Time to Add Some Whimsy to Your Wardrobe

2026 is the Year We Make Fashion Fun Again

By Nicollette Heath

Photo by Coco de Wolfe

Gone are the trends of the clean girl, quiet luxury, and office siren. Since the end of 2020, a return to basics marked the trend cycles. Characterized by sleek silhouettes and neutral palettes, the dominant trends of this decade prioritized simplicity and functional dressing over experimentation and maximalism.

Yet, things are starting to change. What will define the style of 2026? Whimsy: a return to artistic self-expression, playful styling, and conveying imagination through fashion.

The goal of incorporating whimsy is to bring joy into simple, everyday moments. 2026 is the year to apply this principle to our daily routines, and rediscover the joy and inspiration in fashion.

Whimsicality also continues to grow in popularity as a method of romanticizing life. A quick scroll through Pinterest or Instagram illustrates the shift from modern minimalism back to experimental, unapologetic maximalism. Excessive layers, busy patterns, and stacks of chunky, artisanal jewelry are back in Vogue, both on the runway and on fashion mood boards.

Fashion is individuality in its purest form– a way to convey your personality and style to the world without saying a word. Embracing whimsy when dressing refocuses our attention on what makes us feel authentic instead of chasing trends. We can return to what makes fashion exciting: experimenting with new colors and patterns, maximizing accessories, and exploring new ways of styling classic pieces. This approach encourages us to have fun without worrying about matching the latest trends, or worst of all, being “too much.”

When whimsicality becomes your guide, there’s no such thing as overdressing. If it makes you happy in your everyday life, who cares if others find it confusing, over-the-top, or strange? Fashion is meant to be fun. Fashion is meant to be artful. Fashion is meant to be whimsical.

So what are some ways to adopt the idea of whimsy while getting ready? Before you start your day, set an intention. This could be a feeling, word, or phrase that motivates you. Use your imagination to evoke that feeling or match what inspires you in how you get ready.

This method helps to channel your authentic personal expression through fashion instead of relying on trends. While there’s nothing wrong with following trends, sometimes following them too rigidly can stifle our own creativity and distract us from discovering our own personal style. That’s when we need a touch of whimsy.

Remember that there are no rules or limits when it comes to fashion and there’s no such thing as overdressing. Incorporating whimsy into your everyday style doesn’t inherently mean adopting a maximalist aesthetic. Rather, whimsy in fashion helps us find joy in the mundane of daily routines. Don’t be afraid to be weird. Focus on being imaginative. Experiment more and care less about chasing trends and the opinions of others. That’s how we can and will embrace a whimsical mindset in 2026.