Fashion Forecast | January 2026

 Hello Everyone!

Welcome back to the blog! I hope you're doing amazing. Happy New Year! It's 2026, a brand new year to get out of your comfort zone, try new things, and strive to be better than you were last year. For most people, this is the time to drop bad habits and pick up new ones, or maybe stay committed to their resolutions. Unfortunately, I'm not most people. I woke up January 1 with a chip on my shoulder. What the hell is "Cloud Dancer"? Out of all the colors in the world, Pantone picks white? It's not bad, but I feel better colors were out there. (You will be hearing my thoughts on this as well.) 

I decided that now is the time to get back on my bullshit, out of spite. It's time for the Fashion Forecast! If you're new here, or you forgot what this is, I am going to share my predictions for this month's trends. The categories are limitless: beauty, fashion, makeup, skincare, lifestyle, etc. If I think it'll trend I will be sharing it. Will I be accurate? Who knows, but I have been right a few times. Enough chit-chat, let's move on to the predictions.

1. Dark Grey

I remember sometime between late spring and summer butter yellow was a very popular color. I think this year we're going to experience something similar, and this time it's dark grey. We're going to see dark grey show up often in fashion and decor quite a bit. For some reason, I feel like grey eyeshadow may be a small trend this month. January is an interesting time during winter because we've passed the Christmas spirit and now we have the rest of winter to deal with. Dark grey may be a popular color because it's one of the colors we associate with cold and the winter season. 

2. Blue Crystals/ Gemstones

I'm not specifically referring to turquoise, as that might be someone's preferred blue gemstone, but when I mention blue, I'm thinking of a broader spectrum of shades, encompassing hues like aquamarine, sapphire, moonstone, opal, and lapis lazuli, to name a few. You understand the general concept, I hope. While I can't put my finger on the exact reasoning behind my prediction that this will become a trend, the inspiration struck me unexpectedly during a meditative session (which involved a second glass of wine). 

3. Girlish Legwear & Footwear

Ruffle socks, leg warmers, and mismatched socks. I feel like this month, we're gonna see a shift. People will be focusing on their legwear more than their shoes. I've been thinking about this for a while, and I think it could be a cool little trend. We usually always pay attention to our shoes, but there's only so much you can do with them. But with legwear? So many options for making it your own! Think anklets, fun patterns, the whole shebang. It'll be all about making your legs pop! 

4. A Push For Vibrancy

If it wasn't clear already, I'm very bitter about Cloud Dancer. I don't hate the color itself, but given the recent state of the world and culture shifts we're seeing in fashion and society, I have nothing positive to say about it. I think this month, or maybe in February, there's going to be a push for more color in fashion. A sort of subtle rebellion. Given that it's still winter we may see some darker and richer tones, but it may be the start of a movement in fashion and aesthetics. I can get into the psychology and politics of why colors and standing out is so powerful, but I'll save that for another article. 

5. Men Will Start Dressing Better

Were you here for quarter zips? Tote bags and feminist literature? Matcha? I was. And now the trend is coming to an end...or is it? I foresee men dressing better. Straight pants and trousers, they'll even iron their pants. They're going to start wearing sweaters and sweater vests, maybe turtlenecks. They won't even do it for the performance, they'll finally understand that this is what we wanted all along. We want men who can actually dress well. 

6. KonMari Method Makes a Resurgence

Marie Kondo truly hit the nail on the head when she posed the question, "Does this spark joy?" I understand that this might seem like an unexpected connection, but walk with me. January arrives, and it's that time of year when we're all striving for personal growth and aiming to stick to our resolutions. We've already delved into discussions about the dangers of excessive consumerism and the satisfaction of project panning, exploring mindful consumption habits. Now, considering all of that, do I genuinely believe that the core principles of the KonMari method will gain traction and popularity once again? Absolutely, without a doubt. Even it the actual method gets rebranded and renamed, the concept will still be there. It will be a trend regardless. 

7. 2016 is Back

Off-shoulder everything, chokers, and velvet will be everywhere. The iconic staples of 2016 fashion are making a comeback. With people saying "oh 2026 is going to feel like 2016" and "I miss 2016, what was in the air?", I think it's safe to say we're going to see glimpses of 2016. I hope you've got your ripped jeans ready.

8. Tabis Are the It-girl Shoe

I love a good shoe! People have predicted the end of the tabi trend, but it never happens. It's 2026, and I think we can finally acknowledge that tabis are here to stay. They're going to have the same vibe as ballet flats and Mary Janes. Businesses will recognize how functional and popular they are and start producing them. Walmart may even have them in the shoe section soon, and department stores will certainly feed into the trend. I think even people who aren't fashion-focused will see them as a regular shoe, like sneakers. Basically, tabi shoes are going to be recognized beyond being a niche article of clothing. 

9. Very Light Blues

Icy blue, sky blue, baby blue, hell even periwinkle! This month is going to be filled with pale, airy blues. Much like blue gemstones, I have no explanation for why I feel so strongly about this trend, but I feel like it's going to happen. It's not even going to softly arrive it'll hit us like a train. We'll definitely see it in fashion and beauty, but also in decor, luggage, and even product packaging. If your Pinterest feed is flooded with light blue let me know. 

10. Shoulder Jewelry

In Wicked: For Good, there was a particular look from Glinda that stood out to me. There were small gems on her shoulders. It was a tiny detail that was easy to miss, but it adds a certain whimsy to her design for the movie. It also reminds me of the mid 2010s when people put decals and gems all over their bodies for Coachella. Following the magic that was Wicked, shoulders may get some unexpected attention. 

And there you have it, everyone! These are my predictions for January 2026. Please don't take any of this seriously, all of this is for fun. Let me know how you feel about my predictions in the comments or over on Instagram, and if you have any predictions of your own I'd love to hear them. 

xoxo,

Scarlette