Whether it’s full-look styling of a single brand or theatrical peacocking designed for the paps, much of the street style captured at fashion month is far removed from how we all dress day to day. However, not everyone at the shows brings such main-character energy to proceedings: this year has also ushered in an abundance of clever spring styling tips, all handy ways to inject life into your existing wardrobe.
This isn’t about buying a whole new set of clothes, but rather making subtle tweaks and changes to existing outfits and being intentional with your styling. There were plenty of everyday, borderline boring clothes outside the shows this season, from zip-up fleeces to sensible shoes and socks. The key was mixing them into outfits in unexpected ways; contort your trusted crew-neck jumper around your body instead of actually wearing it, layer a humble fleece over a crisp cotton shirt, or deliberately clash things that feel slightly “off.” It’s all about how you wear something, embracing the sort of so-wrong-it’s-right philosophy that has defined Miuccia Prada’s career.
The mood for 2026 is all about seeing classic items through a new and offbeat lens. Keep reading for some of our favourite spring styling tips for 2026 that are inspiring us to get a little more creative with our outfits.
Stirrup leggings and heels
2016 is back (allegedly) and so are leggings. According to Vogue’s shopping editor Joy Montgomery, “leggings have been derided and adored, belittled and exalted over the years. […] Even as a 30-something who still experiences mild PTSD from the pairs I wore under dresses and skirts in the mid-Aughts, I’ve found myself looking at leggings with fresh eyes: as potential weekend and office-wear.” Stirrup styles worn with kitten heels or sensible courts feel knowingly awkward, which is precisely the point.
Multiple collars
Sloaney styling tropes have been making a return in recent seasons: the multi-collar trend comes after fashion previously reclaimed the boat shoe and rugby shirts. In the Noughties, Jacob Elordi in Saltburn types would layer two polo shirts on top of each other (these had to be by Abercrombie & Fitch, Jack Wills or Ralph Lauren), however, the street-style crowd has been layering Oxford shirts, polos and quarter-zip fleeces. Avoid anything too preppy or horse riding-coded, and layer up in clashing colours or prints – if the collars sit neatly on top of one another, it will ensure it still looks considered
Brooching the subject
Formerly a relic buried in your grandmother’s jewellery box, the brooch has made a triumphant return among street-style savants. Call it a ripple effect from the SS26 runway, where Chanel and Tory Burch both leaned into statement designs to instantly elevate a coat lapel, tailored jacket or scarf. Whether you gravitate towards floral motifs, sparkling embellishments or sculptural shapes, contemporary designers and the vintage market alike offer brooches guaranteed to inject personality into your 2026 wardrobe.
A statement skirt
“For spring/summer 2026, movement is very much the name of the game, whether in the form of dynamic textures, explosive silhouettes or undulating hemlines,” Vogue’s Joy Montgomery wrote in her skirt trend report. Indeed, the statement skirt was another defining staple on the streets outside the most recent shows. When it comes to styling, the statement skirt is best when worn with more casual-leaning separates. Take Matthieu Blazy’s new vision for Chanel, which featured skirts styled with T-shirts and crisp cotton shirts – Balenciaga and Bottega Veneta also championed similar high-low pairings. Style yours with a simple knit or oversized bomber jacket to let the skirt shine on cooler days.
Wrap your knitwear
Last year, the fashion set started looping knitwear over their shoulders, rescuing this once-preppy look from its golfer associations. In 2026, knitwear draping got even more creative, with cardigans and jumpers wrapped around the body in a balletic fashion. Most recently, we noticed a lot of colourful knits being styled in this way to add a pop of colour to your winter staples. This is the latest Miu Miu styling move sparked by Miuccia Prada and show stylist Lotta Volkova, and will look just as good when added to simple summer pieces, such as a white poplin dress.
Consider the cape
Caped silhouettes are quietly sweeping in up as one of fashion month’s sleeper hits – and not just on the street-style circuit. On Dior’s spring/summer 2026 runway, capes and cape-like details featured prominently, from houndstooth prints to capelets tied with bows. Whether worn as a true cape, a cape-coat hybrid or an exaggerated scarf draped over the shoulders, the effect adds instant drama with surprisingly little effort. Wear yours over jeans and a pussy-bow blouse, like Alexa Chung or style with a simple knit for everyday wear.
A colour-pop sock
Colourful socks were used to add an extra flourish to otherwise restrained ensembles. It’s a styling trick Mrs Prada has been endorsing for years, and there are no hard-and-fast rules: socks can be worn with loafers, ballet flats, slingbacks, pumps, court shoes, strappy sandals and clogs alike. “Truthfully, I never used to be bothered about socks, but these days they’re at the heart of many of my favourite outfit pairings. It might sound strange, but people pay a lot more attention to your sock choice than you might think,” wrote Vogue’s Alice Cary earlier this month.
