Milan Fashion Week just ended, and our analysis highlights the dominant Spring/Summer 2026 womenswear and menswear trends shaping the season. Curious to know what stood out in Milan and which trends are set to define the months ahead.
Womenswear Key Items
Dresses Take Center Stage
Dresses were the true highlight this season, with 800+ looks and a commanding 39% visibility (+3.2% growth) across collections. More than 50 designers featured dresses, confirming their central role in Milan’s S/S 26 runways.
Key Dress Themes:
Smart Dresses: 7.1% visibility, +184% growth
Embellished Dresses: 6.9% visibility, +106% growth
Layered Dresses: 6.7% visibility, +75% growth
Beyond these, silhouettes such as babydoll dresses, caftans, bandeau dresses, tea dresses, and balloon dresses emerged as fresh seasonal favorites.
The Most Seen Designers for Dresses:
Antonio Marras – 36 looks
Luisa Beccaria – 35 looks
Laura Biagiotti – 34 looks
Giorgio Armani – 32 looks
Blumarine – 28 looks
Jackets: Smart Meets Embellished
The smart theme carried into outerwear, blending craftsmanship with confidence:
Smart Jackets: 11.1% visibility, +160% growth
Embellished Jackets: 4% visibility, +104% growth
These styles reinforce Milan’s narrative of refined yet statement-making fashion.
Patterns on the Rise
Prints also made a strong comeback:
Polka Dot: +393% growth
Checked: +61.6% growth
Floral: +24.9% growth (with 12.9% visibility, one of the most present patterns)
Expect to see playful dots, romantic florals, and structured checks dominate in upcoming collections.
Fabrics in Focus
Our analysis of rising fabrics shows strong momentum across innovative textures:
Metallic: +142% growth (3.8% visibility)
Plissé: +185% growth (2.3% visibility)
Sheer: +41.6% growth (9.6% visibility)
These fabrics shaped the season’s aesthetic metallic shine, fluid plissé movement, and sheer layering for lightness and sensuality.
Color Trends
Brights and soft tones stood out, with several shades recording triple-digit growth:
Ecru: +400% growth
Sunshine Yellow: +500% growth
Salmon: +166% growth
Camel: +122% growth (4.8% visibility)
Caramel & Blush: steady rise across collections
These colors balance sunny optimism with grounded neutrals, perfect for summer dressing.
Key Highlights
Outerwear had a surprise star: the duster coat, which surged with +180% growth, hinting at its comeback as a versatile piece for transitional styling.
Menswear Key Items
Smart Pants Dominate
The strongest performer this season was undoubtedly the smart pant, with +400% growth and 46.3% visibility across collections. Designers reinterpreted pants with a modern edge, blending tailoring with relaxed fits.
Breakdown of Smart Pants:
Tailored: 86%
Wide Leg: 48%
Pleated: 36%
Baggy: 16%
Seen at houses like Fendi, Etro, Giorgio Armani, and Bottega Veneta, this category confirms that pants are the new menswear statement piece.
Jackets: Smart & Embellished
Jackets were another key highlight, ranging from minimalist to statement-driven:
Smart Jackets: 26.3% visibility, +349% growth
Embellished Jackets: 5.8% visibility, +124% growth
Notch Jackets: steadily present, offering versatile styling options across collections
Patterns on the Rise
Prints and patterns were strong trend drivers this season:
Striped: 14.5% visibility, +119% growth
Floral: 8.5% visibility, +136% growth
Checked: 8.1% visibility, +149% growth
This balance of classic stripes, romantic florals, and sharp checks reflects Milan’s unique ability to merge tradition with modern flair.
Final Takeaway
The Milan Fashion Week S/S 26 Trends reveal a season where smart elegance meets embellishment. For brands, buyers, and fashion enthusiasts, these insights spotlight the must-watch directions shaping womenswear in Spring/Summer 2026.
