This is Campus Fashion, your source of inspiration for seasonal trends, cool finds, and wardrobe basics to keep you looking stylish throughout the year.
Gone are the subtle, softer looks of 2025, as 2026 is all about bolder fashion, vibrant colours and textures. With a new year of fashion to look forward to, The Cascade compiled a list of the top five trend styles to watch out for in the coming season.
Cobalt blue
A bold colour to wear this season, this vivid blue shade was big in 2024 and is still popular today. For an all out look, pair black dress pants with a white knit turtleneck, black heels, and a cobalt blue statement coat. For a more muted look, wear a pair of sneakers in this rich blue colour with an all-black sweatsuit for running errands around town.
Looking chic is an aesthetic that is being revisited on the runway. This style is more dramatic yet remains elegant, reintroducing trends like bold chunky jewellery, and structured loser fitting suits. Combine a black oversized suit with a white long sleeve body suit, black statement heels, chunky gold earrings, and a statement black and gold accented belt for a fun evening out. For a casual look, pair a grey funnel neck sweater with a pair of your favourite jeans, tall black leather boots, a biker leather jacket, and oversized sunglasses.
Playing house
Whoever thought aprons could be on-trend? This fashion style draws from the traditional 1940’s-1960’s housewife aesthetic and is a top trend for 2026. To help recreate this look, pair a tea-length white paperbag skirt with a chocolate-brown ruffle long sleeve shirt and pumps. The skirt creates the allusion of an apron, especially if you add a ribbon as a belt. For a more toned down look, wear a short sleeve navy button-down shirt, a matching tea full length skirt, a white belt, and white pumps.
Textures
It’s all about texture this season. Some of the popular choices for the upcoming season include feathers, lace, and fringe. For a dramatic look, wear a full length red gown made from feathers with a string of pearls and towering black velvet heels. In a more casual setting, a white lace camisole under a lace white long sleeve top pairs well with medium wash jeans, tall brown leather boots, a long cream cardigan, and a brown suede handbag with a fringe trim.
Adding a pop of colour to an otherwise neutral and elegant look is very trendy at the moment. For this style, wearing a pair of camel dress pants with a cream crewneck sweater and khaki trench coat is only half of the equation. To update this timeless look, add colourful accessories like a red and navy print scarf with red pumps. For a more casual event, pair a black cardigan and black jeans with a colourful T-shirt peeking out or coloured sneakers to help balance the look.
There you have it, a list of five popular trends that are emerging in 2026. Be bold in your fashion choices and see which trends are your favourite to style this semester!
Rachel is working towards a BA with a concentration in English and Theatre. She has been employed at The Cascade since Fall 2021 as a Staff Writer and a Jr. News Editor. Currently, she is the sectional News Editor and enjoys meeting and interviewing people as well as taking long walks in nature. Rachel also likes to stay up to date on the latest trends and informs students through her fashion column entitled Campus Fashion.