Samantha Connor, director of wholesale at The Boutique Hub, breaks down Fall 2026 fashion trends from 28 trade shows and 800 brands. Expect bold colors like bright red and ballet pink, Y2K nostalgia with low-rise silhouettes, and a new hybrid shoe called the sneakerina. Retailers should buy deeper statement pieces and train staff to style outfits confidently.
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Color is back in 2026 in a big way. And in fall/winter, you're going to be seeing more color and more bold silhouettes than you've ever seen before. Hi, I'm Samantha Connor. I'm the director of wholesale at The Boutique Hub. And last year I went to 28 trade shows. I personally work with 800 wholesale brands, and I've walked countless miles on the trade show floor looking at trends. Now, I tell you all of this because I want you to learn from what I've learned on the show floor. I want my knowledge of the new trends that are going to be hitting your store soon to be in your brain now so that you can be successful. So let's talk about what you can expect when you hit the trade shows in 2026, searching for those perfect fall fashion finds. Let's start with color. Color is at the heart of 2026 fashion. Designers are embracing vibrant shades that bring energy and optimism to everyday wear. Now, before we get deep into color, I want to talk about the psychological impact of color. Fashion is emotional. When we see bright colors, we feel energy, optimism, visibility. Soft neutrals are more calm and safety and grounding. So before someone reads your outfit as fashion, they read it as emotion. But did you know your brain doesn't randomly choose these colors? It assigns them value based on an emotional past. So think about what you've worn before that may have gotten you compliments or made you feel confident or made you feel safe. Color is attached to that as an emotional memory. When I wear bright red to a show and people say, "You look great in that color," I'm not randomly choosing a red blouse the next time that I go to a boutique. My brain is going to remember the feeling associated with the color when I wore it in the past, and it's going to help me and want me to recreate that endorphin rush and that feeling. Now, mood definitely— mood in the economy and in our world in generally— general definitely drives these colors and these trend cycles. So did you know that in periods of uncertainty, we see a lot of minimalism and neutrals? That's when quiet luxury and safety dressing come. But in times where we're feeling optimistic and confident about the world, you're going to see more color, more experimentation, and maximalism hit the runways. There's renewed confidence when we know that bold silhouettes and statement colors are out because that increases visibility. When color returns to fashion, it signals a desire for optimism, joy, creativity, and renewal. Color is the emotional shortcut. Those warm saturated colors stimulate and energize. High contrast creates excitement and tension. And did you know that research actually shows that personality can predict your style and your customers' color preferences. Those people that are extroverts, well, they're going to lean towards bold and trend forward. Our introverts, they like the softer neutrals. And those that are feeling maybe a little anxious, they're going to want the cozy, fuzzy grounding textures. So as you're heading to market, remember, your consumers aren't just going to buy trends. They're going to buy what they recognize. And this fall/winter, well, recognition is shifting. You're going to see expression over minimalism. Color and print trends that are coming your way in 2026 for the fall include bright reds, ballet pink, icy blues, the return of mocha mousse, and a lot of bold prints as well. Now, we noticed, um, the trend going down the New York Fashion Week runway was that 33% of the looks were black, 16% were white, 7% were red. So make sure that you include red in your palette in the upcoming season. Other things that we wanna know about that'll help you be successful when you go to market when it comes to trends is that buyers today aren't just following trends, they're interpreting data fast. So what they're seeing on the runway is being fed to them through social media and through trends and style guides. So as a retailer, it's your job to make sure that you've got these collections in your store. So beyond looking for bold, bright colors like persimmon, icy blue, and ballet pink, look for all tones of green as well as more bold shades of yellow. Now, the collections I would build if I was heading to market in the next couple weeks, look for curated chaos. That's when we're seeing maximalism, but layered intentionally. So tracksuit pants with a heel, long jorts with a stiletto. You're also going to find groups and collections of color drenching in unexpected ways. Head to toe tone on tone. I'm talking about red tights, red dresses, and red pumps. Another collection I would look into building is nostalgia, that refined Y2K look. Girls, why didn't we save our clothes from the '90s? Because they're back. We're going to see a lower rise in our waist. We're going to see more of those baby doll tops. Look for chokers and bold chunky jewelry. Also coming down the runway for Fall 2026, texture and embellishment in new ways. Fringe on fringe with brooches everywhere. Keep your eyes open for the plaid takeover. It's plaid on plaid. Feels a little bit like the movie Clueless. Remember that yellow plaid outfit she wore? And then of course we're going to see more polished styles. Those blazer silhouettes are going to be in style again, and I love them. Fringe, like I mentioned, and then of course accessories— sunglasses, all the bangles, charms on your purse, on your shoes, on your bag, even on your phone. And then let's jump into denim because we've got a little more time. Denim is going to be more dark and refined, so get away from those holey jeans and move into something with more structure that almost looks like a trouser. The younger the customer, the lower the rise, but that's okay. We're dressing all body types, and it's not, oh, this doesn't look good on me. It's just that it's not the cut for you. Finally, let's talk about footwear. We're seeing a shift from full-on only sneakers to back to the flats, and a good combination of that is the sneakerina. If you don't know this word yet, you are going to remember it forever. It's a ballet flat mixed with a sneaker. It's a sneakerina. That's going to be a huge one this next season. So your buying strategy for fall/winter 2026: get fewer basics, buy deeper into statement pieces, plan your content and your styling before your pieces ever arrive in the store. So when you're at market, take pictures of the mannequins, see how they have things merchandised, and plan your content so you'll be ready for it once that product arrives. Finally, train your staff on how to style it. So make sure those mannequins are shown well and that your staff can tell your customer, how do I wear this Argyle sweater? How do I wear this plaid on plaid outfit? You are the expert and so is your team. Build out those in-store displays, build the online connections. Hey, even create your own trend report or blog on your website. Remember, you are the one that's ahead when it comes to style. You are the expert and your customer's coming to you because you are the one that knows. Remember, you're not just selling clothes, you're selling clarity, you're selling confidence, and you're selling taste. So step into that role as a fashion expert. Help the customer stop guessing and start trusting and see your sales rise. It's all about trends and fun fashion for fall 2026. We can't wait to see you on the show floor at the next market.
Hey guys, thanks so much for listening to Five Minute Friday. I love getting to hang out with you here on the podcast. As always, if you love this episode, send me a message, AJ Alderson on Instagram or @theboutiquehub, and I would love to chat with you, hear your feedback, and hear what you're doing while you're listening to the episode. If it was impactful to you, please share it with a friend or subscribe and leave a rating and review wherever it is you're listening to podcasts. You guys, I appreciate you being here. Thanks for showing up. Have a great rest of your week, and I'll see you next week on Five Minute Friday.
