How do you choose your outfits in 2026? Are you a type-A planner who uses organisational apps to digitise your wardrobe like a new-gen Cher Horowitz? Perhaps you outsource your decision making to a flatmate, partner, WhatsApp group or sartorially perceptive pet. Or maybe you’re more of the “pick whatever is cleanest off of the heaving chairdrobe of doom” persuasion.
Certainly, ever since the dawn of social media, there has been no shortage of resources when it comes to getting dressed: whether it’s Pinterest’s digital moodboards, the Outfit Of The Day trend that grew out of the Noughties blogging scene (there are 58.9 million #OOTD posts on TikTok at the time of writing), or the street style phenomenon that thrusted the fashion week attendees, rather than the runways, into the media spotlight. And that’s not to mention the dystopian aspirations of AI – though I think my job is safe for now. We have never been so spoiled by such an abundance of visual information, yet never felt more disillusioned with the contents of our wardrobes. The paradox of choice is a chronic affliction of the digital age.
And in many ways, there’s no one more familiar with this paradox than a shopping editor. You might think that, considering my life’s work has consisted of becoming really good at picking out a nice top (it’s always singular, never plural – don’t ask me why) that I would be equipped to handle the onslaught. But no, just like the rest of us, I spend more hours than I care to admit staring into the fathomless depths of my wardrobe, waiting for inspiration to strike, and mindlessly scrolling through Vinted in search of salvation. Reader, no amount of vintage Jean Paul Gaultier mesh tops will fill that void, or, indeed, provide a lasting solution to the existential cry of “I have nothing to wear!”
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For 2026, my solution is simple: I am learning to shop my own wardrobe. Rather than relying on newness to feel “up to date” or “on trend”, I’m going to focus on digging out old favourites that have been consigned to the back of my wardrobe and finding new ways to rework them for a new year. Like a weary spouse trying to reignite the spark of a flailing marriage or 10 Years Younger’s Nicky Hambleton-Jones putting a 40-something mother of three in a form-fitting V-neck, it’s all about working with what you have and learning to love it through all seasons.
And if you think about it, there’s never been a better time to get on board the re-wear train. While the 2010s found itself sucked into a creative black hole of brands trying to out-viral each other with algorithm-tickling runway shows and shock-factor campaigns, roll forward to the present day, and some of the most popular collections – and hotly anticipated debuts (see Michael Rider at Celine or Louise Trotter at Bottega Veneta) – have centred around spotlighting everyday wardrobe heroes, styled in an idiosyncratic way.
Many maisons have even made these styling motifs a core part of their brand DNA – take Jil Sander’s saturated colour combinations or Miu Miu’s off-beat preppy pairings – with certain looks going on to inspire wider styling trends that extend far beyond the runway: think of Chopova Lowena’s skirt-over-trousers revival from autumn/winter 2020 or Bottega’s checked shirt and low-slung jeans look from spring/summer 2023. Forget shouty logos and “look at me, I’m wearing designer” monogram: these details, when incorporated into an outfit, can become a quiet, “if you know you know” signifier to anyone else in on the secret. That is, until said look reaches saturation point, and fashion insiders have to find a new source of inspiration.
But thankfully, every season there’s a new intake of runway shows ready to update our styling moodboards and offer up fresh ways to experiment with old favourites. Plus, there’s an ever-growing number of content creators who are using their platforms to inspire audiences to fall in love with their wardrobes all over again.
“Over the past years, I have been fortunate enough to collect some really unique items in my wardrobe, but I noticed that I kept buying new clothes instead of wearing the items I already owned,” says content creator Olivia Hirst. “So instead, I decided to turn to past and present runway collections from my favourite designers to generate fresh looks. I’m enjoying documenting and sharing this journey with my Instagram audience; it’s allowed me to have fun with fashion again.”
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Even TikTok microtrends can be viewed through the lens of inspiration rather than consumption, whether it’s balletcore (think jersey layering) or the mob wife aesthetic (dig out that old leopard-print piece and borrow your granny’s old faux fur). And, finally, let’s not forget the beauty of designer re-releases, which have soared in recent years and make an excellent case for storing away, or indeed unearthing, old designer pieces that might not feel “current”, but inevitably come back around.
“In my years of analysing fashion trends, it’s been interesting to see many products that people claim are out of style have quite a comeback,” says Madé Lapuerta, the brains behind Data But Make It Fashion. “Like the Gucci belt rising in popularity again in the spring of 2024, or the Burberry scarf re-gaining momentum later that fall. It’s a good reminder to revisit those old pieces in your closet you haven’t worn in a while, and to resist giving away any items for fear they’re no longer ‘in’”.
So if you’re inspired to excavate your own wardrobe this season, allow me to guide you through the new-season runway looks that I’m recreating in the year ahead. From Celine’s knitted layers to The Row’s double shirting, scroll down to see my moodboard. And while the aim is to stick with what you already own, if you feel inclined to fill any gaps in your wardrobe, consider second-hand first – I’ve included an edit below each look.
Roll-neck + V-neck + fitted trousers
