Fall/Winter 2025-26 Runway Report: Key Fashion Trends to Know

Fall/Winter 2025-26 Runway Report: Key Fashion Trends to Know

Fall is early this year as the Labor Day holiday, the official end of summer in America, is September 1^st. As sweater season approaches, we look to the runways to see what is trending and how best to accessorize the looks. Here are the top trends from the ready-to-wear designer collections for the Fall/Winter 2025-2026 season.

“Autumn is beautiful in Italy, not only on the streets but also on the runways,” says Guiseppe Picchiotti, founder and lead designer of PICCHIOTTI. “The wrapping or layering of clothing that happens in the fall and winter months offers the element of surprise… what will we see as an elegant lady doffs her hat, coat, and scarf? I find the months between September and May to be the best for wearing big bold jewelry styles that can create a sensation when revealed under the outwear. Enjoy the warmth of your fine leathers, cashmeres, and silks, but be sure to create a little excitement when those layers come off indoors. Fine jewelry is the perfect way to make a sparkling entrance.”

BROWN IS THE NEW BLACK (Again)

An abundance of brown was strolling down the runways for the F/W 2025-2026 season. Lush brown velvet and leather looks were seen at Hermès, Balenciaga, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Tory Burch, and Gucci.  A variety of brown based animal prints were spotted at Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney, Versace, and Fendi (even a few black and white zebra style stripes at Givenchy and Balmain). The looks range from sleek leather jackets to shaggy faux furs and long overcoats or sweaters worn with brown leather boots. The rich earth tones were ubiquitous, prompting some fashion editors to claim that brown is the new black, again.

No surprises here as Pantone predicted “mocha mousse” as the color of the year for 2025. These beautiful browns wear well with orange accents (a la Hermès and Saint Laurent) like jewelry with beautiful orange hue of spessartite garnet. PICCHIOTTI’s Essentially Color large floral brooch boasts a magnificent oval bright orange spessartite garnet. Yellow gold is also appropriate for fans of the many brownish fabrics coming for the season ahead. PICCHIOTTI’s Fiocco Bow ribbon necklace in yellow gold or their Xpandable rings and bracelets with mother-of-pearl, dark or light, work well with the brown hues but offer a pop of color to standout in a sophisticated, classic way.

The lustrous deep shades of Tahitian pearls are also perfect for the season ahead. Deep browns like the pearl in PICCHIOTTI’s Tahitian pearl and diamond swirl ring bring the overall look together with complementary tones and offering a hint of individuality.  Rose gold styles also add a touch of femininity to the chocolate and coffee-color ensembles. PICCHIOTTI’s Reversible Xpandable styles with dark mother-of-pearl may be the ultimate accessory for the season ahead. Available in earrings, pendants, and bracelets, these styles feature brown on one side and white ceramic on the other. Perfect for Fall/Winter, they are also ideal for spring and summer flipping gently and easily from the brown to the white, both accented with diamonds to elevate the everyday outfit.

SHOULDERS ARE HAVING A MOMENT

Another prominent runway trend for the Fall/Winter 2025 season revolves around the shoulders. A nod to the fashion of the 1980s, shoulder pads are making a return, higher and bolder than those seen in Dynasty and Falcon Crest, the big TV dramas of the era. Contemporary designers are adding a sense of sculptural volume with boxy blazers, silhouettes featuring wider shoulders than hips, or slouchy outerwear with broad shoulders. The look was seen on the runway at Calvin Klein, Dries van Noten, Saint Laurent, Isabelle Marant, Givenchy, MM6 Maison Margiella, Stella McCartney, Versace, and more.

Such bold shapes close to the face demand statement earrings and necklaces. For open neckline, a large Italian open link gold chain worn high on the collarbone is ideal. Or for the Givenchy suit dress style featuring high shoulders with a deep plunge in between, consider a Y chain or lariat. PICCHIOTTI’s new “Classic Blue and Green” high jewelry necklace in emeralds, diamonds, and sapphires has a sapphire pendant dangling from a removable drop.  The beauty of this design is in the versatility. Wear it with or without the drop, depending on your neckline. Also, the sapphire pendant slides onto a ring shank to be worn as a statement cocktail ring whenever the choker length necklace is preferred (or for those days that you go without a necklace).

Dramatic earrings are also a wonderful way to offset or enhance the big shoulder trend. Chandelier or girandole earrings add a bit of sparkle to light up the face or stiletto drops, like PICCHIOTTI’s sapphire and diamond drop earrings, add the appearance of length to the neck to balance the height of the shoulders. The antique three-drop girandole style earring has been recently reinterpreted by PICCHIOTTI’s designers in an all diamond rhombus shape. New for 2025, the diamond rhombus earrings are perfect for sculpted shoulders, suit jackets, and little black dresses alike.

If you choose a look that is all about the shoulders, consider reserving your adornment for the wrist. Let the shoulders have their moment and wear a striking cuff or bangle bracelet for a touch of sophistication or sparkle. PICCHIOTTI’s Xpandable wide diamond bracelet offers both the ease and comfort of no cumbersome clasps, while also becoming a go-to in the fine jewelry wardrobe. Its timeless style is appropriate for today’s trends, as well as tomorrow’s.

GET YOUR GREENS

Green lovers have lots to celebrate this season. A variety of greens were seen strutting the runways in New York, London, Paris, and Milan. Pistachio was particularly common, seen in separates, outerwear, handbags and more at Michael Kors, Tory Burch, Gucci, and Prada. Dark hunter green was popular, as well, featured at Fendi, Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney, and Victoria Beckham.

Emeralds are the perfect way to get your greens this fall and winter. PICCHIOTTI has a wide variety of emerald Masterpieces, including Xpandable bracelets, bands, cocktail rings, three-stone rings, and more. While emeralds are great for matching the darker hunter greens, gems like peridot, sphene, or green tourmaline might be a better fit for the pistachio hues. Or if you prefer not to be matchy-matchy, consider purposely mismatching your greens – wear an emerald statement brooch or earring with a pistachio hued skirt or handbag.

Yellow gold is also a striking way to accessorize your daily greens. PICCHIOTTI’s two-tone wide Xpandable bracelet with diamonds is an evergreen style that works well with any color you choose for the Fall/Winter season.

LUXURY LACE

The lingerie inspired lace and sheers from our Spring/Summer 2025 runway report will continue this fall but with an elegant twist. Gone are the bralettes and garters and bridal hues of lace so popular in the warmer months. Designers embraced darker or more saturated hues for the autumn lace vibe in everything from dresses to blouses, leggings, and separates. This ladylike look was seen at Chloé, Saint Laurent, Fendi, Gucci, Carolina Herrera, Valentino, Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, Stella McCartney, Rabanne, and Dior.

The patterns in the lace are beautifully paired with colored gemstones, especially in a chandelier design, be it a dramatic décolletage-filling bib or a lengthy chandelier drop necklace. Statement chandelier earrings are also perfect, adding some color and flair above the lace to echo its beauty and draw attention up to the face.

Another option for accessorizing this trend is to choose jewelry and accessories with more solid styling, to balance the see-through lightness of the lace. The opaque gems in PICCHIOTTI’s Xpandable fashion gems collection include colorful hard stones like coral, turquoise, lapis, and mother-of-pearl in both its lighter and darker hues. As seen above, the darker shades of mother-of-pearl complement the wine and forest green hues of lace seen at Saint Laurent and Carolina Herrera. The paler, more traditional shades of mother-of-pearl are perfect for the pinkish lace seen at Valentino or the “Boho Chic” varieties of lace at Ralph Lauren, Isabel Marant, and Cholé. Such colorful gems add the right pop of color to these luxurious fabrics instead of competing with them, bringing a subtle sophistication to the ensemble.

Other trends of note for the season ahead include polka dots, some stripes, ruffled collars and pencil skirts. Faux fur was also seen in a wide variety of colors, including the green hues mentioned above. The white silk blouse returned in a lovely way at Carolina Herrera, and some interesting purples are coming on the scene, inspiring us to predict that the Pantone Color of the year for 2026 might well be an eggplant. Stay tuned to find out if we are guessing correctly. For now, wear your layers and sweaters, and swarthy scarves with panache, but don’t forget to accessorize with something fabulous. The glorious reveal will be worth it when you step inside and start to unfurl. Enjoy the look of surprise on everyone’s face!

 

Feature image at top – clockwise from upper left – Georges Chakra F/W 25-26 (Spotlight Launchmetrics), PICCHIOTTI Classic Blue and Green necklace, Stella McCartney F/W 25-26 (Spotlight Launchmetrics), PICCHIOTTI Xpandable oval emerald ring, Saint Laurent F/W 25-26 (Spotlight Launchmetrics), PICCHIOTTI Rhombus diamond earrings, PICCHIOTTI Xpandable two tone bracelet

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