Summer 2026 brought some wonderful developments in fashion, particularly in the way we're approaching shape, proportion and personal style.
From sculptural trousers and relaxed tailoring to romantic lace and a renewed enthusiasm for colour, there's less emphasis on one fashionable silhouette and more freedom to experiment.
For me, that's a welcome development. Understanding your own silhouette, the proportions that work for you and how fabrics respond to your body becomes far more valuable than simply following a trend.
And this year, one thing stands out: fashion is becoming increasingly varied in its shapes, proportions and interpretations of personal style.
We're seeing sculptural trousers alongside fluid tailoring, romantic lace paired with denim, and a renewed enthusiasm for colour. There's less emphasis on one fashionable silhouette and more opportunity to experiment.
For me, that's a welcome development. Understanding your own silhouette, the proportions that work for you and how fabrics respond to your body becomes far more valuable than simply following a trend.
Here are six developments from Europe's summer of 2026 that I think are worth exploring, with a few thoughts on how to make them work for your own silhouette, proportions and personal style.
1. Volume and Sculptural Silhouettes
Perhaps the most significant development has been the changing shape of our clothes, particularly trousers.
Barrel-leg jeans, balloon trousers and rounded silhouettes continue to challenge the straight and wide-leg shapes we've become accustomed to. We're also seeing volume introduced through bubble hems, gathered skirts and more architectural designs.
What makes these shapes interesting is that the volume is intentional. An oversized garment isn't simply a garment that's too big. Its proportions, shoulder placement, construction and fabric all contribute to the intended silhouette.
The With Style perspective
The key is understanding where volume is being created.
A rounded trouser that adds volume around the hip and thigh will affect your proportions differently from a fluid wide-leg trouser that falls straight from the hip.
Neither is necessarily better. They're simply different shapes that need to be considered in relation to your own silhouette.
And importantly, a fuller trouser doesn't automatically require a fitted top. Sometimes the most contemporary combination is a little volume on top, too.
2. Relaxed Tailoring and Fluid Separates
Tailoring has softened.
Rather than sharply structured jackets and fitted trousers, we're seeing lightweight fabrics, relaxed shirts, fluid wide-leg trousers and waistcoats styled as everyday separates.
There's a lovely ease to this way of dressing. Pieces that might previously have belonged to a formal work wardrobe are being worn casually, often with simple sandals or flats.
Linen, lightweight cotton and softly draping fabrics are particularly relevant for our warmer climate.
The With Style perspective
Relaxed doesn't have to mean shapeless.
The success of these outfits often comes down to the drape of the fabric and the relationship between the different lengths and volumes.
A long, fluid trouser paired with an equally long, loose shirt may work beautifully on one woman and overwhelm another.
A change in shirt length, a partial tuck or a little more structure through the shoulder can make all the difference.
This is also a trend that lends itself particularly well to building an intentional wardrobe. Good separates can be worn in numerous combinations, rather than as fixed outfits.
3. The Return of Capris and Bermuda Shorts
Trouser lengths have become considerably more varied.
Capri trousers, finishing below the knee or around the calf, have returned to the fashion conversation. Alongside them, tailored Bermuda shorts offer an alternative to traditional summer shorts.
Both provide an interesting contrast to the fuller, longer trouser shapes that have dominated recent seasons.
Capris are appearing with everything from fitted tops to relaxed shirts, while Bermuda shorts are being styled with waistcoats, blazers and simple summer knits.
The With Style perspective
These are two trends where proportions deserve particular attention.
Be aware that capri is not always the slim leg, wider leg options are trending too. A capri that finishes at the widest part of the calf may create a very different effect from one that ends just below the knee. Find the one that suits you.
For the vertically challenged: being short doesn't necessarily mean having shorter legs. Leg length is relative to the proportions of your upper and lower body, rather than your overall height.
For petite women, the key is finding trousers that are proportioned for a smaller frame. If shortening is necessary, it's important to maintain the original shape of the trouser, particularly any taper towards the hem.
For women with proportionately shorter legs, waist placement becomes especially important. A mid- to high-rise waist will help create the appearance of a longer leg line, while a low rise can visually shorten it.
Bermuda shorts offer some welcome variety in shape and fit. Flat-fronted, slim-leg styles are a great option for women with straighter silhouettes, while pleats and interesting waist details offer a refreshing alternative for straight body women and for women who carry more weight through their hips and thighs.
Well-cut tailored shorts have long been surprisingly difficult to find, so if pleat-front trousers work for your silhouette, now is the time to stock up on shorts!
Particularly ones you can comfortably sit down in without having to artfully arrange your thighs to disguise the dimples! 😂
4. Romantic Femininity: Lace, Sheers and Bohemian Details
Romantic dressing has returned, but there's something refreshingly relaxed about the way it's being worn.
Lace, delicate fabrics, embroidery, flowing skirts and sheer layers have all featured prominently.
There are also strong bohemian influences, with softly gathered garments, fluid dresses and decorative details.
What's particularly interesting is the contrast between these feminine pieces and more substantial wardrobe staples.
A lace or anglaise blouse with structured white trousers, for example, feels quite different from the same blouse worn with a traditionally feminine skirt. A classic white Tee pairs well with washed out, tie dye linen oversize pants, and a connecting scarf.
The With Style perspective
You don't have to adopt an entirely romantic look to enjoy this trend.
Often, introducing just one softer element creates enough interest.
A lace-trimmed camisole under a jacket, a blouse with beautiful detailing or a softly draped skirt could bring something fresh to pieces you already own.
If you're not entirely comfortable showing your arms in a camisole, pair it with a lightweight jacket or overshirt that you intend to keep on. It's no warmer than wearing a long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up, but it's a far more interesting combination.
I particularly like the contrast between delicate fabrics and more structured garments. It adds personality without making an outfit feel overly coordinated.
5. Colour and Unexpected Combinations
Colour has been another exciting feature of European summer fashion.
Alongside familiar neutrals, we've seen tomato reds, butter yellows, powder blues, soft pinks, greens and more vibrant shades.
What interests me isn't simply which colours are fashionable, but how they're being combined. If anything is inspiring me now, this is it.
Pink and bright orange with pale walnut, shades of blues with shades of green, or a bright colour introduced into an otherwise neutral outfit can create a fresh perspective on familiar pieces.
There's also plenty of room for softer, tonal dressing, or even head-to-toe butter yellow. Analogous colours that gently work together, or a single colour worn from head to toe, can both feel interesting and fresh.
The With Style perspective
A seasonal colour trend doesn't automatically mean that particular colour belongs in your wardrobe.
Your natural colouring, the intensity of the shade, how much contrast suits you and how the colour pairs with your existing wardrobe colours are all worth considering
But it's also important not to become so stricted by a prescribed palette that you stop experimenting.
Sometimes the solution is simply to change the shade, move the colour away from your face or combine it differently.
Colour should be something we enjoy, not another set of rules to follow.
And sometimes, interesting combinations are already hiding in our wardrobes.
6. The Return of the Flip-Flop and Statement Accessories
One of the more surprising developments in European summer fashion has been the steady elevation of the humble flip-flop.
No longer reserved for the beach or poolside, flip-flops have become a fashionable alternative to more traditional summer sandals.
We're seeing everything from minimal leather versions and classic rubber styles to kitten heels, platforms and more decorative interpretations.
What's particularly interesting is how they're being styled. Flip-flops are no longer confined to casual shorts and summer dresses. They're appearing with fluid tailored trousers, relaxed denim and even more polished outfits.
Alongside this footwear trend, accessories have continued to play an important role. Silk scarves, woven handbags and interesting jewellery are bringing personality to otherwise simple outfits.
The With Style perspective
I particularly like the simplicity of a refined flip-flop with a beautiful pair of fluid trousers. There's something wonderfully relaxed about the combination.
But not all flip-flops create the same effect.
A delicate, slim-strapped style gives a very different impression from a chunky platform or wider, more substantial design.
And as with any footwear, the relationship between the shoe, your trouser shape and the length of your hem matters.
Sometimes it's the smallest changes that bring an outfit up to date. A different shoe, an interesting scarf or a more contemporary handbag can transform pieces you've owned for years.
The beauty of this trend is that you may already have something suitable in your wardrobe. Just remember, if you're dressing up your flip-flops, leather is generally a better choice than rubber.
And if you've ever wondered why your scarves remain unworn, pay attention to two things. Firstly, are the colours an extension of your existing wardrobe palette? Do they work with your colours, whether through analogous or complementary combinations? Secondly, if you plan to wear a scarf near your face, are the colours reasonably flattering?
There are plenty of interesting ways to style a scarf that don't involve wearing it around your neck!
What I'm Taking Forward From Summer 2026
Looking at these six trends, what excites me most isn't any single item of clothing.
It's the freedom to explore different silhouettes and combinations.
For years, fashion often seemed to present us with one dominant shape at a time. Skinny jeans, then wide-leg trousers, fitted jackets, then oversized ones.
Today, the choice is much broader.
Rounded trousers coexist with straight and fluid styles. Tailoring can be structured or relaxed. Feminine pieces can be worn with masculine ones. Colour can be bold or subtle.
And that brings us back to something I talk about constantly in my work as a personal stylist: understanding your silhouette and proportions gives you the confidence to choose from fashion, rather than simply follow it.
As we head into summer, I would particularly encourage you to explore three things.
Try a different trouser silhouette. You might be surprised by how a change in shape alters the proportions of an outfit.
Reconsider your colour combinations. Before buying something new, experiment with pairing colours already in your wardrobe.
Look at your footwear. Sometimes a more contemporary shoe is all that's needed to make an existing outfit feel current.
Not every trend deserves a place in your wardrobe, and there's certainly no need to adopt all six.
The goal is to recognise what's changing, understand what works for you and make thoughtful choices that keep your personal style feeling relevant.
Because a wardrobe with intention isn't one that ignores fashion. It's one that knows how to make good use of it.
LIKE WHAT YOU'VE READ? THERE'S MORE TO COME!
I'm putting together a little shopping edit featuring some of the styles discussed here, with direct links to pieces I think are worth exploring.
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The article has drwn on the Spring/Summer 2026 collections and European street-style coverage, including Vogue's summer trend report and British Vogue's seasonal overview.
