FIVE STYLE PREDICTIONS FOR 2026

THE WORLD CUP EFFECT

With the 2026 World Cup taking place in the U.S., sport driven streetwear is likely to continue gaining momentum.

Soccer jerseys and football inspired footwear, along with other athletic elements, will increasingly be integrated into everyday street fashion.

What changes isn’t the presence of sport, but its authority. Function, movement, and discipline become the foundation. 

Athletes aren’t muses anymore; they’re references for modern proportion and ease.

THE POWER SHOULDERS

In 2026, we predict the return of power shoulders.

More volume. More padding. A clearer silhouette.

This isn’t new — we’ve already seen early experiments from Balenciaga and Yeezy — but this time, it’s not an experiment. It’s a full return.

Shoulders get wider, heavier, more intentional.

Outerwear, leather, sport-driven pieces all lean into structure again, using padding to define shape and presence.

In 2026, power comes back through proportion.

SHOES SILHOUETTES SLIM DOWN

As trousers stay oversized and silhouettes expand upward, footwear moves in the opposite direction. Slimmer shoes re-enter to rebalance the frame. Accessories follow suit; sculptural but precise.

We’re starting to see footwear scale back.

After years of bulky soles and exaggerated shapes, shoes are getting slimmer again.

Some brands are already moving in this direction. Puma and Wales Bonner have quietly been leading the shift, leaning into low-profile silhouettes that feel lighter and more refined.

This isn’t about nostalgia or copying the past but about balance. In 2026, slim shoes don’t try to stand out, they let the rest of the fit speak.

THE MARYJANES SETTLE INTO MENS FASHION

We called the Mary Janes last summer, when they still felt left-field and slightly uncomfortable for most people.

By 2026, they settle in fully.

What started as a niche styling choice now crystallizes into menswear proper. Not as a trend piece, but as a quiet signal of taste.

They don’t try to look masculine or feminine. They simply exist — and that’s where their power is.

BACK TO BASICS

2026 quietly returns to fundamentals. The t-shirt reasserts itself as the original canvas. Kinda like the early 2000s era when caption and graphic tees exploded as the go-to for upcoming fashion brands. Denim also simplifies. Wardrobes shrink, but taste sharpens.

Affordability matters again, but only when paired with authenticity. This shift favors brands and individuals who understand restraint. Brands who can say more with less. No need to relive the past; the future is built by refining what already works.

FINAL NOTE

2026 doesn’t belong to extremes. It belongs to people who dress with intent. People who choose shapes and brands because it tells a story, not because it’s been shouted at them. This is where Tug Of Looks is headed.

Which prediction are you most curious about ? Let us know in the comment section below