Think of pre-fall as the opening act for fall’s biggest trends. It quietly sits at the end of summer, when swimsuits and sandals are still getting plenty of use, but thoughts of cold-weather outfits are starting to creep in. Designers use this short window to give a taste of what’s coming, while also offering one last look at summer favorites. In that sense, it’s your go-to guide for transitional dressing, full of styling tips worth noting—with pieces you can buy right away. This year, the pre-fall trends deliver on all fronts, and we’re here to share every piece worth knowing.
A Guide to Pre-Fall 2026’s Top Fashion Trends:
The Plaid Piece
Toteme checked shirt – $720, NET-A-PORTER
The Prep School Shirt
J.Crew Vintage “New York” T-shirt – $60, J.CREW
The Paprika Pant
Comme Si silk-bias pants – $395, NET-A-PORTER
The Anything-But-Simple Slip
Dôen Marcelle midi dress – $600, NET-A-PORTER
The Great Jean
The Row Eglitta jeans – $720, NET-A-PORTER
The Funnel-Neck Jacket
Nour Hammour François jacket – $645, NET-A-PORTER
The Standout Pencil Skirt
Tory Burch leather skirt – $1,495, TORY BURCH
The Broderie Anglaise Top
Sea Gardener blouse – $385, NET-A-PORTER
Even though the word “pre-fall” mentions fall, these collections aren’t done with summer dressing just yet. Heat-friendly trends include long shorts and cropped capris—seen at Khaite, Dior, and Maria McManus. Slip dresses and pencil skirts are making a statement in bright summer colors with heavily embellished finishes, thanks to Chloe and Saint Laurent. White broderie anglaise is still popular (Labor Day is far away), styled head-to-toe at Erdem and Sea NY.
That said… We’re excited to get a head start on fall, which means transitional outerwear is on the list—we’re looking at funnel necks and sporty zip-front jackets from brands like Kallmeyer, Nour Hammour, Carven, and Nanushka. Designers are still into plaid, and a palette of paprika-like colors (think burnt oranges and brick reds) stood out among neutrals. And we have to mention the Chanel show, held in New York City’s subway, which showed us that a great pair of blue jeans is still the only staple you really need, no matter the season.
If any of that catches your interest, keep scrolling. We’ve put together our 13 favorite pre-fall trends and all the new pieces you can start shopping, below.
The Short Cut
The length of the season is: awkward. Shorts are long, and pants are cropped—meaning the closer you are to the knee, the closer you are to being on trend. Khaite and Dior turn tailored trousers into schoolboy bermudas, while Maria McManus and Isabel Marant make pedal-pusher leggings look cooler than ever.
– Khaite Auggie shorts – $1,680, KHAITE
– The Row Ozias pants – $1,200, THE ROW
– Posse Effi capri pants – $349, REVOLVE
– Maria McManus high-waisted capris – $370, MARIA MCMANUS
– Gap double knit capris – $70, GAP
– Dries Van Noten silk-blend crepe shorts – $915, NET-A-PORTER
The Plaid Piece
Patterns were subtle for pre-fall. Though checks and plaids appeared heavily in collections like Chanel, TWP, and Stella McCartney, they were mostly small-scale and neutral-toned. Add just a touch with pieces from Bottega Veneta and Toteme, but don’t be afraid to wear them head-to-toe for more impact.
– Bottega Veneta soft check top – $2,600, BOTTEGA VENETA
– Prada full checked skirt – $3,500, PRADA
– McQueen checked corseted midi dress – $2,700, NET-A-PORTER
– Dries Van Noten double-breasted checked coat – $2,530, NET-A-PORTER
– Toteme checked shirt – $720, NET-A-PORTER
– Matteau layered checked midi dress – $570, NET-A-PORTERThe Sheer Skirt
The sheer skirt is a favorite among editors and street style stars, and it’s back for another season. For pre-fall, you can choose from delicate slips trimmed with lace (like those from Carven and Valentino) or simple organza in a tailored pencil shape, as seen at By Malene Birger and Simkhai.
The High-Low Layer
We’re loving the built-in drama this season, thanks to long flowing sashes and scarves. Draped blouses with floor-grazing tails—seen at Kallmeyer, Heirlome, Dior, and Bottega Veneta—add a dramatic touch to even the simplest daytime outfits and pair easily with wide-leg trousers.
The Prep School Shirt
From the World Cup to Knicks fever, this has been one of the sportiest summers in a long time. Channel your inner Sporty Spice with preppy tees featuring jersey numbers and rugby stripes, executed with fashionable precision by Versace, Nili Lotan, Staud, and TWP.
The Paprika Palette
Monochromatic dressing is far from boring with this season’s paprika hues. Think burnt orange and burgundy, brick red to warm peach. Chloé, Saint Laurent, and Ferragamo showed us how easy tonal dressing can be by pairing separates in the same range of spicy colors.
The Tea Skirt
It’s an undeniably ladylike silhouette—longer than a midi but not quite a maxi, the tea skirt’s full hem is meant to hit right at the ankle. Fforme, Khaite, and The Row make the look modern by pairing their skirts with masculine button-downs or casual tees and flip-flops.
The Technical Jacket
Balenciaga took inspiration from the gym for pre-fall, providing the perfect backdrop for our ongoing love of technical outerwear. These cropped jackets with blouson hems in techy fabrics are ideal as light layers for transitional dressing—just look to Christopher Esber, Kallmeyer, and Miu Miu, who all have equally desirable versions.Offer
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Kallmeyer
Sadie Windbreaker – $980
KALLMEYER
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Agolde
Lydia Jacket – $388
SHOPBOP / $388 REVOLVE
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The Frankie Shop
Navan Windbreaker – $144
THE FRANKIE SHOP
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Miu Miu
Technical Blouson Jacket – $3,600
MIU MIU
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Rùadh
The Aisla Jacket – $990
NET-A-PORTER
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Alaïa
Hooded Shell Jacket – $3,000
NET-A-PORTER
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The Anything-But-Simple Slip
It might be time to say goodbye to the minimalist ’90s slip dress. This season, the slip has gotten a maximalist makeover. From candy pink at Khaite to chartreuse at Comme Si, with ruching and lace trims everywhere, more is definitely more when picking your next body-hugging dress.
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Khaite
Raina Dress – $2,800
KHAITE
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Fforme
Lumie Midi Dress – $1,695
NET-A-PORTER
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Magda Butrym
Lace-Trimmed Dress – $3,185
NET-A-PORTER
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Dôen
Marcelle Midi Dress – $600
NET-A-PORTER
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Mango
Satin Dress – $480
MANGO
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Comme Si
Bias Slip Midi Dress – $495
NET-A-PORTER
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The Great Jean
When Chanel opened their pre-fall show with a camel half-zip and jeans on a subway platform, the look was an instant hit. It captured how most of us already dress, making everyday denim feel elevated and more stylish than ever. Follow that lead with wide-leg jeans in perfectly aged washes – Dior, Nili Lotan, and Chloé agree.
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The Row
Eglitta Jeans – $720
NET-A-PORTER
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Skall
Sharon Jeans – $365
NET-A-PORTER
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Agolde
The Rounded Baggy Pants – $270
NET-A-PORTER
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Givenchy
Mid-Rise Wide-Leg Jeans – $1,250
NET-A-PORTER
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Jamie Haller
The Fan Jeans – $495
SHOPBOP
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R13
Darcy Jeans – $595
NORDSTROM
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The Funnel-Neck Jacket
Pre-fall calls for lightweight outerwear, and the face-framing funnel neck is still catching our eye. Nour Hammour, Nanushka, and Carven are just a few brands that showed this style, which comes with a built-in styling trick: the editor-approved hair tuck.
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Nour Hammour
François Jacket – $645
NET-A-PORTER
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Chloé
High-Neck Trench Coat – $3,490
CHLOÉ
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Zara
Leather Bomber Jacket – $359
ZARA
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Simkhai
Jada Cape Jacket – $1,495
SIMKHAI
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Massimo Dutti
Technical Jacket – $220
MASSIMO DUTTI
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Saint Laurent
Split Leather Jacket – $7,400
SAINT LAURENT
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The Standout Pencil Skirt
Maximalists, rejoice! The pencil skirt is no longer just a basic piece, thanks to this season’s fun mix of textures, colors, and finishes. Saint Laurent, Tory Burch, and Ferragamo went for high-shine metallic and patent leather skirts, while Chanel, Dries Van Noten, and Bottega Veneta offered frilly, fringed textures. Let the skirt do the talking.
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Saint Laurent
Pencil Skirt – $5,600
SAINT LAURENT
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Fforme
Mena Straight Skirt – $1,195
BLOOMINGDALE’S
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Bottega Veneta
Double Knit Skirt – $2,000
BOTTEGA VENETA / $2,000 NET-A-PORTER
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Tory Burch
Leather Skirt – $1,495
TORY BURCH / $1,495 NET-A-PORTER
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Gucci
Silk Faille Skirt – $1,800
GUCCI
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Dries Van Noten
Fringed Midi Skirt – $895
NET-A-PORTER / $895 DRIES VAN NOTEN
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The Broderie Anglaise
An easy summer staple, broderie anglaise (also known as eyelet lace) transitions perfectly into fall when worn head to toe. Pair airy lace blouses with matching shorts, skirts, or trousers. When the temperature drops, just add a tailored jacket, like Erdem and Magda Butrym show.
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Chloé
Knotted-Strap CropChloé top, $1,800 — Save to wishlist
Polo Ralph Lauren eyelet shorts, $248 — Save to wishlist
Faithfull Milana midi dress, $360 — Save to wishlist
Vita Kin Babylon maxi dress, $2,025 — Save to wishlist
Sea Gardener blouse, $385 — Save to wishlist
Dôen Sebastiane midi skirt, $230 — Save to wishlist
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about transitioning your wardrobe into the next season using the 13 prefall trends
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What exactly are prefall trends
Prefall trends are the styles that bridge the gap between summer and autumn They help you layer lightweight summer pieces with heavier fall fabrics so youre not too hot or too cold
2 Why should I follow prefall trends instead of just waiting for fall
Following them helps you get more wear out of your summer clothes Instead of packing everything away you can mix them with new layers saving money and keeping your wardrobe fresh without a total overhaul
3 Do I have to buy 13 new outfits to follow these trends
Absolutely not The idea is to pick 2 or 3 trends that fit your existing style A simple changelike adding a chunky belt or a new color scarfcan update several outfits at once
4 What is the easiest trend to try for a beginner
Playing with textures is usually the easiest Swap a cotton shirt for a soft knit or a corduroy jacket It instantly feels more fall without needing a new color palette
AdvancedLevel Questions
5 How do I balance the light vs heavy layering without looking bulky
Focus on a third piece rule Wear your summer dress a thin turtleneck underneath a structured blazer or trench coat Keep the bottom half simple with tights or straightleg jeans to avoid bulk
6 What if the trends feature colors that clash with my skin tone
Use those colors as accessories rather than main pieces A burgundy bag olive belt or mustard scarf adds the trend without washing you out Alternatively stick to the trends silhouette in a neutral color
7 How do I transition a summer floral dress for prefall without looking like Im stuck in summer
Layer a chunky knit cardigan or a leather jacket over it Add opaque tights and ankle boots The heavy textures and dark footwear ground the light floral fabric
8 What are the biggest common problems people face when trying these trends
The most common mistake is wearing heavy fall boots with shorts or thin sundresses This