There is comfort in knowing some pieces will never fall out of favour, but trends are what give fashion its pulse. In recent years, that pulse has been racing. Micro trends surface, peak and disappear at a pace that can make even the most fashion-literate feel one step behind.
Cue Pinterest Predicts. The platform’s annual trend forecast draws on the search behaviour of millions of users to spotlight what is gaining real momentum. Rather than chasing fleeting aesthetics, it captures collective curiosity and has become one of the most reliable indicators of where fashion and beauty are heading next.
Looking ahead to 2026, the mood is unmistakably nostalgic, with escapism woven throughout. Fashion and beauty continue to reach for familiarity, comfort and fantasy, with accessories emerging as the quiet power players that define a look.
With 21 predictions covering everything from fashion to homeware and leisure, the report offers a wide view of what is coming next.
Below, we have narrowed it down to the 10 fashion and beauty trends set to have the biggest impact on your wardrobe and beauty routine for the year ahead.
The Top 10 Fashion & Beauty Trends For 2026
Glamoratti
Minimalism and ‘quiet luxury’ are taking a back seat in 2026. A distinctly ’80s brand of maximalism is stepping back into the spotlight, with bold proportions and unapologetic glamour leading the charge. Pinterest searches for “80s luxury”, “high collar jacket” and “baggy suit” are climbing fast, signalling a shift toward bolder dressing among Gen Z and Millennials.
Expect exaggerated shoulders, saturated jewel tones and statement gold jewellery that feels intentionally indulgent.
Poetcore
Interest in the poet aesthetic continues to climb, tapping into a romanticised vision of creativity, intellect and old-world charm.
The look is anchored in scholarly staples with a soft edge—think chunky knits, timeworn blazers, slouchy satchels, aged leather and the occasional cape or tie worn with intention rather than formality.
Brooched
Brooches have reasserted themselves as one of fashion’s most versatile accessories. Sidestepping predictable choices, they offer a considered way to introduce character and distinction into an outfit. As the appetite for expressive accessorising grows, from personalised embellishments to vintage-leaning details, the return of the brooch feels both natural and timely.
While a delve into a mother’s or grandmother’s jewellery box may reveal a forgotten heirloom, a new generation of thoughtfully designed brooches is also arriving, offering modern interpretations with enduring appeal.
Laced Up
Lace has long occupied a place within fashion’s visual language, but its current revival feels more deliberate than nostalgic. Once synonymous with bohemian dressing in the 2010s, it has re-entered the discourse through a more considered, luxury lens, resurfacing in recent collections from houses such as Chloé, Chanel and Alexander McQueen.
After lacy tights marked the first phase of its return this year, the trend expands in 2026 with a broader, more expressive application. Lace moves beyond hosiery into collars, bandanas and belts, drawing inspiration from doilies and heirloom embroidery.
The influence moves seamlessly into beauty, where intricate nail art and softly detailed makeup mirror the same ornamental sensibility.
Vamp Romantic
With renewed interest in gothic cinema in 2025, from Jenna Ortega’s emergence as Gen Z’s resident goth girl in Wednesday season two to forthcoming adaptations of Wuthering Heights and Dracula, it comes as little surprise that gothic beauty is set to resurface in 2026.
The aesthetic leans dark and romantic rather than overtly theatrical, defined by inky pouts, softly smudged eyes and nails lacquered in shades of black and oxblood. It is vampy, expressive and unmistakably cinematic.
Cool Blue
Cherry red defined 2025. For 2026, Pinterest predicts cool blue will emerge as one of fashion’s most influential shades, cutting across ready-to-wear, accessories and beauty. The icy palette feels deliberately aloof, appearing in sharply tailored coats, glacial jewellery and frost-toned finishing touches.
It resonates strongly with Gen Z and Millennials, offering a modern alternative to traditional neutrals. From frosted makeup to ice-blue bridal looks, the subzero hue is less about novelty and more about mood, delivering a cool, composed aesthetic poised to shape the year ahead.
Glitchy Glam
“Glitchy Glam” is embracing imperfection with intention. This is beauty that plays with contrast and disruption, from mismatched manicures and two-toned lips to layered eye looks built from clashing shades.
Pinterest data points to a growing appetite for eccentric and avant-garde makeup, alongside asymmetric cuts and deliberately off-kilter styling. The result is a look that feels expressive, experimental and unconcerned with polish, celebrating individuality through beauty that is a little strange, a little playful and entirely deliberate.
Khaki Coded
“Khaki Coded” taps into fashion’s growing fascination with lifestyle dressing, with wanderlust and the palaeontologist emerging as unlikely style muses. For Gen Z and Millennials, khaki becomes a mood rather than a single shade, shaping utilitarian wardrobes that feel adventurous yet considered.
Think Bermuda shorts, pocketed vests, utility jackets, pleated trousers and brown linen shirts that suggest exploration while remaining quietly refined.
Opera Aesthetic
From sumptuous drapery and opulent jewellery to lavish, dressed-up occasions inspired by vintage balls, fashion is embracing a more extravagant mood.
Pinterest searches reflect this appetite for spectacle, with “midnight masquerade” up by 95% and “opera outfits” up by 55%. The return of millinery only amplifies the effect, proving that the desire to dress up, properly, is far from over.
Wilderkind
Wilderkind reimagines animal influence through a softer, more romantic lens. Rather than bold leopard or zebra prints, the mood shifts toward an enchanted forest sensibility, where nature feels whimsical rather than overt.
Fawn markings replace traditional animal prints, while dragonfly nails, bug-like jewellery and fox-inspired silhouettes lend a sense of quiet fantasy. Pinterest searches reflect growing interest in insect motifs and animal-inspired dressing, resulting in looks that feel expressive and playful.
