Fashion and Culture Predictions for 2026

 

BY C STONE | THE SUPER HOT ||| FASHION

As the world begins 2026 with bleary bloodshot eyes, staggering from the night before, I wonder what fashion trends will be starting in the newly minted year.

Budget fashion is back. No longer will women be spending thousands of dollars on boutique handbags from icons such as Gucci and Prada. The smart shopper will be buying cheaper alternatives. Instead of buying 1 handbag for $3500, today's frugal consumer will spend $100 - if that. If all that separates the big brands is where it's made, then expect a lot of unusual source countries.  Tariffs have had a major impact on brands made outside North America.

Single-color outfits are coming back. You might see more people wearing clothes that match everything: Shoes, pants, top, and maybe even their underwear. 

Great news: Miserable, unhappy fashion models will never be going out of style. Appearing angry, unusually skinny and starved, these women haven't used a smile in a photo-op for years. Welcome to the gaunt society where no one smiles at fashion shows.

The outlandish, over-sized dress or excessively long tails: Did they ever leave the world of couture? Metallic prints with sheer fabric - have we re-entered the 1980's?

Black is the only color that never goes out of style. Popular with young and old, it's a mainstay power color. Short skirts, dark pants, and black shoes. Welcome to the world of dark clothes and dark fabrics.

Tight, stretchable pants that show the @ss - never going out of style. Crop tops with short sleeves, hugging the body and showing everything off like a Christmas gift. 

That crazy, multi-colored dress that appears to be designed in an A.I. factory: I could see vending machines being used to design clothes on the fly for people. And it wouldn't cost a lot of money.

 Imagine clothes made-to-fit while you wait at an airport. You could purchase $500 worth of fine dining clothes for a wedding while waiting for your flight in New York City. The potential possibilities are endless.

The machine would 3D scan your body for measurements, then create a custom-fitted garment in 5 minutes. Now that would be amazing. I'm looking forward to the future.