Ever since the world stopped turning in 2020, fringe has been bobbing along in our peripheral vision, only just missing the mark on fashion relevance. At times, it has looked like it would break into the mainstream, as designer brand after designer brand integrated the most pivotal of all boho accessories into their offerings. Yet every time fringe seemed to be at the height of its powers, it would get sidelined in favour of some other silhouette, texture or trend.
Enter 2026, where fringe is officially having its moment. This time, it isn’t festival-girl tassels, half-hearted Coachella throwbacks, or TikTok knockoffs. We’re talking big time runway status and high-fashion moments for fringe, multiple and simultaneous.
Why fringe? Why now?
The answer to the first question is simple: after a few seasons of minimalism so severe even indie-girl skaters and baddie-core Instagrammers were taken aback, the need for more maximalism was real. Designers seem to have collectively decided restraint was over, as fringe reportedly surged sharply in numbers across New York Fashion Week’s spring/summer 2026 shows, riding on a more general wave of 2010s fashion nostalgia.
Here’s where it all appeared, on the global runways
Fringe manifested in wildly different moods, from the whimsical to the Western. Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection, for example, leaned into tweed jackets whose trim was fringed in soft, feathery textures, accessorised with curling-brooch headpieces that looked like tendrils of seaweed spilling out of hair. Gabriela Hearst went full Western with dangling beads adding fringed textural details to suede jackets, and Burberry worked sparkly fringe into elegant evening-wear looks at London Fashion Week. Designer Louise Trotter, in her debut for Bottega Veneta, brought fringe an industrial edge with structured shirts paired with metallic skirts whose hems were trimmed in fibreglass.
The trend hit red carpets just as quickly. Actor Wunmi Mosaku sported a fringe-detail Priya Ahluwalia gown at the BAFTAs, while Angelina Jolie showed up for the Paris premiere of her film in a fringe-and-sequin dress. Closer to home, Priyanka Chopra Jonas chose a fluid-fringe Burberry gown for a London premiere — solid proof that the fringe was as runway-ready as it was red carpet.
The Bollywood and Indian fashion angle
Indian designers made sure to bring their fringe game on home turf as well. At Lakmé Fashion Week, Pankaj & Nidhi’s standout look featured a fringed metallic top with embroidered shorts. On the same runways, designer Shweta Kapur’s offerings incorporated beaded and textured silhouettes, which added movement and fringe among other accessories. It’s part of a larger trend in Indian fashion this year: Bollywood’s influence has moved from red-carpet opulence to a more street-style-driven, personal styling influence. This includes fringe, too.
How to actually wear it
Fringe, like a Kardashian Halloween costume, can tip into costume territory really fast. So how are stylists keeping the trend wearable in 2026?
A good entry point is a single fringed item, like a scarf or a clutch or a pair of tassel earrings, worn with an otherwise clean-cut outfit. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, a skirt with a fringed hem or a fringe-trimmed jacket will add some movement to your ensemble without overwhelming the rest of your look.
| Where to Start | How to Wear It | Avoid |
| Accessories first | A fringed bag, scarf or pair of earrings | Head-to-toe fringe on a first try |
| Fabric choice | Silk or fine thread for an elegant look; knit fringe for a Chanel-inspired feel | Costume-y synthetic tassels |
| Placement | Hemlines, cuffs and yokes for subtle movement | All-over coverage unless it’s eveningwear |
| Pairing | Structured, minimal pieces to balance the movement | Layering with other loud textures |
| Occasion | Evening wear, date night, festive dressing | Everyday office wear (unless very minimal) |
The takeaway
The 2026 version of fringe is decidedly not about nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. It’s about texture, drama and, most of all, movement reimagined for wardrobes that still want to feel modern. Whether it’s a Chanel tweed jacket, a Lakmé Fashion Week runway moment or a single fringed clutch you take out this weekend, fringe is proof that a little movement goes a long way.
