Summer 2026 Fashion Trends: What I’m Buying and What I’m Skipping
Every summer, the trend machine cranks up and starts telling you what you need to buy, and every summer I ignore about half of it. Not because I’m above trends (I’m not, I have a raffia bag collection to prove it), but because I’ve finally learned the difference between a trend that makes getting dressed easier or more enjoyable, and one that only looks good in a photo. Practical wins. Every time.
I don’t need every summer fashion trend either. I need the ones that survive an actual day of my life. If a trend can’t handle real humidity, two big dogs, and a busy schedule, I’m not interested, no matter how good it looks.
So here’s my honest, no-fluff breakdown of the summer 2026 fashion trends I’m actually wearing on repeat, and the ones I’m sitting out. Some of this will save you money. Some of it might save you from a jort-related regret. You’re welcome.
The Summer Trends I’m Actually Wearing
Short, clean nails
You need to know that I was a long nail girl for decades. Gel appointments every two weeks, booked in like clockwork with a nail lady so good she was borderline impossible to get in with (worth every scheduling gymnastic, but still). I loved the look. I did not love the cost, and I did not love organizing my life around someone else’s calendar.
Short, clean, healthy nails are having a real moment this summer, and I’m fully converted. When I’m feeling fancy, I’ll do a sheer milky white or a soft nudey pink (both go with everything). Paired with a tan and simple summer clothes, it looks more expensive than it is, which is my favourite kind of trend.
A lip gloss with actual staying power
I’m currently obsessed with the Make Up For Ever Super Boost Moisturizing & Plumping Gloss, specifically in the shade Juicy Peach. It’s plush, glossy, feels super hydrating, and has staying power that’s rare for a gloss. There’s a slight minty tingle from the plumping effect, but none of that burning sensation some plumping glosses give you. I also own the Wherever Walnut shade (which has a cult-like following: IYKYK).
A woven straw or raffia bag
A woven bag adds texture to an outfit in a way nothing else quite does, especially paired with simple linen. They come in every neutral from light to dark, plus fun colour options, and you can find a good one for cheap, which means you can update your whole look for not very much money at all. This is the trend I’d point a beginner to first if they wanted one easy way to look like they tried without actually trying that hard.
A lace trimmed top
Lace trim has been building all through spring and summer, and I love the feminine touch it brings. Here’s the thing about lace trim though: it cycles back every few years. Buy a decent quality piece now and you’ll be wearing it again in a future summer, so don’t cheap out on this one.
Matching sets
A trend still going strong from last year, and I think that’s because they solve a real problem. A matching set, think a linen shirt with a matching short or a breezy pant, is the easiest way to look put together while actually wearing pyjamas in spirit. Comfortable, chic, zero decision making required. The lazy girl’s dream outfit, and I mean that as a compliment.
Scarves
An inexpensive way to add a pop of colour or whimsy to literally anything you own. Buy one good quality scarf and keep it for years, or grab a cheaper one and experiment with a colour or pattern you’d never commit to in a blouse or trouser. Wear it around your neck, tie it to a bag handle, use it as a headscarf for a boho moment. I’ve even worn one as a belt (more decorative than functional, my pants stayed up on their own, thankfully).
Right, that’s my yes pile. Now for the trends that showed up this season and I sent straight back out the door.
The Summer Trends I’m Sitting Out
Long shorts and jorts
If you’re tall with legs for days, the long white jort is going to look fantastic on you, especially with a tan. Genuinely. I support you and your apparently endless femurs. On me, at my height, it looks like I’ve been styled by a hobbit. This one’s on the list mostly because I’m bitter about it, and I’m not sorry.
Jelly mesh flats
These are everywhere this spring and summer, and I want no part of them. Mesh jellies on a hot day is a swamp foot situation waiting to happen. Plus, I haven’t found a single pair that has any resemblance to foot support or cushioning, and I have zero patience left for uncomfortable shoes. I did my time in heels for decades. My feet have retired from suffering for fashion.
Polka dots
A small, understated polka dot in navy blue or a neutral tone can be charming. Too much polka dot, and you’ve crossed straight into Minnie Mouse territory. There’s a very fine line here and most polka dot pieces do not respect it.
Bubble hem skirts
Cute on a twenty year old, maybe. On me, it reads more like a party skirt from 2004, than a considered summer look. Unless you’re tall, that much extra fabric is hard to pull off, and you already know this shape won’t survive to next season. Save your money and sit this one out.
So that’s my list. Some trends earn their keep, some are just noise, and knowing the difference is basically a superpower once you hit your forties. What are you loving this summer, and what have you firmly shown the door? Tell me I’m not the only one bitter about jorts.
Looking to invest in linen this summer? Check out my guide to buying and caring for your linen: Linen: How to Buy, Where to Shop, and How to Care For It
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