Warmer temperatures mean shedding the many layers of winter fashion. Now is the time to embrace the colourful fun of spring dressing. Key fashion trends from the Spring/Summer 2026 season will be prominent, prompting accessory and fine jewellery needs for your customers. Here are the trends to know now from the runways of New York, Paris, London, and Milan, as well as the recent red carpets in Hollywood.

Primary colours, especially red

Instead of the usual pastels for spring and summer, there was a prevalence of primary colours in ready-to-wear collections this year.

Bold yellows, cobalt blues, and fire engine reds make for striking wardrobe options. Bright yellow was featured in monochrome looks at Rabanne, Fendi, Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera, and Loewe. Blue hues also dominated, seen at Marc Jacobs, Victoria Beckham, Area, and more. Red was the standout colour of the season, especially bright red. The vibrant hue was ubiquitous, seen at Alice & Olivia, Balenciaga, Chanel, Fendi, Givenchy, Issey Miyake, Ralph Lauren, Tory Burch, Valentino, and more. Red was so dominant, it prompted an editor at Harper’s Bazaar to advise that the best way to be on-trend this season is to add “a pop of bright fire-engine red to your outfit.”¹

Many designers also paired primary colours. Cobalt blue and bright red shared the spotlight at Jil Sander. Yellow and blue paired perfectly at Celine. The same goes for jewellery. Encourage customers to wear deep blue sapphires with their flashes of red or rubies with their cobalt blues. Fancy yellow diamonds are also on the rise and are the perfect complement to the bright, sunny yellows in warm-weather fashions.

Sporty, collegiate, chic

Another runway trend for the warm seasons is a sporty, collegiate vibe. Schoolgirl short skirts are back, especially tennis skirts and mini pleats, seen at Dior, Alice + Olivia, Rabanne, and more. Short shorts and no pants proved another fun way to put the focus on the legs, seen at Givenchy, Lacoste, and Max Mara. Bralettes thrived at Fendi, Jason Wu, and Prada. Academia reigns in collegiate sweaters, rugby stripes, vibrant blue, and polo shirts, effectively creating a playful mood.

Though the feel is casual, the esthetic is still very upscale. Jewellery will help to elevate the look. Sales associates should suggest huggie hoops, on-the-lobe buttons, or short drop earrings to pair with the lingerie-inspired bra tops. For the striped polos and mini skirts, help your customers curate the perfect stack of bangles. Opt for chunkier or thicker bangles this year, especially those set with diamonds and coloured gemstones. Recommend longer earrings, such as stilettos and chandeliers, for the sporty blazers worn over miniskirts or shorts (seen at Ralph Lauren and Max Mara). For collegiate sweaters and ruby stripes, offer signet rings to complete the look.

Footwear is similarly casual, as fashion designers finished off these looks with sneakers, sandals, and even flip-flops, letting the full length of the leg be admired. Clogs and colourful, ornamented sandals will prevail. Now is the perfect time to stock and sell anklets. Be sure to have your gold and silver chains available in anklet links.

The big sassy skirt

Another fun trend for spring and summer is the bold, wide, sassy skirt. The look was ubiquitous, prompting The New York Times to devote an entire article to “Why skirts are back for spring 2026.”² Flouncy skirts and peplums drew the focus away from the blouse with feathers, fringe, and flares, emphasizing the pelvis, hips, and bottom half.

W magazine noted that these statement skirts are best worn with plain or simple tops: “This season, designers are flipping the formula by calling for party skirts to take centre stage while the predictable ‘going out’ top is left firmly at home.”³

Seen at Balenciaga, Chanel, Givenchy, Christian Siriano, and even dramatic flair skirts or trains at Carolina Herrera, the skirts have volume and width. Peplums are also back, bringing attention to the pelvis as seen at Max Mara, Khaite, Stella McCartney, and more. From feathers and fringe to petticoats, these designer looks draw the eye downward and leave room for longer necklaces, especially leather cords with bold silver pendants. Pendants on cords were easily the most widely seen jewellery trend on the red carpets for spring/summer.

To compete with the volume below, adorn the simple tops with bold accessories. Suggest wider drop earrings, including chandeliers, girandole styles, and forward-facing hoops, for customers who wish to balance the look or add a sense of movement at the neck to match the skirt beneath. Bold, chunky bracelets, preferably stacked (as seen at Michael Kors, for example), make the perfect adornment as well, competing with the colourful swaying as you walk. Help customers choose colourful bracelets, too, for layering with thicker gold bangles or diamond tennis bracelets. Since the blouses are rather plain, suggest offsetting the skirt’s width with a statement necklace, such as a bib, cluster, or dramatic Y chain.

Old Hollywood glamour

Award show season brought old Hollywood glamour back. The esthetic “dominated the Golden Globes,” according to Vogue,⁴ and continued to prevail at the SAG-AFTRA Actor Awards and the Oscars. Opera gloves, vintage vibes, and elegant floor-length gowns create the look. Statement necklaces were prominent, especially with coloured gemstones and white-diamond styles. Earrings seen on red carpets were mostly sleek drops or shorter styles.

As you help customer prepare for special events, galas, or charity balls, encourage them to wear jewellery on the outside of their opera gloves (gloves were also trending on the runways) with statement cocktail rings, cuff bracelets, or two wrists filled with stackables.

High-collar short necklaces add loads of sparkle to the face. For customers who want to fill out the decolletage, opt for bib necklaces and Y chains. Chandelier earrings also elevate the little black dress and evoke the perfect amount of glamour. For those with shorter necks and hairlines, try diamond on-the-lobe button earrings. And of course, the overall look would feel incomplete without a statement cocktail ring. Natural “desert diamonds” are getting a lot of attention these days thanks to the De Beers campaign. Customers who feel they have already worn their white diamonds can freshen up their jewellery box with some new yellow, brown, or cognac diamonds. The best thing about old Hollywood glamour is the childlike glee of indulgence and of playing dress-up. Permission granted (thank you, celebrities) for all of us to splurge and enjoy!

Other notable spring/summer trends include Jazz Age shift dresses (seen at Tory Burch, Calvin Klein, and more), floral prints (especially three-dimensional embroidered flowers at Issey Miyake, Dolce & Gabbana, Dior, and Nardos), and lots of fringe (seen in fabrics at Jason Wu, Michael Kors, and Balmain). More fringe is coming for fall/winter 2026, so stock up now on fringe earrings and tassel pendants.

Now is the season of mixing things up. Primary colours, instead of pastels (especially red). Sassy skirts with simple tops, instead of dressy blouses with sleek pants. Glamour rather than minimalism for black-tie attire. And comfortable sporty looks, but with a dash of class and elegance. Help your customers enjoy the fun of dressing and choosing the perfect accessories. 

Notes

¹ See Harper’s Bazaar article.

² See The New York Times article.

³ Refer to W Magazine. 

⁴ Read the article from Vogue.

Duvall O’Steen is a New York publicist, writer, trend reporter, and luxury communications consultant, specializing in the fine jewellery industry. Following more than a decade of service as director of jewellery PR and promotion for World Gold Council, O’Steen established her own freelance business in 2011, providing her expertise and creativity to jewellery designers worldwide. She is also a jewellery publicist for the boutique public relations firm Luxury Brand Group.