Outdated Trends You Don't Want To Be Caught Wearing In Spring 2026

Every season ushers in fresh fashion trends, but spring is the undisputed queen of new beginnings. A time universally acknowledged for kicking off the next cycle of life, the period from March through May is our bridge from heavy winter styles to lighter summer looks. It also sets the tone for the year ahead, so it's the perfect time to revamp your wardrobe by saying goodbye to some outdated items and investing in some new pieces. 

In 2026, we're parting ways with a few trends that are no longer doing us justice. The general movement across the fashion space seems to be shifting away from the understated, quiet-luxury-coded minimalist aesthetic that's been in favor for most of the 2020s. We're trading our beiges and low-key silhouettes for pieces that are just a bit louder, although Janet Mandell, designer and founder of the luxury clothing rental boutique Janet Mandell within Chicago's 900 North Michigan Shops, tells Glam exclusively that this isn't the case with bulky shoe styles. They're one of the few maximalist trends that are on the out this season. 

What's more, personal stylist Tali Kogan, who works at 900 North Michigan Shops, notes that maximalist jewelry in particular is taking center stage after years of being suppressed under dainty, blink-and-you'll-miss-them accessories. So, in a fashion landscape that has forced us to tone down, keep in line, and not cause a scene, it's officially time to get loud and creative in spring 2026.

When chunky sneakers rose to the top of the fashion charts in the late 2010s and stayed there for the early 2020s, no one was more surprised than us. Really? It-girls were taking to the streets of New York, Paris, and Milan in the shoes our dads wore in the '90s? We rode the wave and now admit that they did bring a certain something to the relaxed, street-style vibe of the time, but that wave has now crashed. "The platform sneaker craze is slowing down," explains Janet Mandell, noting in our exclusive chat that the days of styling dad shoes with everything but the kitchen sink are over. "We're seeing women gravitating toward sleeker silhouettes. The new vibe is refined and classy, versus boxy and oversized." Balance and proportions are back, baby! 

There are a few go-to sneakers that we've already welcomed into the fold to replace the dad shoe, including the futuristic and athletic sneakerina. Slim styles are the goal, so anything that looks like a cross between a ballet flat and a sneaker will pass in spring 2026. Mary Jane-inspired trainers, like the Adidas Samba Jane Shoes, are one of the celebrity-favored styles du jour, while retro silhouettes are still fair game as long as they aren't too clunky. It's also worth keeping in mind that a classic white sneaker will never go out of style when worn well. 

Don't despair if you still love your dad sneakers (or invested in a high-end pair thinking the craze would last longer). They might be one of the most outdated shoe trends to ditch in 2026, but that doesn't mean you have to throw them out. Like karma, fashion always comes back around sooner or later.

It's refreshing to know that fashion is taking a turn toward the practical in 2026, even if it's getting louder and edgier. In addition to more subdued sneakers that you can reasonably pair with more items in your wardrobe, we're bringing in essential separates in place of one-off dresses. Tali Kogan refers to these as "fast 'special occasion dressing' pieces," stressing that "many women are moving away from buying one-off statement dresses for just one event."

Spring 2026 is definitely about making a statement, but the point is that you don't have to pour all your money into dresses that you'll only wear one time to do that. Of course, there's no law that says you can only wear maximalist dresses once, but it does take a certain level of nerve to rewear easily identifiable pieces in a world where every outing is photographed. The narrative around rewearing clothes is changing thanks to sustainable fashion queens like Kate Middleton, who repeats outfits often, but there's still a good chance that you won't get your money's worth out of a statement dress the way you would with separates that can be mixed and matched. "Instead, the shift is toward capsule-style separates such as blazers, tailored trousers, and wardrobe essentials that can be styled multiple ways," Kogan tells Glam exclusively. "This creates a wardrobe that works harder AND smarter while looking more sophisticated."

In particular, the stylist is choosing "elevated separates, layered jewelry including necklaces, bracelets, and rings, modern suiting, and versatile wardrobe essentials that can create lots of outfits instead of just one" for her clients. You can still spend your cash on dresses, but this is one area where choosing subtler, more versatile styles will get you a lot further. 

Maximalist jewelry lovers can release that breath they've been holding all decade; the reign of quiet accessories is over. With the exception of sleeker shoes, which have mysteriously jumped to the fashion fore, the rest of your sartorial bells and whistles can be as big and statement-making as you like. That means we're letting go of some of the pieces that have dominated the past few years, including barely there earrings, minimal tennis bracelets, and dainty necklaces.

"Statement accessories are especially important this season," Tali Kogan confirms exclusively to Glam. If you're just a minimalist at heart, you can still wear some of these pieces, but Kogan recommends layering them to create interest and personality. Meanwhile, she reveals that brooches in particular are rising to relevance again. While the assignment for spring 2026 is seeking out bigger, louder jewelry and accessories, there are still some guidelines, for those who care for that sort of thing. Generally, we aren't ready to embrace statement chokers again, and if you want to stay on top of the trends, reach for jewelry that's embedded with gemstones, not crystals. This isn't a tom-ay-to/tom-ah-to situation, either. Where crystals are amalgamations of substances, gems are straight-up rare minerals. Stylistically, we're avoiding the reflective, luminous look and opting for accessories encrusted with natural tiger's eye, jade, or pearl rather than sparkling crystallized amethyst. 

Away from jewelry, tiny bags are also getting the boot in favor of memorable, statement clutches and oversized bags that you can actually fit things in. Large totes, grittier textures, chain embellishments, and pops of color have all been given the green light by the fashion gods.

As quiet luxury, old money, and other minimalist-approved aesthetics have ruled the roost for so long, there's been an industry-wide embracing of intentionality and uniformity. Up until now, we've sought out clean lines and cohesive ensembles that tell the same story, giving rise to the beloved matching set. But now that we're making more room for fashion to stir the pot, this convenient look no longer packs a punch. "The focus is on personality and contrast," stylist Corinne Pierre-Louis told Real Simple. After a mega 2025, the structured vest — a staple of many a matching set — has officially earned a sabbatical from your weekly rotations.

The good news is you don't have to completely retire your matching sets for spring 2026. Just break them up a bit, partnering them with different tops and bottoms so you can achieve the more interesting contrast-dressing ideal that it-girls are going for now. Try mixing colors, prints, and materials, and you might discover a brand-new way to wear your sets that doesn't feel tired. If you find a previously undiscovered winning combo, you might be able to still pull off that structured vest. Mixing and matching is one of the best ways to style a vest if your goal is adding interest to your outfit.

Now, the rules that come out of the fashion landscape are never clear-cut (and you should feel free to break any of them at any time), so there are exceptions. While matching sets have seen their day in the sun for now, we're still clinging to white co-ords this spring. This aligns with Pantone's 2026 Color of the Year: Cloud Dancer, aka clean white. 

Though Pantone's annual color pick is informing some trends in 2026, the shades that we're seeing really coming to the fore this spring are generally more in line with the year's conversation-starting energy. Namely, the beiges and neutrals that shaped so much of the quiet luxury era are being replaced by a rainbow of alternatives. Our hunger for color and personality has finally reached its limit, and monochromatic outfits that inspire one-tone looks are no longer on the menu.

If you do prefer a more cohesive color palette based on neutral tones, though, you can still bring it into spring 2026 with just a single pop of color. "The mood now is expressive color contrast and statement hues, rather than subdued, match-everything pieces," celebrity stylists Elana and Dina Solomon told Real Simple. In terms of choosing a hue that will really elevate your look this year, bright cobalt blue seems to be a designer favorite. The only shades to steer clear of are pastels, which can also have a "been-there, done-that" effect for spring. 

On the prints and patterns front, we're swapping last year's polka-dot obsession for fresher fawn and Dalmatian prints, with the Bambi-like motif introducing a new edge to the space. Now, with your spring wardrobe set, it's time to reflect on the hair trends that are woefully outdated in 2026.