The 7 trends we spotted at New York Fashion Week SS26

As the sun sets on another exhilarating New York Fashion Week, it's time to catch our breath before the global fashion circuit shifts its focus to London, Milan and Paris. But, before we get swept away in a whirlwind of upcoming collections, let's take a moment to reflect on the striking styles that emerged from the city that never sleeps.

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Martina Bonnier, editor-in-chief of Vogue Scandinavia, was a prominent presence at the week's events, representing the Nordic nations. From shows like Calvin Klein and Michael Kors to Area and Altuzarra, she had her eye firmly on the motifs that took centre stage on the runway.

With fresh takes on preppy accessories and a surprising shift in silhouettes, the runway served up a variety of looks that will undoubtedly make their way into our wardrobes come spring/summer 2026. As we reflect on the highlights of the week, we've carefully curated the 7 trends, as spotted by Martina, that are poised to slide into the season ahead, ensuring your style stays ahead of the curve.

Fashioned from leather or the traditional tinsel, pom-poms made an unexpected but exciting return to the runway, making their mark in the collections of Calvin Klein, Area, and Luar. Once reserved for cheerleaders, these playful accessories were reinvented in bold, high-fashion ways. At Calvin Klein, the pom-poms were styled alongside sleek, monochromatic ensembles, adding an unexpected touch of texture, colour, and movement to the clean, minimalistic designs, bouncing as models strutted down the runway, offering a fun contrast to the refined silhouettes.

Meanwhile, at Area, the pom-poms took a more traditional approach. Crafted from metallic and iridescent streamers, they shimmered with each step. Casually clutched by the models, these glittering accessories injected further whimsy into the collection, their playful bounce creating a sense of dynamic motion.

As we took in the spring/summer 2026 shows in New York, Kay Thompson's iconic Funny Face mantra - "Think Pink!" - echoed like fashion gospel in the back of our minds. The hue made a triumphant return to the runway, splashing across collections with playful confidence. From delicate pastels to bold fuchsias and rich salmons, pink permeated the presentations of designers like Michael Kors, Area and Toteme.

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"We saw so many neutrals," says Martina. "And then suddenly there was pink. It is such a reliable colour for spring, but in such troublesome times, it is a shade that brings cosiness and sweetness. It is a warmly welcomed colour to the market and the world; designers know this, and so it has begun to trickle through."

Whether subtly threaded into accessories or boldly emblazoned across full looks, the message was unmistakable: pink is back, and it's come to play. Tibi embraced the trend with restrained ease, pairing rose-toned tops with khaki hot pants. In contrast, designers such as Parabal Gurung and Tory Burch dove in headfirst, dressing models in monochromatic pink ensembles that radiated power, and just a touch of whimsy.

The playful contrasts between light and dark permeated the SS26 shows of New York, creating a visual language that allowed the smallest details to take centre stage. In collections from Khaite and Calvin Klein, the stark simplicity of black and white served as a backdrop that highlighted the structure and craftsmanship of the garments. Fluid lines, oversized silhouettes, and sharp tailoring were given the space to breathe, while colour stepped aside, allowing forms to speak for themselves.

A similar narrative unfolded at Toteme and Prabal Gurung, where texture rather than colour commanded attention. Intricate knits, layered feathers and rich fabrics commanded the spotlight, unimpeded by the distraction of vibrant tones. The restrained palette allowed these details to stand out, drawing the eye to the tactile qualities of the garments and the complexity of their construction. In this minimalist play on contrasts, the absence of bold hues elevated looks, with the light-dark dichotomy acting as a pedestal for intricate craftsmanship to shine.

The billowing silhouette of the harem pant made a strong return at New York Fashion Week, making waves across collections by Michael Kors, Altuzarra, and Ralph Lauren. What was once a casual trouser had been elevated to luxury status. Though we first saw the trend emerge in the SS25 collections of Alaïa and Loewe - where Jonathan Anderson offered his own exaggerated take - the style proved its staying power.

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Kors reimagined the pant for the modern woman on the go, styling it in sleek monochromatic looks or pairing it with heels to transition it out of its laid-back origins. Altuzarra, Ralph Lauren and Khaite took a more structured approach, tucking billowing shirts into the waistband, which cinched the waist and created an hourglass shape, giving the look a sophisticated, sculptural edge.

Jeans are here to stay for spring/summer 2026. Across the runways - from Area and Tibi, to Khaite and beyond - denim emerged as a cornerstone of the season's aesthetic. Whether worn low-slung and effortlessly casual or styled into edgy, head-to-toe Canadian tuxedos, as seen at Calvin Klein, Luar, and Coach, denim proved its versatility once again.

The detailing leaned into a '90s grunge revival: distressed finishes, exposed seams, and shredded knees dominated the scene. At Simkhai, jeans were almost entirely deconstructed, teetering on the edge of artful destruction. This season's denim isn't just a staple, it's a statement.

"Denim is such a staple product, a line of safety in our wardrobes, but it has been some time since we have seen light wash denim, and especially distressed silhouettes on the runway," says Martina. "Jeans are classic, but here we have seen it in a far more relaxed, almost LA manner, in comparison to how we would wear jeans in Scandinavia."

We saw the return of the milkmaid at Copenhagen Fashion Week, with the likes of The Garment, Rave Review, and Skall Studio offering up some distinctive motifs. Think gathered bodices, puffed sleeves and delicate headscarves. Well, New York clearly got the same memo, as, although more subtle, milkmaids were definitely present in style.

Calvin Klein Collection leaned heavily into the headscarf trend, sweeping models' hair back with monochromatic triangles of fabric, pairing the accessory with light, streamlined dresses. Across town, Anna Sui tapped into the typical puffed sleeve, with the occasional frilly and characteristically kitsch bandana cementing the aesthetic within the collection.

"The milkmaid trend has been seen at Copenhagen Fashion Week for many seasons now," says Martina. "And now we see it being picked up on by the rest of the world, beginning in the US. It is a trend that deeply resonates with us Scandivians."

Trench coats are a perennial spring staple, but for the upcoming season, designers are reimagining the classic with bold new proportions and unexpected twists. Nepalese American designer Prabal Gurung sent a series of sculptural trenches down the runway, featuring exaggerated, swollen silhouettes that tapered dramatically just below the knees, creating a striking effect.

Joseph Altuzarra took a different approach, opting for straight-cut trenches that were heavily padded, giving the traditional outerwear a more structured, architectural feel. Meanwhile, at Calvin Klein Collection, Veronica Leoni embraced a more relaxed, street-style interpretation: think slouchy, oversized trenches that hung loosely off the shoulders and were barely held together with a half-hearted belt.