While the world leans into wool coats and thermal layers, our fall/winter fashion features fluid silhouettes, breathable fabrics, and statement pieces that work well in both rain and sun.
As the global fashion scene leans toward cooler climates and layered aesthetics, the African style narrative offers a fresh, exciting interpretation. While our weather doesn’t demand thermal coats or woollen layers, Fall/Winter fashion is more about mood than temperature. Think transitional dressing, dynamic colour palettes, and creative fabric play that embraces warmth, comfort, and edge.
Fall/Winter 25 – 26 trends are about reimagining classics with a tropical twist, balancing comfort with edge, and dressing with intention, no matter the forecast. Here’s your complete guide to the biggest trends — fashion, accessories, and beauty — tailored for the style enthusiast.
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Fall/Winter 25 – 26 fashion trends
lazyloadLayers
This season, layering is less about warmth and more about storytelling. Think light kimonos or blazers over dresses and co-ord sets, or a bralette worn over a crisp shirt. You can also play around with a multilayered dress or skirt. The key is to explore textures and proportions to achieve a visually stunning look. Choose sheer, matte, metallic or knitted fabrics.
lazyloadShe rocks
Edgy meets femininity. From metallic leathers to studded details and strong shoulders, this rock-chic vibe is for the audacious woman. Pair a mini leather skirt with a sheer blouse, or go all out with statement leather boots and structured jackets on a crop top and pants/shorts.
lazyloadJungle book
Inspired by nature, this trend embraces wild prints, earthy tones, and rustic accessories. Make it the focus of your look with a statement blouse, jacket or pants. Animal print mini or maxi skirts are also a cool and playful way to style this trend.
lazyloadPower dandy
Fresh off the MET Gala theme, masculine tailoring takes a luxe turn in the power dandy trend. From exaggerated lapels and longline jackets to relaxed-fit trousers, this retro trend keeps us looking sophisticated. This is the Lagos girl’s answer to boardroom-to-brunch dressing — smart, sleek, and stylish.
Read also: 2025 Met Gala trends: kiss curls, culture, and monochrome ruled the night
lazyloadTweed
The weather might be hot, but you can still infuse tweed into your looks without letting it take over. Opt for pastel tweed coordinates with a mini skirt and cropped jacket or embellished tweed jackets paired with denim trousers. A mini tweed skirt is also perfect for casual or business-casual events.
lazyloadPocket statement
Who doesn’t love pockets? Oversized, angular, and often asymmetrical, pockets become central to the outfit. This season, function meets fashion with bold patch pockets on dresses, skirts, and even maxi tunics for women.
lazyloadPleats
A key moment for fashion lovers. From the 2025 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards to the Cannes Festival, draped pleats are still taking centre stage, flowing with movement and grace. Think of the sculptural white Grecian-inspired gown worn by our fashion editor at AMVCA 11. Pleats are back, along with intricate hand-draped designs and flowy detailing.
Colour trends
lazyloadColour clash
Gone are the days of muted winter palettes. Fall 25–26 is all about unexpected colour play — cobalt with lime, fuchsia with tangerine, purple with yellow. Adire lovers have hacked this, and you can lean into this by mixing vibrant traditional prints with modern colour-blocking. For your everyday looks, think of the vintage colour-blocking palettes and have fun with them.
Burgundy
We love how consistent burgundy has been over the past seasons. Deep, rich, and luxurious, this hue pairs beautifully with metallics, soft pinks, butter yellow, and neutrals like beige, white and tan. There’s really no limit with burgundy.
Butter yellow
This delicate shade brings a whisper of warmth to cooler months. Whether in suits, silk dresses or coordinates, it’s the understated sunshine your wardrobe needs.
Read also: Colours in the new year and how to wear them
Fall/Winter 25 – 26 accessories trends
lazyload
Coloured glasses
Another vintage trend, sunglasses in shades of orange, blue, and rose-tint elevate every look. Play with shapes and wear them confidently. Nothing wrong with seeing the world through rose-tinted glasses sometimes.
Crochet & knits
Beyond the cover-ups and tops, crochet and knits are having their moment with accessories. From bucket bags to laptop and iPad covers, these details offer a sleek, modern update.
Fortune cookie bags
Structured yet playful, these uniquely shaped bags are the conversation starter of the season. Pair them with minimalist looks to let them shine.
Spikes
Another edgy trend we love, spikes are making a loud return. Add them to your feminine outfits with bracelets or embellished shoes.
Animal prints with a zebra focus
Zebra is this season’s standout print. Monochrome stripes add a bold punch to neutral outfits or act as a neutral in themselves. Go big with a zebra print coat or infuse your look with zebra-stripe bags and shoes.
Read also: Come closer, fashion girls! Here’s how to accessorise like a Lagos babe on vacation
lazyloadBubble details
From cloud-like heels to inflated jewellery, this balloon/bubble trend is all about adding volume the right way. The oversized elements make an exciting statement on any outfit.
Headscarves
A timeless fashion accessory, the headscarf elevates your look. With various hacks on how to keep them from slipping off, we love the lighter silks, layered styling and even printed organza that offers a romantic finish.
Pearls
We might not be clutching our pearls, but they’re still one of the Fall/Winter 25 -26 trends. Oversized, baroque, and layered, we are seeing them in hair clips, brooches, shoes, nails, and clutches. They add a classic detail to your outfits and are also a quiet luxury telltale sign, so if that’s your aesthetic, you should get on this trend.
Scrunched-up
The appeal of ruched detailing has never been more exciting. This texture is subtly seductive, adding movement and softness to structured outfits. From gathered leather bags to ruched dresses, ruching detailing highlights any outfit.
Beauty trends
lazyloadSide parts, long ponytails and chopped bobs
The hair trends this season are simple and chic. Clean, classic, and cute, the side part makes a return in both sleek and textured hairdos. Similar to the long ponytail, whether braided or slicked back, it adds instant drama. We also have the blunt, tousled or softly layered bob back in all its cropped glory. It’s the perfect hairstyle to frame your face and highlight your makeup.
Hydrated lips
Move over mattes, lip gloss and oil-infused tints are in. These shiny, juicy lips are the ultimate cool-girl move this season. You’ll want to keep your lips hydrated, no matter the weather.
Fall lip colours
If there’s a beauty trend we love to see, but don’t often pay attention to, it’s the lips. Orange, soft reds and deep burgundy are dominating this season’s trends. These shades are rich yet wearable, perfect for all skin tones.
Blush it up
The girls have been loving the blush trend for some seasons now. From soft rose to bright coral, they add a youthful, editorial touch to your everyday look. Don’t be afraid to lay it on just a little thicker.
Read also: Our favourite Y2K beauty trends may have evolved, but they’re still as glamorous
Own the trends
Fashion is at its best when it’s personal. Whether you’re taking inspiration from the runways of Milan or the streets of Lagos, the essence of Fall/Winter 25–26 trends lies in owning your style. Mix global trends with traditional style, rework silhouettes and most importantly, wear what makes you feel like you.
Read more: Mummy-and-me fashion: A wholesome guide to coordinating outfits with your kids
