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We know what you’re thinking. Been there, done that. But before you start having flashbacks to the business-casual peplum worn with statement necklaces in 2012, hear us out. The new peplum has defined waists, proportions are exaggerated and the flare isn’t so frilly. Dior, Givenchy and Stella McCartney all brought peplums back this season, and Anne Hathaway has already taken the trend off the catwalk in a furry Stella McCartney version. After years of everything being enormous, stylist and personal shopper Zoe Hennessey says her clients are craving fashion that acknowledges the existence of their bodies. “My clients increasingly want a defined waist, a slimmer pant or another element that gives the body some shape,” she says. To nail the look, pair one with straight-leg trousers or dark denim.
Peplum Tops
Fringe
Fringe refuses to leave, and according to Hennessey, we haven’t even seen the best version of it yet. “We’ve seen dramatic fringe at Chanel and Bottega runways, often at the bottom of a skirt or dress. I’m waiting to see it translated into more casual, wearable pieces that don’t feel so formal.” And she may not have to wait much longer. Retailers are already bringing fringe down to earth this season, with Zara, Mango, Free People and Anthropologie working the detail into jackets, sweaters, skirts and accessories. Instead of saving fringe for a dramatic evening dress, look for it on knitwear, jackets, bags and everyday skirts. A little movement can make even the simplest fall outfit feel spicy.
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Quince Smocked Viscose Voile Peplum Top
Fall has always been fashion and beauty’s favorite season to show off. Summer is easy. You put on a dress, maybe some bronzer, and leave the house. Fall requires a philosophy about what boot is "the boot" and whether your hair should be sleek or three times its normal size. And this year, those decisions are getting a little more interesting. After seasons of barely-there makeup and outfits designed to disappear into a tasteful beige living room, fall 2026 is giving us something to actually talk about. Clothes are getting sculptural. Hair is getting bigger. And we’re finally allowing more color back into our manicures. Even blush, arguably a big deal of the past several beauty cycles, is learning how to share the spotlight. The common thread? A move away from perfection. We teamed up with some of the most in-the-know tastemakers to bring you 16 styles trends you’re about to see everywhere.
Put away the lip liner. The blurred lip is the antithesis of the hyper-sculpted, overlined pout that has dominated beauty for years. The look was all over the fall 2026 runways–at Boy London, makeup artist Marieke Thibaut concentrated deep color toward the center of the mouth for a post-makeout effect, and Altuzarra also went softer with a hazy cocoa lip. It’s super wearable in real life too. Simply dab your lipstick (we love a deep berry, red or brown) onto the center of the mouth and use your finger or a brush to soften it outward.
Blurred Lips
Light-wash denim had a very good run, but fall is heading somewhere moodier. Deep indigo, washed black, chocolate brown, burgundy and other saturated shades are making jeans the outfit. And while denim silhouettes are all over the place this season, darker washes are becoming an easy counterpoint to autumn’s richer palette. Khaite, which has made denim one of its signatures, continued to put darker jeans at the center of its fall 2026 collection, while designers across the season paired deeper, earthier tones with lightweight knits. PSA: a dark-rinse jean with a fitted sweater, pointed shoe and structured coat can handle the office just as easily as a dinner.
Dark colored Denim
Just when you finally learned the difference between a barrel jean and every other pair in your closet, denim has another silhouette for you to memorize. “Bubble jeans have replaced barrel jeans, and some would consider them much more wearable,” says Four Seasons New York resident stylist Molly West Coe. “They are loose throughout and can be cropped or long, so it gives a bit more flexibility when it comes to styling.” West Coe is particularly into Frame’s take, and the shape is quickly making its way onto the racks, with retailers like Mango, Anthropologie and Nordstrom offering roomy, curved-leg denim that leans into the bubble bounty. Styling-wise, treat them like any other statement jean. Keep the top relatively streamlined and let the volume happen below the waist.
Bubble Jeans
"Bubble jeans have replaced barrel jeans, and some would consider them much more wearable"
Consider this your sign to give the tiny pendant necklace a break. Instead of a simple chain sitting neatly around the neck, these pieces hug the collarbone with thick curves and chunky links. And you don’t necessarily need one statement necklace to get the look. Try layering chains of different weights and lengths, like a delicate box chain paired with a heavier Cuban link. We like the Cuban heart necklace from Forever Jewelry because it takes the classic heart pendant and gives it a bold and chunky update. The mix of shapes, sizes and textures creates a necklace stack that looks architectural, which is exactly where accessories are headed right now.
Sculptural Necklaces
Good Frizz
Selena Gomez went oxblood-burgundy. Cara Delevingne chose a vampy purple-red for the 2026 Met Gala. Jennifer Lopez recently landed somewhere in chocolate-cherry territory. Consider the celebrity vote officially cast: Fall nails are going dark. If summer belonged to milky whites, butter yellows and barely-there manicures, fall is going straight to the wine cellar with shades like merlot and black cherry reigning supreme. We especially like these shades on short nails, where the darkness looks cool, but they become full-on glamour on a longer almond shape. And after months of debating the minute differences between milk, soap and bare nails, we’re personally ready for color that actually looks like color.
Deep Red Nails
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THE 2026 FALL
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If you spent the last decade trying to eliminate every flyaway, we have news for you: Your hair can get bigger now. “Bigger, fuller hair that’s lived in rather than feeling like every curl has to be perfectly defined [is in],” says celebrity hairstylist and Mizani Global Artistic Director Tippi Shorter, who loves,“expanded curls, fluffy coils and stretched texture” that’s been picked to release the “good frizz.” What is good frizz, you ask? It’s cloud-like hair with a light halo of fuzz around the top and edges. The curls are still there, but they’re less individually defined and more blended together, creating an airy shape. To be clear, this isn’t dry, damaged hair masquerading as a trend. It’s just a healthy texture that has been expanded, fluffed and allowed to take up space. In other words: Put down the edge brush. Pick up the hair pick.
Simple shirts, jackets and dresses are getting far more interesting thanks to dramatic stand collars, cowl necklines and folds that frame the face. Retailers like COS, Massimo Dutti and & Other Stories are embracing the idea for fall, using high necklines and striking folds to make the top half of otherwise minimalist pieces the focal point. It’s especially appealing if you subscribe to the “one interesting thing is enough” school of dressing. So wear the dramatic collar. Keep everything else simple and you’re done.
Exaggerated Collars
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Manifesto
Statement Brooch ($122)
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Jagged Halo Jewelry
Phoenix Brooch ($60)
Alaïa and Calvin Klein made a convincing case for body-skimming clothes this season, but don’t call it the second coming of the bandage dress. Fall’s form-fitting pieces are much more interested in what fabric can do around the body. Draping, ruching, curved seams and strategic folds create shape rather than simply cling to everything underneath. But don’t expect oversized fashion to go the way of the dodo. “Oversized pieces are not disappearing, especially because comfort remains important. But I think a lot of people no longer want to feel like they’re drowning in their clothes,” says Hennessey.
Sculptural Form-Fitting Clothes
Tip: Ask your colorist for a gloss or glaze between appointments to keep berry tones vibrant (and prevent fading into brassiness).
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Blush has been doing a lot lately. We’ve glazed it, draped it, placed it under our eyes, swept it across our noses and applied enough of it to make “boyfriend blush” a phrase. But now we’re dialing things down. Instead of highly pigmented pinks, sheer washes of muted rose, terracotta and neutral peach will leave you lightly flushed. That said, the fall 2026 runways weren’t completely anti-blush. Simone Rocha and Erdem went moodier with cranberry tones, with makeup artist Thomas de Kluyver using lipstick on the cheeks at Simone Rocha. For real life, think less product and smarter placement (like the top of your cheekbones) so you still get a glowy look.
Minimal Blush
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Alaïa’s Le Teckel helped turn the long, skinny bag into an obsession, and fashion isn’t ready to widen its handbags just yet. Khaite sent its Kye bag down the fall 2026 runway, while Prada, Saint Laurent and Chanel all played with stretched-out proportions this season. The east-west shape is distinctly ’90s without looking like you raided a vintage store, and it tucks neatly under your arm. “I love that elongated shape in suede, bright leather or even a beaded finish,” Hennessey says. “Whenever I carry one, it immediately makes me feel on trend.” Suede is an obvious choice for fall, but we’re also into the idea of using the bag as the focal point in an otherwise simple outfit. Bright leather? Beads? Go for it.
East-West Shoulder Bags
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See ya, glazed-doughnut skin. This year, the pendulum is swinging away from looking like we just completed a 12-step skin-care routine. That doesn’t mean matte foundation is back in its full 2016 glory. Instead, fall complexion is landing somewhere between flat matte and high-shine. The finish is soft, diffused and plush-looking, with enough dimension that skin still looks like skin. The bonus? It photographs beautifully.
Velvet Skin
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Zendaya. Tracee Ellis Ross. Sabrina Carpenter. Three very different hair types, but all make a pretty good argument for bringing back big, bouncy layers. “Think: an airy halo of movement around the head rather than a sharp, graphic shape,” explains Biolage Global Ambassador and celebrity stylist Sunnie Brook. “On wavy and curly hair, this creates an almost angelic silhouette with built-in lift and bounce at the root.” Where Zendaya and Ross demonstrate how gorgeous it can look with curls and major volume, Carpenter offers the softer, wavier version with her signature face-framing layers. And Brook says you don’t have to commit to just one interpretation. “Add mousse to the ends and diffuse for a bigger, more rock and roll take,” she says. “One haircut, two completely different personalities.”
Halo Layers
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This season’s sneakers are slim and low-profile, somewhere between a retro trainer and a ballet flat. At the same time, ballet flats themselves are continuing their takeover, with adorable options available from brands like Puma, Adidas and Ugg. Celebs, meanwhile, are loving the look, with Lily-Rose Depp and Kaia Gerber keeping them firmly in the rotation. Bottom line? Whether you go sneaker or flat, the overarching silhouette is the same: slim and close to the foot.
Ballerina and slim sneakers
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“You’ll see all types of animal print on all types of coats—fitted jackets, loose jackets, oversized jackets, bombers, cropped, long, etc.,” West Coe predicts. “We always see a lot of leopard and polka dot, but this year I think we’ll also see a lot of zebra.” And brands agree. Animal-print statement coats were one of the most noticeable outerwear stories of fall 2026, and Madewell went big with an oversized leopard topcoat in their fall collection. The beauty of the trend is that you really don’t have to do much else. Throw one over dark denim, a white tee and flats and you’ve already made a statement.
Animal-Print Coats
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STYLE REPORT
Molly West Coe, Stylist
"One haircut, two completely different personalities"
Sunnie Brook, Hairstylist
"I love that elongated shape in suede, bright leather or even a beaded finish"
Zoe Hennessey, Stylist
"Bigger, fuller hair that's lived in rather than feeling like every curl has to be perfectly defined"
Tippi Shorter, Hairstylist
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Toccin Strong Shoulder Sequin Top
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Lamarque x Revolve Wendy Suede Pant
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Elie Tahari Kaia Fringe Faux Leather Skirt
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MAC Lustreglass Stainless Lip Tint
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Violette_Fr Bisou Balm Sheer Matte Lipstick
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Levi's Cinch Barrel
Women's Jeans
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Abercrombie & Fitch Curve Love High Rise Barrel Jean
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Alexis Bittar Liquid Lucite® Sprout Collar Necklace
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Forever Jewelry
Cuban Heart Necklace
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Tibi Denim Pat
Trouser Jean
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AGOLDE Curve
Crop Jeans
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Moroccanoil Overnight Hydrating Leave-In Mask
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RŌZ Wave Texturizing & Finishing Salt Spray
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Coach Empire Carryall
Bag 34
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Reformation Elena
Shoulder Bag
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& Other Stories Frill-Detail Scarf Blouse
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Miss Selfridge Lace Trim Collar Blouse
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Essie Pinks
Nail Polish
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Manucurist Green™ Natural nail polish in Prune
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PATTERN Palo Santo
Leave-In Conditioner
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Verb Hydrate Detangling Leave-In Conditioner
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Shiseido Vital Perfection
SculptDefine Serum
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rhode Glazing Milk Ceramide Facial Essence
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Madewell Single-Breasted
Topcoat
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ASOS DESIGN Denim Funnel Neck Jacket in Zebra Print
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Maeve Suede
Colorblock Sneakers
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Adidas
Tokyo Shoes
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Ogee Sculpted Cream
Blush Stick
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PATRICK TA Major Headlines Double-Take Blush Duo
