Not Combats, Capris or Jellies—These Are the Unexpected '90s Trends We Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2026
The '90s have been quietly staging a comeback in our wardrobes over the past five years, but below, find the nostalgic trends we're convinced we haven't seen the last of.
Take a look back through some of the biggest trends of the past few years, and I'm sure you'll notice they have one thing in common: they were borrowed straight from the '90s. We all know that fashion works in cycles, but our fondness for nostalgia has reached an all-time high, making heroes of the trends millennials thought they'd said goodbye to forever.
Imagine with me your current wardrobe, for example. Do mules, column skirts, cargo trousers, baby tees, capris, slip dresses, oval sunnies or logomania feature anywhere? If you answered no, you're in the minority, but it might be the upcoming trends for spring 2026 that end up winning you over.
Whilst the internet is obsessively watching Ryan Murphy's Love Story and falling for Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's style all over again, it isn't actually her brand of '90s minimalism influencing the runways. We can all agree that straight-leg jeans, Oxford shirts and top-handle bags will always be chic, but some more controversial trends are starting to resurface that aren't getting the attention they deserve.
From the return of a popular shoe to the forgotten tailoring set to replace wide-leg trousers, these are the '90s trends we predict will make a comeback for spring 2026, Just don't forget, you heard it here first.
The '90s Trends Set to Make a Comeback in Spring 2026
1. Handkerchief and Halterneck Tops
Style Notes: Ask any millennial, and you'll find a handful of the same '90s and '00s staples in their pre-teen wardrobes, most likely: butterfly clips, pedal pushers and of course, a halterneck or handkerchief top. These high-neck, asymmetric-hem tops were as ubiquitous as white T-shirts and blazers are today. Take a cursory glance back through the archives, and you'll find everyone from Jennifer Aniston to Beyoncé wearing the same silhouette, often in a scarf print (if it wasn't quite literally just a scarf tied around the neck in the same vein as Christina Aguilera).
Jump forward to 2026, and after a boho revival, spike in Pucci searches and a rediscovered love for Hérmes put silk scarves and prints back on the agenda, it was only natural that handkerchief tops would follow. Today's scarf tops are just as vibrant as the '90s original, but instead of wearing them with capri leggings, expect to see them styled up as the dressy accompaniment to balloon trousers à la Zimmermann and Chloè. Chic, non?
Shop Halterneck and Handkerchief Tops:
This looks designer without breaking the bank.
You can wear a timeless top like this for years to come.
Just add wide jeans and a pendant necklace.
A refined take on the trend.
Perfect for summer holidays and beyond.
2. Platform Wedges
Style Notes: If quiet luxury taught us anything, it was the value of a comfortable shoe. Stilettos were swapped for kitten heels, high boots became flat loafers, and summer meant ballet flats over strappy sandals, but the heady return to expressive maximalism means turning up the volume somewhat. Good news, then, that the '90s came up with a shoe trend that gave both height and arch support: the platform wedge.
We will always have a soft spot for mules, but unlike their open-toe sister, chunky, grounded wedges don't have the propensity to fly off your foot at a moment's notice. No, these weighty shoes were made for stomping, and anyone who saw that front-row picture at Chemena Kamali's debut Chloé show was instantly transported back to the years of the clunky wooden wedge and just how good they look with spring outfits. Other fashion houses have followed suit, heroing the wedge as a key silhouette this season, so prepare your ankles for the return of the platform sole.
Shop Wedges:
I have a feeling that these are about to be a best-seller.
These also come in orange and monogrammed canvas.
How to look like you've spent three figures without topping £50.
The flip-flop wedge heel is so nineties-coded.
Prioritise comfort without compromising on style.
3. Embellished Jeans
Style Notes: Don't be sidetracked by what the red carpet did to denim (I'm looking at you, Britney and Justin); before the denim corset dress and matching cowboy hats, the '90s were all about denim inspired by Helmut Lang and Calvin Klein's brand of raw, edgy, tomboy jeans with polish. The '70s had bell-bottoms, and the '80s, the high-waisted "mom" jean, but the '90s perfected the straight-leg and bootcut, managing to rework them in different washes and finishes, culminating in what can only be referred to as "going out jeans". This was the decade that gave us "jeans and a nice top" after all, and small details like low-slung waists, studs and split hems transformed denim from scruffy, casual wear to certifiably cool.
Now that denim is as much a part of our everyday wear as a great handbag, denim brands like Diesel, 7 For All Mankind, Agolde and Citizens of Humanity are looking for new ways to keep denim one step ahead, and this spring embellished jeans have been quietly popping up everywhere from the runway to the high street as the fun new alternative to skirts.
Shop Embellished Jeans:
A subtle nod to the trend.
How to do denim after dark.
Jaded London is known for its fashion-forward and one-of-a-kind pieces.
If you told me these were vintage, I would believe you.
4. Skirt Suits
Style Notes: In the mid 2010s, the rise of androgynous brands like The Frankie Shop, The Row and Toteme changed the way we thought about tailoring for women's bodies. Blazers had big shoulders and boxier fits, trousers were slouchier and puddling at the ankle, and if it looked like you'd bought your suit in the men's section, it immediately scored high on the style scale.
This hasn't entirely changed in 2026, and big blazers are still the look du jour, but it's what's happening around the bottom half that's making us sit up and take notice. Pencil skirts! Minis! Columns! The coordinated skirt suit is coming back to challenge the wide-leg trouser, and the look is very Ally McBeal meets Princess Diana. Expect to see shorter, tailored skirts over the coming months that give way to long pencil skirts for autumn/winter as seen at Thom Browne, Max Mara and of course, Chanel. If it's good enough for Matthieu Blazy...
Shop Skirt Suits:
This colour would look so good with blue jeans too.
Great worn separately, but even better together.
The tweed makes for a premium finish.
Whenever I'm browsing the Reformation website, I start in the co-ords section for even better value.
Not your traditional single-breasted blazer and miniskirt combo.
5. Denim Cut-Offs
Style Notes: Love them or hate them, short-shorts come back every other year, and whilst Bermudas have enjoyed a good run over the last two years, they just aren't as intrinsically easy to style as classic denim shorts. Think of the archetypal '90s icons: Pamela Anderson, Jennifer Aniston, Kate Moss and Cindy Crawford. They've all been photographed in denim shorts, not only then, but in more recent years, too, and for as long as blue jeans will be considered an eternal wardrobe essential, why not include their warm-weather counterpart?
To make cut-offs feel less Sunset Beach and more summer in the city, take cues from Isabel Marant and play up the bohemian energy of distressed denim by pairing it with the belt and moto boots you wore last autumn/winter.
Shop Denim Shorts:
Just the right of fraying to feel lived-in but not messy.
This rich wash of blue feels unmistakably French.
Simple but effective.
As close as you'll get to Marant on the high street.
6. Robe Coats
Style Notes: If your idea of the '90s aesthetic is less CBK and more Anna Sui, Mystic Meg, Phoebe Buffay and The Craft, you'll happily welcome the return of the robe coat: the longline, boudoir-inspired outerwear that has been the hot topic of conversation since Zoë Kravitz stepped out in Conner Ives last month. The first time around, these robes were more likely to come in jewel tones and crushed velvet, but the modern update pulls from vintage references and teams silk, embroidery and fur trims for a luxurious yet lightweight layer ideal for throwing on over dresses or jeans when a casual jacket just won't do.
Shop Robes, Kimonos and Jackets:
Available to pre-order before the rush starts.
Just add a white tank top and high-waisted flares.
Such cute colours!
This would be so luxe with a sweeping maxi dress.
It's not actually vintage, but you can pretend it is.
