What shoppers wear tomorrow starts with what fashion insiders spot today. From velvet ballet flats to balloon pants and Britpop throwbacks, the Fall/Winter 2025/26 season is shaping up to blend nostalgia, comfort, and bold reimagination.

For e-commerce and inventory teams, these trends aren’t just inspiration ; they’re early signals. Knowing which silhouettes are gaining traction helps you buy smarter, launch faster, and stay aligned with what your customers actually want.

Here are seven style trends every fashion retailer should watch - plus how to plan for them with confidence.

1. Velvet Ballet Flats: The Quiet Luxury Footwear Taking Over

What's trending:

• Velvet ballet flats, especially Mary Jane styles with buckle straps.

• Almond-shaped toes are gaining traction for combining elegance and ergonomic fit.

• Jewel tones and bold reds are standouts for winter assortments.

Why it matters:

• High versatility: These styles work for casual and elevated looks alike.

• Consumer appeal spans age groups and style segments.

• Perfect candidate for high-margin, fast-moving SKUs.

  
  

2. Britpop Aesthetic: Retro Cool Comes Back Around

What's back

• 90s Britpop resurgence: Inspired by Blur, Oasis, and Spice Girls-era looks.

• Key items: Oversized denim, retro tees, square-toed loafers, utility parkas.

• Labels like Burberry and Dilara Findikoglu are leaning into the vibe with Union Jack references.

Retail play

• Launch limited drops or themed capsules with nostalgic storytelling.

• Merch visually with “Cool Britannia” throwbacks for social-ready campaigns.

Tightly Tip
Plan these seasonal style bets with Tightly’s open to buy budget planner to test new categories without overspending. Scenario planning helps balance trend risk and working capital.

3. Aviator Sunglasses: Back in the Fashion Flight Path

On the radar

• Aviators are making a strong comeback, from metallic classics to bold acetate frames.

• Celebrity endorsements (Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez) and visibility in Copenhagen Fashion Week reinforce momentum.

Why to stock

• Low inventory risk, high add-on purchase rate.

• Fits across customer archetypes - from minimalist to maximalist.

  
  

4. Gladiator Sandals: Statement Footwear Re-emerges

What’s trending

• Runway appearances by Isabel Marant, Gaultier, Pucci.

• Knee-high lace-up styles in black, metallics, and even purple.

• Early adoption by celebs like Miley Cyrus and Charli XCX.

Retail strategy

• Test online or via pre-order drops.

• Great for influencer-led campaigns and festival season tie-ins.

Tightly Tip
Use Tightly’s multi-supplier basket to consolidate orders for custom-size runs or niche variations, so there's no manual juggling required.

5. Balloon Pants: From Runway to Real-World Wear

The evolution

• Once known as "bloomers", the 2025 version is bigger, chicer, and more runway-approved.

• Seen in Alaïa, Loewe, Chloé, and Jacquemus collections.

• Materials include taffeta, jersey, lace, leather, and cotton-linen blends.

Why it’s winning

• Aligns with comfort-first shopping behavior.

• Silhouettes are unexpected yet wearable, ripe for remerchandising.

  
  

6. Crochet Bandanas: Handmade Cool Meets Seasonal Must-Have

Why it’s trending

• Handcrafted fashion is surging - crochet, in particular, is everywhere from runways to real life.

• Bandanas are the top accessory of the moment and won’t be going anywhere next season.

• The crochet bandana fuses both trends, becoming a must-have for fashion-forward consumers across Europe and now making its way globally.

Key features

• Available in bold colors, intricate textures, and various patterns - from minimal to statement.

• Rectangular shape makes it easy to tie: around the head, under the chin (bonnet style), or like a classic scarf.

• Popular across festival looks, summer styling, and even layered with winter fits for contrast.

Versatility benefits

• Ideal for monochromatic outfits or as a color pop.

• Pairs perfectly with other artisan-made pieces or as a soft contrast to tailored or minimalist ensembles.

• Beachwear essential with cross-season potential.

  
  

7. Clogs Are Back: Cozy, Bold & Built for All Ages

What’s new

• Known as cozy clogs, footbed sandals, or Lady Corks, this trend blends retro aesthetics with ergonomic comfort.

• Spotted in street styles from Paris to Copenhagen and championed by brands like Moleca, Vizzano, and Beira Rio.

• Key driver: “Newstalgia” and “Youthless” - nostalgia meets ageless appeal.

Styling inspiration

• Pair with socks and oversized tailoring for a Scandi vibe.

• Match with floral dresses and structured bags for romantic urban looks.

• Try with wide-leg pants and tight tops to play with silhouette balance.

Why they sell

• High comfort, high visibility.

• Strong fit for transitional inventory and multi-generational appeal.

  
  

Rationale

These style trends are more than aesthetic ; they’re signals of changing consumer behavior. By combining fashion foresight with Tightly’s operational tools, inventory and purchasing teams can reduce risk, increase agility, and act on trend shifts in real time.

Success Metrics

• Sell-through rate by trend category (30-day window)

• Gross margin by item class

• % of inventory turns under 45 days

• Repurchase rate for trend-led SKUs

  
  

Conclusion

These style trends are more than aesthetic shifts, they’re demand signals. From velvet ballet flats to Britpop capsules and balloon pants, what shows up on runways and in street style today will shape customer carts tomorrow.

For inventory and e-commerce teams, the ability to act on these shifts early is what separates reactive retailers from revenue leaders. When fashion foresight meets operational precision, you reduce risk, improve sell-through, and meet the moment - beautifully and profitably.

Your action plan starts now

• Merchandise capsule collections around top trends like velvet flats, clogs, and crochet bandanas

• Use Tightly to scenario-plan buying volumes for fast-moving seasonal bets

• Align inventory turns with trend shelf life using velocity data and real-time reporting

• Launch Britpop-themed edits and influencer bundles to ride nostalgic momentum

• Group trend SKUs into classes in Tightly for easier margin, turnover, and remerch reporting

Fashion is fast but smart planning is faster. The earlier you respond to silhouettes and signals, the stronger your position when trends peak.

Remember: Fashion trends aren’t just editorial - they’re inventory signals waiting to be optimized.

Take action today

• Build a trend checklist to guide capsule buys and pre-order tests

• Update replenishment logic for trend-led SKUs with short cycles

• Simulate margin impact using Tightly’s open-to-buy scenario tools

• Build cross-functional campaigns around trends - from merchandising to marketing to finance

Trends don’t wait. But with Tightly, your supply chain can. Let’s turn fashion insight into inventory action, before your competitors do.

Get started with Tightly today