Kanedo cites Balenciaga’s recent performance line launch, which paired a soft voluminous bomber with a maxi bubble skirt — feminine influences applied to an athletic look. “We expect to see more of this, including soft skins, peplum for bottoms, and balloon shapes in wide-leg pants, infusing athletic or sporty aesthetics with romantic influences.”
New feminine silhouettes in performance clothing are expected to pick up on social media, according to data from Horitech, with bold plaid tops (+47%), ringer tees (+38%), and blouses windbreakers (+10%) such as cream (+9%) and powder pink (+4%) or dent printed with polka dots. The sleeves are balloon-inspired (+5% rise set), and the nylon fabric is ventilated with an elastic drawstring waist that allows for an adjustable silhouette.
Munday has described it as “Technical Romanticism”, blending the edgy themes with softer, more romantic notes. “This includes utility jackets and coats, layered tops, organza, knits, jersey, and crease-effect fabrics,” she says. The Cecile Bahnsen x North Face collaboration, which incorporated waterproofs into the brand’s signature floral print, which sold out in three weeks after its latest drop in October, is a “clear reference point for the trend.”
The trend was already shown during the menswear season, with tailoring mixed with skis at Ralph Lauren, and paired with tailored bar jackets at Dior.
WGSN’s Comedo added that another direction speaks to the Winter Olympics and cultural pride, incorporating cultural influences and techniques — such as beading and print — into sportswear. “We can see this strongly from sportswear brands, whose designers already have a heritage focus, as a natural evolution of the category,” she says. Of course the fusion of performance and culture. There is a hunger. Edited says Ralph Lauren’s artist-in-residence collaboration with indigenous-led brand Teepa, which includes workwear and many traditional motifs on canvas, has accounted for the majority of sales in 71% of the styles.
Brown is the new brown and fun color combos
Womenswear trends are moving slower than last season, as the microtrend cycle continues to slow. So brown, a familiar shade in previous trend forecasting stories, is a key color for the FW26.
“Dark gray has been in vogue for the past year and has overtaken black in terms of growth,” Tordhag says. But in FW26, we can expect warm and bright browns closer to deep beige. Heuritech predicts the online visibility of several shades of gray, including tan (+4%), hemp brown (+6%), cinnamon (+8%), oak brown (+12%), camel (+11%), and chestnut (+17%).
Brown will continue its dominance for the FW26, this time in lighter shades of chestnut, hemp brown and cinnamon.Photo: Getty Images
