The Pre-Fall 2026 Trend Report

Pre-fall tends to be the place where brands focus more on exciting new designs than the theater of fashion month, saving their more elaborate ideas for fall/winter in favor of key transitional pieces to wear now. But that by no means makes the collections a lesser fashion moment – far from it. Unencumbered by the build-up and pressure of a mainline show, designers have more room to experiment – and the results couldn’t be chicer.

This was certainly true of the pre-fall 2026 collections, with brands delivering plenty of newness, all the while going to great lengths to prove just how effortless and adaptable their designs are by showcasing them out in the real world. Valentino Garavani retreated to artist Cy Twombly’s ancient palazzo in Bassano – a commune in Teverina, Italy – to shoot its campaign; Balenciaga and Dior both captured their collections on the streets (and Metro) of Paris; while Chanel’s Métiers d’Art 2026 show took place on the New York City subway. Those who didn’t opt to shoot on location, however, still managed to get the message across, with Gucci, Khaite, Chloé and Alaïa all presenting effortlessly chic – and infinitely wearable – pre-fall collections and campaigns that our buyers loved.

“Vintage is a consistent theme in fashion, and often the starting point behind collections. Gucci led the way with ’90s minimalism in a more sexy and powerful way with strong monochromatic looks, while Valentino Garavani put a new spin on ladylike elegance,” says NET-A-PORTER’s chief buying and merchandising officer, Brigitte Chartrand. “I loved the mix of heritage textures and prints and how color combinations were used for styling at Saint Laurent, Chloé and Versace – they felt cool and inspiring,” she adds.

If you can’t get enough of ’90s style, then you’ll be pleased to know it just got a whole lot sexier for pre-fall 2026 with the likes of Balenciaga, Tom Ford and Galvan all opting for sleek silhouettes complete with alluring cutouts, thigh-skimming slits and open backs. The vibe felt very evocative of the Tom Ford era at Gucci – read: darkly glamorous and downright seductive. Naturally, brands went big on leather, too. Nour Hammour, Magda Butrym, Khaite and, of course, Gucci (now headed up by Demna) all presented butter-soft leather jackets, pants and skirts in clean, minimal shapes that will serve as the foundation of your new-season wardrobe. Other faithful nods to the decade came via shoes and accessories, with thigh-high boots, wedge heels, thong sandals and slimline shoulder bags solidifying the mood. Get ahead by adding Christen’s ‘The Stretch’ mules and Khaite’s ‘Blake’ clutch to your wish list.

Designers routinely delve into the archives of their respective brands, but it’s no easy feat to revisit house codes that have been interpreted many times before in a way that feels completely fresh. And yet, Anthony Vacerello continues to do exactly that, effortlessly reimagining the Saint Laurent woman season after season. For pre-fall, she’s the embodiment of ladylike elegance but not as we know it. She exudes confidence and always looks effortlessly undone, pairing lace skirts with faux-fur-trimmed knits, second-skin bodysuits with tailoring and bouclé jackets with tights, heels and little else. Although arguably reignited by Chanel’s Matteau Blazy in his debut collection for the house last year (his reimagining of Coco Chanel’s iconic tweed suits was an instant hit) the trend definitely reached its peak for pre-fall with Erdem, Sacai and Liberowe all putting their own spin on feminine tailoring and neat twinsets in heritage fabrics ranging from houndstooth to speckled tweed.

It’s worth noting, though, that this isn’t your classic ladies-who-lunch aesthetic – it’s modern and much cooler. There’s a playfulness to the styling, with clashing colors, prints and textures bringing this look bang up to date. Versace layered lemon-yellow cable-knits over printed bandana dresses, Alessandro Michele paired lace-trimmed stockings with newly revived ‘Rockstud’ pumps at Valentino Garavani, and Polo Ralph Lauren went full prep with mismatched checks on shirts and pants. Follow their lead by styling Magda Butrym’s red bouclé mini with ankle socks and pointy slingbacks, or start off simple with an elegant accessory by Gucci or Valentino Garavani.