The new year invites new fashion possibilities, the chance to build upon your personal style, or revamp your aesthetic completely. But between flash-in-the-pan trends that are over before they start and the adrenaline-spiking January sales, knuckling down the best fashion investments for 2026 can be tricky, which is where we come in.
With a well-rounded understanding of what trends are coming down the runway and what the fashion press is already betting big on, we’ve whittled down the need-to-know items that sit in the sweet spot between trendy and timeless. These are the hot-ticket items that won’t just be creating buzz for a season, but the entirety of 2026.
1/ The quarter-zip knit
While the quarter zip wasn’t on our 2026 bingo card, thanks to Chanel’s Métiers d’art show, it’s set to be one of the most sought-after products of the new year. Usually found on the backs of finance bros and amateur golfers alike, the key to wearing a quarter zip in 2026 isn’t to lean into preppy DNA, but contrast it through cool-girl baggy denim and romantic jewellery you can position peeking out of your pullover.
Arch4 Nara ribbed cashmere zip-up cardigan
Polo Ralph Lauren logo cable-knit wool and cashmere-blend jumper
Éterne embroidered French cotton and modal-blend Terry half-zip sweatshirt
Baukjen pure wool collared zip jumper
Boden Lucy half-zip jumper
2/ The Dalmatian print coat
Leopard print coats will always be something of a classic but, for 2026, the Dalmatian print coat will reign supreme in your outerwear rotation. Although similar to its predecessor, Dalmatian print appeals more to the pared-back dresser, its monochrome design working as a neutral baseline for you to bring other accessories in, like a colour-popping bag or oversized sunglasses. Toteme’s print shearling is an editor favourite, while Isabel Marant’s cropped style is great for weekend wear.
GapStudio white faux fur coat
Toteme printed shearling coat
Tove Loren belted printed wool-blend felt coat
3/ The T-strap heels
Thanks to brands like Stella McCartney and Victoria Beckham, C-suite-inspired clothes and accessories were a key part of our 2025 wardrobes. This corporate aesthetic will continue through 2026 with the arrival of the T-strap heel, an intentional shoe defined by its distinctive lines and seductive finish. But while the high-vamp heels of yesteryear felt purely office-bound, the two-tone T-strap heels seen in Chanel’s spring/summer 2026 collection speaks less to an office-ready era, and more to the Jazz Age. Expect to see T-strap heels worn both on weekdays and weekends, paired with button-down shirts and embellished bags.
Tory Burch peep-toe T-Strap heeled sandal
Manolo Blahnik leather T-bar pumps
Jil Sander leather sandals
Chloé Cleia heeled sandal
Sam Edelman Briella ankle strap T-bar pump
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4/ The flannel shirt
If there’s one item that stood out the most in 2025, it was the flannel shirt, a high-fashion top signed off on by everyone from Proenza Schouler to Cos. And our obsession isn’t slowing down for 2026 – just the way we wear it. No longer a layering item, the flannel shirt will be tied around our waist and shoulders, serving as an accent piece to our everyday uniform.
Matteau cotton-flannel shirt
Proenza Schouler Bronwen top in crinkled plaid
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Polo Ralph Lauren checked cotton-flannel shirt
Cos checked flannel shirt
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With Nothing Underneath The Classic Shirt
5/ The silk fringe scarf
Believe it or not, the weather will get warmer again. And, when it does, you’ll be glad to have a silk fringe scarf to hand. An accessory featured in Ferragamo’s spring/summer 2026 collection, this will be the decadent, high-society finish to your eveningwear, draping across your shoulders or tying around your waist. Look for ivory silk styles to get in on 2026’s trending shade, but don’t be afraid to experiment with polka-dot styles, too.
Dries Van Noten – Fringed Bead-embellished Silk Scarf – Antique rose
Toteme lace-trimmed scarf
Now 30% Off
Taller Marmo Babe fringed crepe scarf
Now 60% Off
6/ The everyday clutch
Fashion is forever blurring the lines on what we can and can’t wear on certain occasions. While clutches are usually reserved for evening affairs, for 2026, this accessory will graduate into our everyday bag rotation, thanks to Bottega Veneta and Toteme. But any old style won’t do; look for silhouettes with exaggerated shapes and malleable leather, so you don’t have to compromise on your day-to-day essentials.
Ferragamo folded pouch bag
Jimmy Choo Ganache clutch bag
Saint Laurent Envelope suede pouch
Weekend MaxMara medium leather Pasticcino clutch bag
7/ The animal brooch
Personality-packed dressing is one of the key fashion themes we will see in 2026, yet you don’t need to scream the loudest to participate. Case-in-point: animal brooches. This subtle accoutrement will add a decadent finish to your outfit while still acting as a conversation starter. The only question is this: what animal brooch will you choose?
YSSO Equestrian Dream gold-plated brooch
Butler & Wilson Hunting Leopard brooch
Aspinal dragonfly brooch green enamel & 18ct gold plated
Etro Pegaso pearls brooch
8/ The statement belt
Fashion’s obsession with the waistline continues for 2026, but not in the same New Look skirt, cinched-at-the-waist coats way we’ve seen in previous seasons. Instead, it will be all about statement belts. Celine led the charge with an archival-gold design in its Resort 2026 collection, which was less belt and more jewellery; brands like Khaite and Déhanche have embraced animal-print designs. What’s clear is that for 2026, belts won’t be an afterthought, but a focal point of your outfit.
Chloé Logo-Plaque leather belt
Déhance Mija leopard-print calf hair belt
