Entering the coldest months of the year means that sweat sets are in full swing. These have been seen across campus and are a great way to stay stylish but warm. Artizia, Lululemon, Comfrt and Aerie have been at the forefront of this trend, but almost every clothing brand has developed its own version. 

This season, we are seeing the rise of monochrome clothing or clothing that has some sort of pattern in place of huge logos and words. As always, the colors emerald green, maroon, gold, baby blue, and silver are at their peak in the trend cycle, but this season, new shades are rising to the top. This includes mauve purple and baby pink, both carried over from late 2025 and still have a hold on the fashion community. 

As for the patterns, polka dots and cheetah print are still seen on everything from nails to headbands, although stripes are beginning to make a major comeback. This simple but cute design has been everywhere since before the holidays and continues to dominate, similar to polka dots. We are seeing things containing bows make a slow exit, although they are still holding on to the current trends. A smaller pattern that is starting to take over is a very light version of deer print, with this being seen mainly on either sweatshirts or sweatpants.

With the winter months being the perfect time to re-binge a beloved tv show, a lot of this season's new trends were a blast from the past. Sex and the City, but specifically Carrie Bradshaw, had a strong hold on the trending items this year. Everything from her fabulous fur coats to her sparkly or lacy tops are back and better than ever. 

With a fur coat being a more elegant way of keeping yourself warm while going to a nice dinner or getting drinks with friends, many are drawing their inspiration from Bradshaw. Leather jackets have also stayed very popular this winter because of the same functionality, but these oversized coats rarely take a dip out of the trend cycle. As for functional outerwear, chunky knit scarves with striped or plaid patterns are everywhere and almost always paired with a classic puffer coat. 

Often in the world of fashion, the winter season is seen as a more sophisticated time of year, so a lot of the clothing includes fabrics like silk, lace, or velvet. This also means that it’s the season for all things pearls, gems, and glitter. Traditionally, this has been seen in all different kinds of items, but this year the tops are the main focus of these fabrics.

The asymmetrical hem lines and boat tee style have taken over within all different style sectors, but mainly in comfort and evening wear. Pairing together an asymmetrical lacy top with an oversized fur coat is the perfect combination to remain stylish and on trend. As for comfort, this style is being seen largely with off-the-shoulder tees and sweatshirts.

As we stray farther away from the high-rise epidemic of the early 2020s and are reentering the low-rise craze from the late 90s, low-rise pants and skirts are seeing a huge resurgence in popularity this season. As we head later into 2026, we will see the skinny jean return to fame. 

When it comes to shoes, the only major new trend being seen is ballet flats, but specifically ones with mesh fabric and gold hardware. Although being in Michigan, we are still seeing the UGGS Tasman, mainly in a platform version to combat the snowy cold days.  

As for accessories, the bag of the season goes to Coach’s Tabby Bag. This purse was first seen being promoted in August 2025 by the hit television show The Summer I Turned Pretty, as main character Belly Conklin was seen sporting it many times. Coach bags and other shoulder bags are being paired with bag charms that allow the wearer to let their personality shine through. 

As we head into the spring season and begin to strip away all the dark colors and heavy layers, the trending clothes, shoes, and accessories will change once more. Marking the end of the winter fashion and the start of a new, stylish chapter.