In a society on the edge of the outbreak, flora and fluidity are available

It is the morning of the last day of the Dutch Fair Modefabriek (January 27), and the visitors: Inside, slowly entering a weakly lit presentation room, in which Lidewij Edelkoort will keep your well -awaited trend lecture. This season, especially for spring/summer 2026, the trend researcher focuses on the topics “Flowers, fluidity and fun”, and while this gives the impression of a lecture full of positivity and lightness, Edelkoort first speaks of a darker reality in which we live today.

Of course, this is inevitable when decoding the context of fashion trend. Nowadays the world is becoming increasingly complex, and Edelkoort realizes that new leaders, including the re-elected US President Donald Trump, introduce values ​​that at first glance seem to be similar to those of the past and immigrate into wider culture. This is accompanied by Edelkorts presentation with a feeling of gentle and supple defiance, which is reflected throughout and to its final remarks when she explains that women in the face of male -dominated industries – including fashion itself, in which men are at the top of most luxury fashion houses – Trust the values ​​of feminism again and demand more representation instead of waiting for it to develop.

In contrast to those divided into the trends themselves, in which Edelkoort has been shared by traditionalism instead of the once prevailing streetwear and a return to “narrow” body types, which are recognized by possible reflections of this resurrection mentioned above are traditional values. This knowledge only underlines an intrinsic enlargement of the gap between very different population groups – whether it is a difference between gender or assets – and creates a society that is on the verge of an outbreak according to Edelkoort – although the form of this outbreak is not yet foreseeable .

The trends examined by Edelkoort are almost considered a “coping mechanisms” by the trend researcher for this time and are therefore more carefree in their external appearance. For fashion, it therefore introduces the term “anatomy of fluidity”, the overarching theme of its FS26 trends, which runs through all trends presented on the fashion frame.

The fluidity of fluidity: from flowing rigidity to Borderline Lingerie

This concept of “fluidity” is flowing itself, notes Edelkoort, and, depending on the approach or message, can be “cast” and broken into different suggestions. First of all, Edelkoort speaks of fluidity that reacts to a “saturated society” and refers to comfortable clothing and soft tailoring as an expression, with silhouettes that are reminiscent of meringue, and a color palette that is permeated with neutral and harmonious tones. Flowing fabrics and tulle then give way to a topic that refers to the “forming matter”, in which dough -like shapes are in the foreground and a warmer color palette is introduced. “Elegant but casual” Edelkoort summarizes fashion in the first part of its seminar.

It is similar to other topics examined by Edelkoort, including the following, which is described as “Easy Dressing”, or the later idea of ​​the “Borderline Lingerie”, both reactionary topics that indicate the desire for daily comfort. While the former is more based on pajama -like forms, Edelkoort explains that the latter is more unbridled in its appearance and is worn by younger generations that mix the old principles of underwear with bright layering and thus create a different meaning for the category.

Textures: Raffia and woven designs underline craftsmanship

While new principles are redefining existing clothing, craftsmanship, as it comes to light in Edelkorts, will still have a certain meaning elsewhere. Clothing with craftsmanship that is inspired by Raffia, painting, ceramics and woven materials should become a decisive feature of the season FS26. This will make it possible for a large number of traditional techniques to find its way into the collections and not only influence the texture, but also the color, since brown, orange and gray tones become an integral part of the palette. Meanwhile, flowers are a pattern that FS26 is supposed to embody, according to Edelkoort, and both prints – possibly in hand -painted or emblematic style – will be influenced.

Black was also highlighted by Edelkoort, a typically unusual choice for the spring/summer season. However, the trend researcher noticed that transparent or light materials of this normally confronting color give a new feeling. It could either appear in a complete outfit or simply be indicated as a contrasting sound. In Edelkort’s interpretation, however, the rise of black in the summer wardrobe is also part of a feeling of sadness in fashion, where top fashion houses prefer the creativity of men towards women, which indicates a sublelled misogynia while replacing different creative directors leads to a series of farewell fashion shows that are kept in black.

A new men’s fashion: Streetwear gives way to traditionalism

Its insistence on these industry changes continues in other observations and forecasts that are made by Edelkoort, namely the decline of the streetwear, which was exchanged by men in favor of a more traditional clothing movement. Instead of hooded sweaters and jogging pants, men now use shirts, suit pants and oxford shoes. But for Edelkoort, fluidity is once again widespread and contributes to the rise of “liquid tailoring”, which in their opinion will lead to suits become more mobile, in materials that are elegant but supple.

Sportswear, which is supposed to be present, will occur in more refined forms, with cord lines and bags, which should make the designs in this category “more poetic” and in turn in their appearance. Such a perspective will also apply to women who will redesign the past as a future on their way to “recess feminism”. For Edelkoort, this will be designed in a “new antique” form of complicated pleated blinds and wrinkles, transparent materials, golden colors, sound-tone prints and complicated decorations.