals, and this season, designers enthusiastically embraced them within their collections, though the tone they conveyed manifested differently across the capitals.

New York: The Dynamic Melting Pot

New York's interpretation of florals took a youthful and spirited route. While many runways focused on bold colors and traditional silhouettes like trench coats and blazers, designers like Alice + Olivia incorporated fresh, breezy prints and silhouettes, catering to a younger, more playful demographic. This juxtaposition between professional wear and more youthful designs highlighted the true breadth of New York's fashion offerings.

Courtesy of Alice & Olivia SS26 Collection

Beyond the florals, designers like Sandy Liang and Tanner Fletcher injected distinct personality into their collections with outfits that evoked a sense of nostalgic Americana charm, reminiscent of "Little House on the Prairie" or Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz." Furthermore, many skillfully wove their cultural heritage into their collections, breathing new life into fashion and underscoring New York's identity as a melting pot.

Courtesy of Sandy Liang and Tanner Fletcher SS26 Runways

Ultimately, New York's fashion DNA is as diverse as London's. This was perfectly illustrated by the range of designers and styles showcased that drew inspiration from the vast range of women in the city and their lives between work, play and even their cultural identities.

Milan: Sophisticated Elegance, Statuesque Form

Milan approached florals with a sense of mature sophistication, focusing on designs with volume, high necklines, and silhouettes that exuded timeless elegance. The designs often conjured images of an exclusive garden party, where guests are impeccably dressed for the occasion. Indeed, Milan's design DNA is all about being put-together, effortlessly sexy, and undeniably elegant. The concept of "la bella figura" – making a good impression – is paramount in Italian culture, and the runway designs embodied this well, celebrating the female form by treating it like a statue or rather a piece of art.

Courtesy of Luisa Baccaria, Antonio Marras and Diesel SS26 Runways

The Spring/Summer 2026 runways confirmed a crucial truth about global fashion: trends may travel, but style is always local. We saw universal desires for softness and nature—expressed through pastels and florals—get translated into unique cultural uniforms. From London's whimsical eccentricity and New York's practical yet playful spirit to Paris's effortless femininity and Milan's statuesque elegance, each city used these common threads to reinforce its own distinct design DNA. What ultimately matters isn't the trend itself, but how each fashion capital reinterprets it to reflect the very soul of its streets and the women who walk them.