Lifestyle’s 2026 fashion predictions – The UCSD Guardian
Polka-dot prints, ballet flats, and quarter-zips defined the 2025 trend cycle. Lifestyle is here to get you ahead of the game for 2026 and empower you to start your own trends! Don’t rush to buy; instead, look in the back of your closet. It could be that the next hottest item is collecting dust.
- Pull out your fabric scissors: Cropping is coming back
If there’s one piece in our closets that has evolved in the last few years, it’s jeans. There is no denying that there’s been quite a lot of experimentation with denim this past decade — for better or for worse.
We make the argument that cropped jeans are next in the lineup to join the long list of jean variations that have had the mainstream in a chokehold. Last year, denim drooping down to our sneakers was the look, but 2026 will be the year of a pop of color from stylish accessory combinations. What better way to show off these chic choices, like colorful socks and ballet flats, than with a cropped jean.
Look no further than your own closet to achieve this look. You can either hem the jeans yourself or do a timeless cuff! And while you’re at it, you can even customize them with embroidered flowers or fun pins to really make them your own. Slide on the wacky socks you tossed aside after a gift exchange and pair them with your favorite shoes.
- All hands on deck: Boat shoes are ahead!
Emma Chamberlain said it first, but we’ll say it again: Boat shoes are making a comeback. Appearances on the New York Fashion Week runway and in Vogue are tell-tale signs that this trend is here to stay in the new year.
Loafers have successfully ventured out of their typical business environment into our everyday casual wear, and boat shoes are the next variation of this closet staple. If you have a good loafer already, don’t go out and buy these, but if you’ve been looking for something even more casual, boat shoes could be a good quality staple to add to your collection. You can save a pretty penny by keeping an eye out for a pair the next time you go thrifting. Don’t hold back from strutting your stuff in this shoe on our very own runway — Library Walk — or if you’re lucky, on a boat!
- A revival in full force: Skinny jeans
For a select few, skinny jeans have been back — a staple in the closets of millennials and those at the forefront of the indie sleaze revival. This year, though, to the disappointment of the very vocal group of anti-skinny-jean diehards, these Lifestyle writers are certain that we are going to see a full comeback.
Now, suspend your disgust because this won’t necessarily mean the 2014 Tumblr aesthetic. Instead, we mean skinny jeans of the effortlessly sexy, girl-next-door persuasion — think early 2000s leading heroine in a dark-wash pair with a cropped tee just short enough to show a sliver of stomach.
Whatever your opinion on skinny jeans, don’t be afraid to give them a chance! There are a lot more ways to style them than your middle school self did, so do yourself a favor and reach into the depths of your closet to find that old pair. We’ll be tossing on a low-rise Y2K faded blue wash pair with a basic tank. If you’ve already thrown them out, let this be a reminder that style is subjective, and you can always find ways to style “out-of-date” pieces even before it comes back in style.
- Making a statement: Colorful tights
If you’ve watched “Buffalo ‘66” any time in recent history, you, like us, have maybe also desperately been wanting a pair of powder blue tights. We think 2026 will finally be the year you won’t be able to control this urge any longer. Why should you? Let 2026 be the year it’s trendy to invest in good accessories without it being frivolous.
Accessories transform everyday looks into expressions of your individuality. Put on a classic red pair to channel your inner Parisian fashion icon or a dark purple pair to convey that timeless witchy aesthetic. Colored tights can transform any basic skirt or dress into a beautiful statement.
The best part? These tights can be dressed up or down, making them perfect for all situations, whether it be with clunky Mary Janes or a kitten heel. If you’ve got an old pair of tights sitting in the back of your closet, you could even try an easy DIY and dye them!
- Miss the sparkle of last week’s fireworks? Never fear, sequins are here!
Did sequins ever really leave? In 2026, don’t be surprised if you see sequins sneaking their way into casual streetwear. We’re seeing visions of sparkling multicolored tanks and long sleeves, sequin crochet sweaters, and bejeweled shawls and belts. There are millions of ways to incorporate a little glitz and glamour into your everyday outfits, and sequins are so easy to find.
So, there you have it, Lifestyle’s 2026 trend predictions! Whether you love them or hate them, remember, there are no rules with fashion; it’s all about what makes you feel good and true to yourself. We can’t wait to see what outfits or possible future trends you come up with this year!
