A lot can happen in a month—especially when it comes to shopping. New collections arrive, past-season pieces sell out, and popular styles fluctuate in stock. While our picks are often guided by what we love in the moment, we’re always curious about what you clicked on and purchased. Our collective shopping carts tell a broader story: the brands we adored, the trends shaping our wardrobes, and the outfits that captured the cultural zeitgeist. Here’s what rose to the top in January.
1. 2016 as a Trend
January is usually a time for reflection, but this year’s throwbacks felt like a full-blown time warp to 2016. Surprisingly, key styles from that year—bomber jackets, backless loafers, and skinny jeans—have never felt more relevant or ubiquitous. It’s a reminder that everything comes back around, and maybe skinny jeans weren’t so bad after all? (Let’s be honest—they’ve been rebranded as “slim-straight” for a reason.)
2. The Red Knit
Call it the Michael Rider effect (as Vogue’s Nicole Phelps did in our staff meeting), but the runway-to-reality pipeline has never felt more tangible. On one icy Wednesday, nearly every New York Vogue editor showed up in a red sweater. You had to see it to believe it.
3. The Rinse-Wash Denim
Denim washes don’t usually stir as much excitement as cuts do (remember the skinny jean debate?), but there’s no denying the renewed passion for selvedge and darker washes, seen both on the runway and in street style. It’s a more polished jean you can wear to the office on Monday—not just on casual Friday.
4. Faux Fur
Cropped or long, belted or buttoned, patterned or plain—faux fur was the coat choice of many, if not most, this month.
5. The Black Legging
Demand for black leggings has been steady this month—partly for lounging, partly for movement (dare I say, is this the Year of the Fire Horse at work?).Leggings are making a comeback as a wardrobe essential, thanks in part to brands like The Row and Celine. The new styling is more intentional, moving beyond just white socks and chunky sneakers. Rihanna demonstrates how it’s done, pairing a zippered pair with python pumps and vintage Louis Vuitton.
Featured Leggings:
– The Row Mimi tights, $790
– Alo Yoga high-waist airbrush leggings, $98 at NET-A-PORTER
– Toteme Cork leggings, $220 at NET-A-PORTER
– Nike Zenvy leggings, $105
– Éterne high-rise leggings, $185 at FWRD
– Leset Rio stirrup pants, $200
6. Animal Print
Animal print remains wildly popular. Leopard was the most spotted, followed by zebra, tiger stripes, and fawn spots.
Featured Animal Print Pieces:
– Toteme pony hair coat, $5,700
– Khaite Celia pumps, $1,180
– Maison Ola Le France hat, $450
– Loewe medium Flamenco purse, $4,950
– Nour Hammour Elyse skirt, $1,520 at NET-A-PORTER
– Le Monde Beryl Stella ballet flats, $635 at NET-A-PORTER
7. The ‘Pop of Color’ Shirt
For button-downs, think rose, mint, baby blue, or bright red—anything but white. Layer it up for a fresh look.
Featured Shirts:
– Alex Mill Jo shirt, $145
– Róhe double collar shirt, $620
– Comme Si cotton-poplin shirt, $275 at NET-A-PORTER
– Almina Concept oversized shirt, $148 at Nordstrom
– Cos relaxed cotton shirt, $129
– Madewell The Easy shirt, $88
8. The Purple Scarf
A key color trend for spring, purple first appeared on Zoë Kravitz in Rome last December and has continued with Jennifer Lawrence in New York this month. Both wore La Ligne’s sold-out “amethyst” Ben scarf. Auralee’s men’s FW26 show also featured the shade, styled with cobalt blue.
Featured Purple Scarves:
– Lisa Yang Paris scarf, $460 at NET-A-PORTER
– Acne Studios fringe skinny scarf, $180 at SSENSE
– Favorite Daughter cable scarf, $98
– Ganni knit scarf, $235
– Eileen Fisher Bliss scarf, $298
– Etsy Heather neckerchief, $51
9. Cobalt Blue
Cobalt blue, first endorsed for 2025, is now gaining full momentum. The vibrant IKB shade appeared in the spring 2026 shows from Tove, Chanel, and Fforme, and has since been spotted in street style (like Ramya Giangola with Celine’s dustbag leather purse) and on red carpets (Bella Hadid in Saint Laurent, Amelia Gray in Gucci).
Featured Cobalt Blue Pieces:
– Bottega Veneta Andiamo clutch, $3,500
– Chloé ruffled blouse, $2,490 at NET-A-PORTER
– Nike Pacific sneakers, $75
– Akris cashmere short-sleeve, $1,360 at Bergdorf Goodman
– Manolo Blahnik Hangisi slippers, $1,235 at NET-A-PORTER
– Guest in Residence The Big scarf, $245
– Arc’teryx Atom SV hoody, $350
– Gabriela Hearst fringed cashmere wrap, $3,170 at NET-A-PORTER### The Après-Ski Sweater
Whether you’re actually heading to Cortina via Zermatt or Val d’Isère, or your closest brush with après-ski is during a Winter Olympics commercial break, a cozy Fair Isle sweater lets you look the part—no matter your skill level on the slopes. This January offered plenty of colorful patterns to choose from, including J.Crew’s official collection for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard team, which launched at the start of the month. It’s cabin fever, but not as you know it.
J.Crew x U.S. Ski & Snowboard turtleneck sweater
$168 | J.CREW
Arch4 Snowmass Fair Isle sweater
$1,075 | NET-A-PORTER
& Daughter Ada cardigan
$650 | NET-A-PORTER
Polo Ralph Lauren Fair Isle sweater
$1,200 | NET-A-PORTER
Dôen Clarke cardigan
$430 | NET-A-PORTER
Guest in Residence Cloud Chalet Fair Isle cardigan
$425 | NET-A-PORTER
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs What Did You Buy in January A Look at the Months 10 Most Popular Items
Q1 What is this list based on
A Its based on aggregated sales data and purchase trends from major online retailers and consumer platforms in January
Q2 Why should I care about what was popular in January
A It helps you spot emerging trends get gift ideas and see what products people are investing in postholidays which can be useful for your own shopping or business planning
Q3 Are these just luxury items or everyday products too
A The list typically includes a mixoften featuring fitness gear organizational items tech gadgets and cozy home goods
Q4 What kind of fitness equipment is usually on the list
A Items like resistance bands smart water bottles fitness trackers and home workout accessories are very common as people start their health goals
Q5 Im trying to get organized What types of items appear
A Look for planners storage solutions desk organizers and smart home devices that help with productivity and decluttering
Q6 Is the list different from Decembers popular items
A Yes significantly December focuses on gifts holiday decor and electronics January shifts to selfimprovement organization and practical purchases
Q7 How can I use this list to save money
A By seeing whats trending you can anticipate sales or find cheaper alternatives to popular items before they sell out
Q8 Do these items usually go out of stock quickly
A Some highdemand items especially limitededition or viral products can sell out fast Its a good idea to act quickly or set restock alerts if youre interested
Q9 Are there any unexpected or niche products that make the list
A Sometimes Past lists have included things like air purifiers specific kitchen gadgets for dry January mocktails or specialty skincare for cold weather
Q10 How reliable is this list for predicting future trends
A Its a strong indicator of shortterm trends for the upcoming season However for longterm trends its best to compare data over several months