As maximalism overtakes quiet luxury on the Spring/Summer 2026 runways, fringe has emerged as the season’s most wearable and high-impact trend.
Quiet luxury had a long run. Clean lines, muted palettes and understated silhouettes defined the dominant fashion mood for several years. But Spring/Summer 2026 is telling a different story, and fringe is at the center of it.
From the runways of Chanel, Moschino, Balenciaga and Givenchy to the street style feeds of some of the most photographed women in fashion, this trend has established itself as the standout trend of the season. It moves, it catches light and it does most of the styling work on its own — which is a large part of why it has resonated so broadly.
How the it girls are wearing it
Emily Ratajkowski made one of the season’s most talked-about fringe appearances at a recent Primark event in New York City. She wore a noir maxi skirt with fringed macramé trim, keeping the rest of the look deliberately simple with a cropped white tank top, strappy black heeled sandals and oversized hoop earrings. The restraint was the point. By letting this trend carry the outfit, the look landed as polished rather than overdone.
Hailey Bieber brought a different energy to the trend through her appearance in Alaïa’s Summer/Fall 2026 campaign. One look featured a black sleeveless top and matching skirt, with long, thin fringe adding movement and drama to what would otherwise be a minimal ensemble. A second look pushed further, pairing a long-sleeved black bodysuit with thigh-high stockings finished in hot pink trim. The contrast between the understated base and the bold style detail is a masterclass in how the trend can read as both experimental and wearable.
Sabrina Carpenter leaned into the season’s color-maxxing wave while staying fully committed to fringe, wearing a purple dress with diagonal fringed trims to her birthday celebration. Her choice of teal heels showed how the trend works just as well in a color-forward context as it does against a neutral base.
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Why fringe works right now
This style succeeds in this particular fashion moment because it requires almost nothing from the wearer. A single fringed piece — a skirt, a bag, a jacket hem — shifts the energy of an entire outfit without demanding a full rethink of what surrounds it. That is a rare quality in a trend, and it explains why the look has translated so easily from runway to real life.
The movement it creates also photographs well and registers instantly, which matters in a visual culture shaped by social media. Unlike some maximalist trends that require precise styling to land correctly, the trend is forgiving. It works with basics. It works with color. It works dressed up or worn casually.
How to wear it
The most effective way to start is with one piece treated as the anchor of the outfit. A fringed skirt paired with a plain white tee or fitted tank follows the Ratajkowski model and keeps the look from tipping into excess. The trend does the work while everything else steps back.
For those who prefer accessories over statement pieces, a fringed bag or earrings with fringe detailing can introduce the trend with less commitment. Bieber’s campaign looks suggest that fringe works particularly well as a contrast element, placed against otherwise clean or simple pieces to maximize its visual impact.
Color is not off limits. The Carpenter approach — pairing bold fringe with equally bold complementary tones — works when the proportions are right. The style and color together read as intentional rather than chaotic, provided the silhouette stays grounded.
A fringed jacket or shawl used as a layering piece is another accessible entry point, adding texture and dimension without requiring a full outfit overhaul.
Spring/Summer 2026 has produced no shortage of trends competing for attention. Fringe stands out because it delivers impact without demanding much in return — and that, more than anything, is why it has caught on.
