Trends and tips to spice up your wardrobe for 2026

What’s old is new again.

Older trends are coming back in 2026, from the sheer tops of 2016, to British-influenced outfits of the 1990s.

Here are some fashion trends and tips from Ms Lim Jia Zhen, a 21-year-old alumnus from Temasek Polytechnic’s Fashion Management & Design course, and Ms Eve Tan, 40, a lecturer in the programme.

Fashion from the 1990s and 2010s is coming back

Both Ms Lim and Ms Tan point to a rise in fashion trends dating back 10 or 20 years.

Ms Tan said she has seen her students wearing items reminiscent of 1990s fashion.

“It’s quite nostalgic for me when (I) see them,” she said of clothes like baggy pants, baby tees and oversized jackets.

She added that the maximalism of sportswear is something she sees becoming a trend as well.

Maximalist sportswear tends to have exaggerated details, along with bright and bold colours, and it’s different from the typical sportswear, which is usually designed for comfort and in simpler colours.

“It’s not just a jersey, it’s a dress,” said the TP lecturer, citing examples such as the recent Adidas New Chinese Style Track Top, more commonly known as the Adidas China jacket, which has traditional pan kou (盘扣), or frog closures on the front.

Fashion items from about a decade ago are also returning, Ms Lim said.

She pointed out that the “bring back 2016” movement on TikTok stems from Gen Z’s nostalgia for that period’s trends such as sheer tops, the song Let Me Love You by DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber, and the “2016 filter”, which gives photos a pinkish-purplish tint.

For guys, 2016 fashion could mean flannels or skinny jeans, as those two items were the most popular then, Ms Lim said.

Incorporating trends

When it comes to wearing sheer tops, Ms Lim recommends layering a tank top on top or below it, depending on the details of the sheer top.

“Layer a spaghetti strap that has trimming details over the sheer top. If the sheer top already has lots of details and texture, wearing a simple spaghetti strap top under it will help enhance the details.”

When it comes to pulling off the look of 1990s fashion and sportcore, Ms Tan said it is key to have a signature piece while keeping the rest of the outfit simple.

“It’s often about contrast – sporty with casual, oversized with fitted. Overall, comfort and individuality is key,” she said.

Level up your wardrobe

Practical ways for someone to start their fashion journey include using accessories and playing with silhouettes, Ms Lim said.

Playing with silhouettes: She said that people in Singapore might dress simply and avoid layering because of the weather, so playing with silhouettes can help jazz up an outfit.

“(Especially for) guys, (they) can also try tucking in one side... or not fully tucking in their T-shirt to help them look more stylish. This would help to give them a different silhouette,” she said.

Colour coordination: Ms Lim recommends the sandwich method, a styling hack where you match the colour of your top to your shoes, with the bottoms being a different colour. This way, you can play with colour and still have a cohesive outfit.

“Take note of the colour scheme. You might have the outfit, but if the colours don’t match, it might look weird,” she said.

Rock the same item in multiple ways: Ms Tan suggests modular dressing, where one fashion piece can be dressed up or down for various occasions.

“Instead of being too trend-driven, see if this item can be styled in different ways,” she said.

It is not just plain pieces that are can be used in modular dressing; a statement jacket that can be paired easily with other clothes is also versatile and modular.

“I think every piece plays its own role in an outfit,” she said.