2025 is out and 2026 is in! As the new year rolls in, people like to decide their “ins” and “outs” of the upcoming year. So when it comes to fashion, what is “in” and what is “out” for 2026?
Ins:
Let’s start with the ins of shoes for 2026! Elegant, dainty, and lightweight, that’s right, ballet flats. A simple and cute way to elevate your “jeans and sweater” look to a sophisticated outfit. Ballet flats are comfy shoes that you can easily slip on and style with any outfit. Coming in many different colors, they can be dressed up for an evening event or down for a day in the city.
Next up we have the perfect combo of a casual sneaker and fashionable streetwear, Isabelle Marant Bekette sneakers. A hybrid of sneakers and boots, these shoes are one of a kind and perfect for those who want to wear sneakers but still be stylish and stand out.
While not a shoe, this next item is an accessory paired with shoes, legwarmers. Yup you heard it here, legwarmers are back! Legwarmers can be paired with any shoes you want, keeping you warm and stylish at the same time. Making a comeback from the 80’s, legwarmers are in for 2026.
A new texture is emerging for 2026, lace! Lace is now being incorporated in so many things, including dresses, skirts, shirts, pants and even hair. This fabric has a strong whimsical feel to it that makes your outfit unique. It can be any style or color of lace, a pretty white lace paired on a white skirt or a lace top layered over a solid top to blend the patterns/colors. Lace has the ability to add a playful and dainty feel to any outfit.
Plain jackets are out and trench coats are in! Chic and classy, trench coats are the epitome of luxury. Trench coats are all the rave in Europe, seen in Paris, London, Amsterdam and more. Back with a shorter length and more of a poncho like style, the fashion girls are loving trench coats right now.
Welcome back low waisted bootcut jeans! Very popular in the early 2000s, bootcut jeans are the pants of 2026, blending with any outfit, instantly making it cuter and giving it a vintage aesthetic look. Not exactly a skinny jean, but not an oversized jean, bootcut jeans are perfectly in the middle. A brand known for their amazing bootcut jeans is Miss Me, worn by many celebrities including pop singer, Zara Larson, is making its way in the fashion world and is very popular right now!
What’s in store for jewelry in 2026? Combining metals! Why have to choose between gold and silver when you can have both. Combining your silver and gold jewelry adds a luxurious flare to your jewelry stack. A uniqueness not followed by many, but when done correctly, it looks beautiful.
Big sunglasses are in! Another early 2000s comeback is the beloved y2k round sunglasses. These sunglasses are eye-catching, literally! The best accessory for sunny weather, these sunglasses give you eye protection served in style.
One of the cutest new ins is a Chloe Paddington Bag! With stunning gold accents, a big lock, and available in multiple colors, these are the bags for 2026. These timeless bags give any outfit a chic and playful look, whether paired with casual denim or a sleek evening outfit. Their distinctive silhouette and elegant details create a bag that everyone needs in their wardrobe for the new year.
Is plaid in for 2026? Well, Vogue Magazine seems to think so. Plaid’s unique pattern can add a vintage or modern look to clothing depending on how it’s styled. The publication declared a “plaid renaissance” for SS25, featuring it in various new shapes like maxi skirts and soft dresses. If it can be in 2025 why not 2026? Plaid gives an old money vibe to an outfit, making it immediately fashionable and fancy.
Headscarves for 2026, I think yes! This accessory adds a whimsical and summery touch to any outfit. If it’s for protecting your hair in style or just for a fun addition to your outfit, headscarves are in. Silk headscarves in particular can come in beautiful different colors and patterns, making your outfit unique and niche.
The last in for 2026 is studded clothing! A niche touch to your clothes, studded fashion adds an edgy flare.The metallic studs catch the light and give jackets, boots, and accessories a bold, rebellious look that stands out from basic styles. They can turn a simple outfit into something eye-catching while still being versatile enough to dress up or down. Overall, studded clothing shows personality and attitude.
Outs:
Now what is out for 2026? Let’s start with shoes again, Yeezy foam hole runners. These “shoes” don’t even look like shoes. Ugly is an understatement, these Yeezy shoes make you look like a monster without style. The point of these shoes, unknown. These do nothing to protect your feet and look like they are trying to give futuristic but failed. I’m sorry to whoever likes to wear these, but it’s time to throw them out for this new year.
Another monster looking shoe, Beastie Boots. These shoes make whoever’s wearing them honestly look like big foot. There are so many other cute boots out there to pick from, so these need to be retired. Beastie Boots look like they should be on sale at Spirit Halloween, not on runways.
The next shoe? ANY shoe from Balenciaga. Okay, I’m sorry, but who is actually wearing these? Who is looking at these and is thinking, “Wow those are so cute I need those!” Once again, ugly is such an understatement, there are no words to describe how atrocious these shoes are. Please don’t buy these, these are so out!
The last outs for shoes are Nike Pandas and Blazers. These shoes aren’t exactly ugly there just overworn. They’ve been done over and over and it’s time for something new. Essentially, they’re just boring. These shoes are the plain blueprints for other more exciting shoes, so branch out to those instead.
What’s worse than highwaters and highrise, a mix of both in a jean. Both of these features in a pair of jeans creates an awkward unbalance that leaves you feeling uncomfortable. The waist is too high, but the bottom is too low. How are you supposed to style these comfortably?These pants are neither trendy nor cute and need to make their way out for 2026!
Velvet fabric is stuck in the past, and by 2026 it’s officially out of style. What once looked luxurious comes across as heavy, outdated, and oddly impractical. This fabric reveals every crease, fingerprint, and spec of dust on it, making you look dirty instead of chic. As trends move towards simplicity, versatility and effortlessly cool, velvet’s bulky, high maintenance vibe just doesn’t fit anymore, making it one of the clearest fabrics to leave behind in 2025.
Ugly and oversized, the next out is large puffy sleeves, another clothing feature that sticks out in a bad way. These big puffy sleeves look clunky and over-the-top, making them feel outdated and out of place in modern fashion. They give your outfit a costume-like feel, and overwhelm an outfit with unnecessary bulk. These sleeves basically take all the attention away from the rest of the outfit, and only draw your eyes to the awkward sized sleeves.
Maybe a controversial take, but PARKE sweatshirts are overhyped. What is so special about a plain sweatshirt that simply just says “Parke” on it? These sweatshirts started with a woman named Chelsea Parke who decided to make clothing with her last name on it. It’s as simple as that, and people for some reason rave over them. $130 for a plain sweatshirt with some woman’s last name on it, what! This is the height of consumerism. You see some influencers online who have one, and then you just have to get one. There is nothing special about these and they are pretty plain, for 2026 try going for something that not literally everyone has, and isn’t just some crewneck with a random woman’s last name on it.
Another controversial out, sweatshirt and sweatpant combo everyday, BORING! I get that it’s comfy, and it’s okay to do once or twice a week, but everyday? For me, being motivated to have a nice/cute outfit motivates me to do good in school. So, if I’m dressed in sweatpants and a sweatshirt everyday, I won’t be motivated to go to school and do well. To the people who do this combo everyday, step it up! If being comfy is what you want, wear a comfy pair of jeans and a sweater, or a skirt with a fun top. You don’t need to be extravagant every day, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get dressed up for school.
Okay, I know I said the last shoes were it for shoes out in 2026, but New Balance 574 core shoes are so overworn and dirty looking they have to make the list. Many teenagers, especially boys, wear these which is part of the reason why they’re so overworn. The original grey/brownish color of the shoes gives them a naturally dirty look, like they’ve been dragged through the dirt before you’ve even taken them out of the box. On a typical school day, I see around 5-6 boys wearing these shoes. You could show me these shoes and tell me they’re brand new and I wouldn’t believe you. For 2026, try looking for a less naturally dirty looking shoe.
