Every 2026 Trend We Have Tom Ford’s Gucci Era to Thank For

I know everyone’s talking about 2026 being the new 2016, but when it comes to fashion, I’d argue that we’re dressing a lot more like it’s 1996 than the mid-2010s, when Alessandro Michele’s maximalist designs for Gucci shaped the sartorial zeitgeist. This year, an entirely different Gucci era is influencing our style, with references to Tom Ford’s decade-long tenure at the Italian house showing up across the 2026 trend landscape. The designer from Texas brought a new kind of sex appeal to the forefront during his time as creative director, and while he officially stepped down from the role over 20 years ago, in 2004, his impact continues to be felt to this day.

Silk blouses and velvet trousers in rich jewel tones, fitted pencil skirts in supple leather fabrics and eye-catching animal prints, and fur-trim coats that lead to rich-looking outfits, no matter what’s styled underneath—these are just a few examples of 2026 trends that we have Ford’s Gucci portfolio to thank for. In recent months, Hailey Bieber has been seen sporting vintage pieces from his collections to press events, on red carpets, and in L.A. and NYC hot spots on the regular, and local It girls in both cities have followed suit, scoring red velvet pants, black GG-logo bags, and deep-V polo sweaters on The RealReal and eBay. Meanwhile, other celebrities like Elsa Hosk are wearing trends that appear to have been inspired by the designer’s most popular creations.

Hailey Bieber is wearing an ice-blue spring/summer 1998 Gucci dress, sourced from The RealList, according to Vogue. The dress has also been seen on Anna Wintour and in the pages of the magazine, in a March 1998 spread shot by Steven Meisel.