Fun (or terrifying, depending on what you do for a living) fact: The Fall 2026 runway season starts in less than a month! Before you start stressing about that (feels like a “circle back in the new year” situation), take a breath and get caught up on the Pre-Fall 2026 collections designers have been rolling out over the last few weeks.Often smaller and more commercial than the big fall collections, these offerings are designed to placate customers at retail in the summer months. But because they’re revealed in December, they also tend to foreshadow what fashion brands — from big houses like Chanel, Gucci and Dior (via their buzzy new creative directors), to beloved indies like Staud, Baum Und Pferdgarten and Kallmeyer — have in store for the coming year.Based on that theory, 2026 will see the official return of dresses-over-pants, the continued rise of polka dots and surprising (even ugly, some might argue) color blends. See all that and other major Pre-Fall 2026 trends in the galleries below.Keep Your Pants OnThe pre-fall collections seem to signal the full-blown resurgence of layering dresses, skirts and long tunics over pants — a key styling trend of the 2000s boho era. Labels like Baum Und Pferdgarten, Chanel and 3.1 Phillip Lim captured that subtly disheveled, casual vibe by incorporating denim and loose silhouettes. At Kallmeyer, Huishan Zhang and Ferragamo, tailoring and muted color palettes give the look a more minimalist, grown-up feel.
Baum und Pferdgarten Pre-Fall 2026. Photo: Launchmetrics Spotlight
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Fade Into HueOne of pre-fall’s more surprising trends is the widespread use of color-blending and -fading effects, from ombré dresses at Chanel, Normal Kamali and Staud, to gradient leather separates at Etro, to similar tie-dye and dip-dye elements at Ferragamo, Diesel and Alberta Ferretti.
Etro Pre-Fall 2026. Photo: Launchmetrics Spotlight
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Skirt A LineThe micro-mini era seems to be behind us as designers continue to display a preference for classic, more conservative tea- and midi-length skirts — especially in subtly A-line silhouettes, which have a particularly timeless, ladylike feel. It’s not as boring as it may sound: Designers still had fun with color and fabrication, like the bold stripes at Emilia Wickstead, pink silk at Staud and scarf-like patterns at Gucci.
Dior Pre-Fall 2026. Photo: Launchmetrics Spotlight
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Dot Your BuysPolka dots continue to be fashion’s favorite playful pattern of the moment. Tanya Taylor and Baum Und Pferdgarten made the coolest spotted items for daytime, while Max Mara, Stella McCartney and Valentino elevated the motif for evening.
Max Mara Pre-Fall 2026. Photo: Launchmetrics Spotlight
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No Cap(e)Elegantly shield your shoulders next year with a range of trending capes, from the actual outerwear versions at Dior and Chanel, tothe cape-adorned dresses at Emilia Wickstead, Lanvin and more.
Alberta Ferretti Pre-Fall 2026. Photo: Launchmetrics Spotlight
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Fluid FrocksPre-fall’s dress offerings have a notable free-flowing ease to them. Fluid-like silky fabrics provide an elevated, evening-ready touch without restricting movement. Bias-cut and asymmetrical silhouettes provide extra visual interest at Victoria Beckham and Alberta Ferretti; but straighter, almost boxy shapes look equally chic at Khaite and Valentino.
Victoria Beckham Pre-Fall 2026. Photo: Launchmetrics Spotlight
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Sickly ShadesIn addition to the deep reds and rich browns that have dominated collections over the last few seasons, shades of yellowish green (or greenish yellow?) were a popular choice among designers for pre-fall. Victoria Beckham, Rabanne and Ulla Johnson went for lighter acid or mustard-like hues, while darker khaki showed up at Khaite, Max Mara, Chanel and more.
Chanel Pre-Fall 2026. Photo: Launchmetrics Spotlight
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