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The Fashion Memo

The 6 Must-Have Styles On The NET-A-PORTER Buyers’ Spring/Summer Wish List

L-R: Alaïa; Maria McManus; Ami Paris

From sleek midi skirts and vibrant red dresses to tactile fringed separates, spring/summer 2026’s runways delivered plenty of new-season inspiration. Here, our buying team reveals the leading looks on their radar

As told to Colleen RossFashion editor Millie Parry
Fashion
Proenza Schouler; Balenciaga (worn with sunglasses)

The red dress

“Red dresses were a recurring theme on the spring/summer 2026 runways, with Balenciaga, Proenza Schouler and Bottega Veneta all showing sleek iterations in shades ranging from bright poppy red to cherry and vermillion. The beauty of a red dress is that it does all the talking, so you need little in the way of accessories to make an impact. A few favorites from our edit include Victoria Beckham’s twist-front satin maxi and Willy Chavarria’s exquisite tomato-red shirt dress.” Brigitte Chartrand, chief buying & merchandising officer

  • VICTORIA BECKHAM
    Asymmetric twisted satin maxi dress
    £830.00
    Select a Size
    4 - out of stock
    6 - low stock
    8 - low stock
    10
    12
    14 - out of stock
  • WILLY CHAVARRIA
    Satin midi dress
    £1,220.00
    Select a Size
    x small
    small
    medium - low stock
    large
    x large - out of stock
  • SAINT LAURENT
    Wool maxi dress
    £1,625.00
    Select a Size
    x small
    small - low stock
    medium
  • JIL SANDER
    Paneled crepe midi dress
    £1,290.00
    Select a Size
    34 - out of stock
    36 - low stock
    38
    40 - low stock
    42
L-R: Saint Laurent; Tory Burch

Midi skirts

“It’s rare you will catch me in a dress, which is why I tend to lean into midi skirts when I’m in a more feminine mood. It’s been the season of the skirt for a while now at NET-A-PORTER, but the experimental shapes, creative construction and vibrant colors of spring/summer 2026 mean I can feel effortless, while also embracing a more delicate, softer way of dressing. I will mostly wear a midi skirt in a dressed-down manner, either peaking out out from underneath a long T-shirt or a shirt, rather than with anything tucked in, which I find makes them perfect for casual spring dressing.” Rachel Nimmo, buying manager

  • ACNE STUDIOS
    Intessa floral-print stretch-jersey midi skirt and pants set
    £575.00
    Select a Size
    32
    34
    36
    38 - out of stock
    40 - out of stock
    42 - out of stock
  • MAGDA BUTRYM
    Lace-trimmed silk-satin midi skirt
    £685.00
    Select a Size
    34
    36 - out of stock
    38 - low stock
    40 - low stock
    42
  • LIBEROWE
    Eve tie-detailed cotton and silk-blend midi skirt
    £665.00
    Select a Size
    XS/S
    M/L
  • MARIA MCMANUS
    Cotton-lace midi skirt
    £730.00
    Select a Size
    x small - low stock
    small
    medium - low stock
    large - out of stock

The top-handle bag

“I like the tension between a structured, often quite nostalgic top-handle bag and a more casual outfit. Reminiscent of ’40s and ’50s purses, this season’s top-handle styles merge old with new and offer a polished way to elevate a look, so you will see me carrying one regularly. The current style obsession with Carolyn Bessette Kennedy – who would beautifully pair an Hèrmes ‘Kelly’ with jeans and a white shirt in the ’90s – may have also played a role in the top-handle’s resurgence. A few styles I’m coveting for spring/summer 2026 include Bottega Veneta’s ‘Baby Veneta’, Saint Laurent’s ‘Icarino’, as well as daytime options from Alaïa, Toteme and The Row. As for elegant evening options, I’ll be looking to Savette’s satin ‘Symmetry Pochette’, embellished styles by Dries Van Noten and Erdem’s ‘Bloom’.” Lydia Zacharis, buying manager

  • BOTTEGA VENETA
    Baby Veneta Intrecciato leather tote
    £1,925.00
  • THE ROW
    India textured-leather tote
    £3,095.00
  • ALAÏA
    Le Bulldog leather shoulder bag
    £1,875.00
  • SAINT LAURENT
    Icarino quilted leather tote
    £1,784.00
Bottega Veneta
Khaite

The city shorts

“Gray, gloomy days in London have me firmly in summer daydream mode and mentally auditing the gaps in my spring wardrobe. At the top of that list: shorts. I’m rarely a dress or skirt person, so a great pair of shorts feels like a more natural everyday staple as we transition into warmer weather. Right now, I’m especially drawn to the longer-line Bermuda silhouette, which feels the most versatile to dress up or down. In tailored wool or silk (very much in the spirit of The Row’s ‘Kalyan’ shorts), styled with an oversized shirt or lightweight knit and strappy sandals they read polished but still relaxed. On the other end of the spectrum, a tonal white denim pair from Haikure with a crisp tee and flip flops feels effortless for everyday. I also love the idea of knitted Bermudas, like the softly structured version here by Auralee, which feel perfect for spring weekends spent running around the city.” Olivia Dolphin, senior buyer

  • THE ROW
    Kalyan pleated wool shorts
    £885.00
    Select a Size
    0 - out of stock
    2 - low stock
    4 - out of stock
    6 - low stock
    8 - out of stock
    10
    12 - out of stock
  • HAIKURE
    Becky cotton and linen-blend twill shorts
    £165.00
    Select a Size
    23 - low stock
    24 - low stock
    25
    26
    27
    28
    29
    30 - low stock
    31 - low stock
    32
  • ARMA
    Jina paneled suede shorts
    £415.00
    Select a Size
    34
    36
    38
    40
    42
    44
  • KHAITE
    Rohe satin shorts
    £950.00
    Select a Size
    x small - out of stock
    small - out of stock
    medium - low stock
    large
L-R: Dries Van Noten; Valentino Garavani

Something fringed

“We have seen a more elevated vintage trend emerge for spring/summer 2026, which feels like a natural move on from the boho trend of last year. Think rich textures, faux-fur trims and fringing. I will be tapping into the latter over the summer in a more monochromatic way than at some of the shows, which feels a little more digestible, and looking to brands such as Bode and Dries Van Noten where this aesthetic feels very authentic. I particularly love Sharon Wauchob’s feather-trimmed mini dress and embroidered dresses from Bode that take inspiration from vintage piano shawls.” Faye Squire, buying manager

  • BODE
    Fringed embroidered silk-satin midi dress
    £1,445.00
    Select a Size
    x small - out of stock
    small - low stock
    medium
    large
    x large - out of stock
  • LOEWE
    + Anni Albers Puzzle small leather and fringed jacquard shoulder bag
    £2,555.00
  • ALIX OF BOHEMIA
    Mia cropped bead-embellished fringed silk top
    £775.00
    Select a Size
    x small - out of stock
    small
    medium - low stock
    large - low stock
    x large - out of stock
  • LOULOU DE SAISON
    Yasmin fringed voile top
    £190.00
    Select a Size
    x small
    small
    medium
    large
    x large

Art Deco jewelry

“I love the unorthodox combinations of stones that were popular during this period, with many vintage designs combining natural materials such as onyx and rock crystal with manufactured ones like enamel and glass. In terms of contemporary iterations, I often gravitate towards designs that are more linear and streamlined, encapsulating the Art Deco movement. It’s all about major pieces with impact, such as these styles by Nikos Koulis.” Alexandra Huxtable, senior fine jewelry buyer

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The models featured in this story are not associated with NET-A-PORTER and do not endorse it or the products shown