If you're wondering what to sew for Spring/Summer 2026, we've done the research for you. We've analysed the key high street and designer trends and highlighted those which are more accessible for dressmakers and easily slot into your existing handmade wardrobe.
From big skirt energy and elevated utility to sophisticated denim and low-key florals, here are the Spring/Summer 2026 fashion trends dressmakers can recreate at home, and the best fabrics to bring them to life.
Trend No 1 - Big Skirts
Big skirt energy was everywhere with bubble hems, tulip shapes and puffball skirts all featuring.
How to Sew the Big Skirt Trend
Big skirts are surprisingly wearable and pair beautifully with simple knit tops.
You can make a statement skirt without being too “extra” and this pattern from The Assembly Line is a classy interpretation of the trend:
The Assembly Line balloon skirt pattern is a flared, midi skirt with side seam pockets and 2 styling options with or without the distinctive balloon effect.
Skill Level: Intermediate (concealed zip, side-seam pockets and balloon hem)
Best Fabrics for Balloon Skirts
If making the balloon shape, choose a medium weight fabric with a bit of structure to hold the shape. Our poplin collection in 100% cotton offers a HUGE variety of colours (including black!) and prints while providing a nice amount of structure for a ballon shape. The light-weight 121 gsm of our plain cotton poplins makes for a great fabric in warmer weather.
Cotton Poplin Fabric Collection
Trend No 2 - Utility Dressing
This trend has stuck around for a while longer although the utility style jackets on the high street are smarter for 2026. Faux suede as a fabric choice is elevating the look and Marks & Spencer is leading the way on this trend. Cargo trousers and pocket heavy shorts also feature on the high street. Cargo trousers in a barrel shape refresh this style as seen on Nobody’s Child khaki Barrel Leg Cargo Trousers.
Image Credit: Nobody's Child
How to Sew the Utility Trend
Utilitarian doesn’t have to mean masculine. Go for outlines which flatter your shape rather than overwhelm. Utility pieces are great transitional garments as they are perfect for layering over dresses in Spring and Autumn then wearing over T shirts in summer.
The Matchy Matchy Archer Work Pants are the closest barrel leg pattern we can find which approximates a cargo trouser style. If you’re feeling creative, you could always add your own cargo pockets to the outside. However, the oversized angled front pockets and knee darts give these trousers a lovely, distinctive shape. Alternatively, go for a true cargo trouser design with the Fibre Mood Clover Trousers.
Cargo and Barrel Leg Trousers Sewing Patterns
Skill Level:
Fibre Mood Clover Trousers - intermediate to advanced (multiple pocket styles)
Matchy Matchy Archer Work Pants - advanced beginner to intermediate
Best Fabrics for Utility Wear
Lightweight wovens such as linen and cotton or medium weight wovens like cotton twill, canvas or denim for a more structured look.
Utility Jacket Sewing Pattern
The Fibre Mood Barbara and Bianca Jacket is worthy of mention here because it has all the shape and pockets you want from a utility or barn jacket with the option of making a fringed version which is so 2026 (fringing was seen everywhere on the catwalks).
Skill Level: Intermediate
Best Fabrics for a Utility Jacket
Sturdy, stable fabrics like twill and canvas are recommended, while a non-fraying fabric is best for the fringed version. Suede jackets are everywhere on the high street for Spring so take a look at our faux suede collection which comes in black, hot pink, yellow and grey:
Trend No 3 - Sophisticated Denim
Denim is no longer simply a casual outfit choice as denim tailoring is a major trend for SS26.
The barrel leg and wide leg trends continue in 2026 but expect to see fewer baggy styles and more of a straight leg silhouette and even a new cigarette style. Cuffed jeans (turned-up) and subtle embellishments are also forecast to appear on the high street.
How to Sew the Sophisticated Denim Trend
Denim tailoring is all about the finish with clean topstitching and dark indigo denim, which is the preferred wash to elevate your jeans to the more polished way we will be wearing denim this year.
Not everyone suits the latest jeans shape trends so go with a style which you know fits well.
We love a versatile pattern, and this jeans pattern has options for a straight and wide-leg nailing two fits in one:
Skill Level: Intermediate (top-stitching, fly and accurate fit)
The cigarette trousers work well on a light denim stretch:
Skill Level: Intermediate
Find your perfect jeans pattern in our blog on How to Make Your Perfect Pair of Jeans.
Best Fabrics for Sophisticated Denim
Check out our indigo denim in two different weights and our selvedge denim for an extra smart pair of jeans: The Anna Allene Helene Selvedge jeans require a non-stretch denim whereas the Cigarette Trousers are better with a 5-10% stretch denim or twill.
Trend No 4 - Low Key Florals
The big bold florals of last year have given way to either single bloom florals or subtle ditsy florals with delicate, “watercolour” repeat patterns. Easier to style than bold statement blooms, watercolour florals and ditsy print dresses layer well under utility jackets. Single bloom prints work well on statement blouses and simple shift dresses.
How to Sew the Low-Key Floral Trend
Dress styles ranged from trad wife pinafore dresses to romantic and floaty so there is no style you can’t wear with this trend. Take your pick from some favourite dress patterns below:
Skill Level: Confident Beginner
Skill Level: Confident Beginner
Best Fabrics for Low-Key Florals
From floral cottons to floral viscose and linens, our dressmaking range is never short of a floral - here are two which speak to the subtle and watercolour trends:
Trend No 5: Luxury Lounging and Sportswear
This 2026 trend means loungewear good enough for going out and sportswear that you’re unlikely to play sport in. Think half zip sweaters (as the striped rugby shirt trend continues into Spring), cuffed jogging bottoms, and bomber jackets.
How to Sew the Luxury Loungewear Trend
This is one of the easiest trends to wear as long as you go for high quality fabric. Luxury loungewear only looks elevated if the fabric feels premium. Choose weighty jerseys with good stretch recovery and natural fibres like cotton.
Sew a Half-Zip Top
Sew your own loungewear with these excellent half zip patterns including the Fibre Mood Didi Pullover. Make it in a stripe to nail the rugby shirt trend.
Skill Level: Confident Beginner
Best Fabrics for the Rugby Shirt Trend
Sew Your Own Cuffed Joggers
Cuffed joggers means only one pattern and that’s the Tilly & The Buttons Cece Joggers
For joggers, always use a high quality ribbing for the cuffs to maintain the look wash after wash.
Skill Level: Improver or confident beginner
Best Fabrics for the Cuffed Jogger Trend
For a jogger you need something more than a jersey - it’s got to be a sweatshirt (for early spring when the weather is unreliable), then a French Terry for warmer days in summer.
Sew a Bomber Jacket
This Vogue bomber jacket pattern is ideal for the funnel neck trend which is very 2026. It’s a pattern for advanced makers as it has a front zipper, cuffed sleeves and welt pockets with flaps.
Skill Level: Advanced
Best Fabrics for the Bomber Jacket Trend
Cotton blends, Denim, Twill, heavy crepe or wool blends all work well but we think our new range of plain pure wools would be lovely and keep you warm on those cooler Spring days: they come in seven gorgeous colours:
Spring/Summer 2026 Colour Trends for Dressmakers
This season is all about bright, confident colours in particular red, cobalt blue, emerald green, yellow and pink. They feature as block colours on one half of your outfit. Monochrome is also set to feature on the high street.
Chocolate brown is still trending when paired with pastels for Spring.
According to Who What Wear, these are the colours which will dominate the high street this year:
Chartreuse
Chartreuse is a green and yellow hybrid which is fresh and surprisingly flattering. Perfect for Spring it looks great in a cotton poplin, linen and voile for blouses and dresses.
Espresso
The brown tend we saw dominating in the autumn trends, continues into Spring, paired with pastels rather than rich reds for SS 2026.
Brown cotton poplin and Cotton Yarn Dyed Stripe in Navy and Brown
Fiery Red
Red continues to dominate in the block primary colour trend and it's perfect for statement dresses and dramatic skirts.
Lilac and Ice Blue
These are the softer, flattering tones to update your SS wardrobe and are ideal for events like weddings and garden parties.
Pale Yellow and Cloud Dancer
Cloud Dancer is a soft off-white and Pantone's colour of the year. These are the understated neutrals to easily wear with bolder pieces.
Styling Suggestions for the SS26 Colour Palette
- Chocolate Brown and Pale Blue
- Red and Dark Indigo Denim
- Chartreuse and Navy
- Emerald Green and Cream
Sew the Spring/Summer 2026 Fashion trends Your Way
The beauty of dressmaking is in not blindly following trends but interpreting them in a way that suits your shape and personal style.
We hope you will love our wearable interpretation of the Spring Summer 2026 high street fashion trends. Whether you're sewing a statement skirt, elevating your casual look with tailored denim, or sewing a subtle floral in a new summer dress style, we have carefully curated fabrics to help you recreate the SS26 trends at home.
Whatever you plan to make, keep an eye on our New Dressmaking Fabric collection which we will be updating weekly throughout the season. Remember that nothing is more on trend than clothes you love, which fit perfectly.
Authored by: Annabelle Rigg, Online and Store Manager at Fabrics Galore London
Reviewed by: Paul Johnston, Owner and Founder of Fabrics Galore London since 1992
Banner Image Credit: Photo by Alina Bakieva on Unsplash
