Stitch Fix Predicts the Rise of ‘Statement Staples’ for 2026
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Stitch Fix Unveils the Top Trends of Women’s Fashion in 2025 and the Style Shift to Watch for in 2026.
After years of chasing viral trends, women are ready to take control of their closets. Stitch Fix, the leading online personal styling service, today unveiled its comprehensive analysis of women's fashion in 2025 and announced the major style shift expected to define the year ahead: the rise of Statement Staples.
Drawing from billions of client data points and insights from its network of Stylists, Stitch Fix predicts that the pendulum is swinging away from mass trend consumption toward personalized, versatile investment pieces.
The Year of Nostalgia and Sporty Style (2025 Review)
The past year saw clients embracing a mix of retro influences and athletic aesthetics:
'90s Revival: This decade inspired more than a third of client wardrobes, with nearly 90% of Stylists reporting high demand for wider-leg denim. Client requests for “relaxed” styles surged more than 16 times in the last three months of the year.
Sporty-Inspired Looks: Athletic aesthetics scored big, with over 60% of Stylists dressing clients in tennis-inspired pieces like pleated skirts and polos. Sales of wide-leg and flared athleisure pants rose over 125% since last year.
Celebrity Influence: Style inspiration came primarily from established icons, with Jennifer Aniston topping the list (over 50% of Stylists cited her influence), followed closely by Taylor Swift and Anne Hathaway.
The Key Shift: Trading Fatigue for Focus
Despite the adoption of these trends, Stitch Fix noted a significant undercurrent of “trend fatigue.” Two-thirds of clients reported they are either ignoring the constant churn of new trends or being highly selective about adopting them.
Looking ahead, the direction is clear: more than half of clients described their ideal 2026 wardrobe as “elevated basics with bold accents,” and over 60% plan to invest in versatile pieces that work for multiple occasions.
The new ruling trend, Statement Staples, bridges the gap between the subtle "Quiet Luxury" and the expressive "Dopamine Dressing" of recent years. These are not basic pieces, but rather carefully chosen items that elevate a classic look, think sculptural jewelry, colorful bags, and textured wool coats.
The Color of Confidence: Chili Red
To bring these Statement Staples to life, color will play a critical role. Over 70% of clients use color to add personality to their outfits, signaling a strong appetite for expressive, yet wearable, hues.
Stitch Fix officially names Chili Red, a vivid, confident, and optimistic shade, as its 2026 Color of the Year. Sales of red pieces were already up more than 50% in the months leading up to the announcement, proving the growing demand for this bold accent.
To help clients immediately adopt this new focus, Stitch Fix is leveraging its best-in-class AI, including the Vision Galleries experience, to deliver personalized imagery featuring Chili Red pieces based on individual style profiles. The future of fashion is less about buying more, and more about buying better and wearing it with personality.