A new season is not about buying a new personality.

It is about revealing the one that was layered under puffer jackets and survival mode. The styling we mastered during winter no longer has to hide beneath oversized coats. The layers can breathe now. Spring is the season where proportion becomes playful again. However, instead of a full reset, think smart. Most of what defines the upcoming Spring is already in your wardrobe. The shift lies in styling. In color. In intention and yes maybe one or two new pieces to elevate your wardrobe, because to be honest, there is no better feeling than investing in something new which makes you create different outfits by restyling it with something in your closet you haven't touched in a while.

To lead you through the overload in the stores, here is Affect’s Spring Guide based on what we saw on the runways during Fashion Week SS26.

The Scarf

At Maison Margiela, a bright scarf was not wrapped around shoulders or tied at the neck. It was worn as a belt. The silk cut through a utilitarian brown set and instantly softened it. That is the shift. Hard silhouettes meeting fluid fabric. Scarves through belt loops. Knot it asymmetrically. Let it hang. The contrast between strict tailoring and something soft is what makes it feel current. At Ralph Lauren, the dress and scarf combination reappeared in a cleaner way. A detachable neck scarf with a V cut neckline and headscarves that give a vintage touch. It is easy to recreate. Add a slim scarf wrapped once around the neck, ends trailing down your back or a triangle scarf around your head paired with something sporty.

Socks, Tights and the Return of the Leg

We are seeing sheer tights under micro shorts. Knee high socks with ballet flats. Chunky ones with sneakers. Colored tights used as the color anchor of an otherwise neutral look. The rule is contrast. Delicate ballet flat with visible sock. Sport sneaker with a thin sheer tight. Structured loafer with a slouchy sock. The leg becomes a styling zone. Go for micro shorts plus sheer brown tights plus ballet flats. Baby doll mini plus white ankle socks plus minimalist sneaker.

The House Shoe Hybrid

Brands have leaned into this blurred line. Think of The Row with ultra minimal flats. Miu Miu pushing slipper inspired shapes styled with edgy pieces. UGG continues to evolve its low profile slip models into city ready versions. Birkenstock reworked its classic slides into sleeker leather iterations that feel less beach and more boulevard. If the shoe feels almost too relaxed, the rest of the outfit must carry structure. That tension is what makes it modern.

Skirts Replace Baggy Pants

After seasons of oversized trousers, skirts are reclaiming space. Midi. Sculptural. Textured. Pair them with knitwear. With visible socks. With ballet flats and sneaker instead of heels.

Fun 2000s Hair Is Back

Spring 2026 beauty pulls straight from early 2000 energy. It is style irony, the kind of hair that looks accidental but took effort. Side and center parts with face framing strands, micro braids for subtle detail, messy claw clip updos that contrast structured outfits, tightly tied headscarves paired with oversized sunglasses and barely crimped texture and soft waves that make everything feel lived in rather than over styled. The common thread is controlled imperfection, one playful element is enough to shift the entire look.

Bold Colors

Oxblood with icy blue. Burgundy layered over pale aqua. Deep wine against cold powder tones. The trick is balance. Keep one tone dominant. Let the second feel like an interruption. A glove. A knit thrown over shoulders. A bag. You do not have to dress head to toe in saturation. One precise color pairing updates everything you already own. Deep espresso paired with sharp cerulean blue showed up as one of the most intelligent color clashes of the season. The warmth of brown grounding the cool intensity of blue. The same goes with a bubblegum shirt under a chocolate suede jacket. A blush knit with brown trousers. The sweetness of pink grounded by earthy depth. And one pairing to remember is ballet pink with red. Soft powder tones sharpened by a striking red accent. A pink knit with red flats. A blush blouse with a burgundy skirt. Even a small red bag against a pale base works. Dolce & Gabbana showed us a variety of these power pairings.

Cropped Layers

At Jil Sander, cropped sweaters were layered over long, formfitting undershirts. It felt slightly early 2000s. The key is not bulk. The layers have to stay thin. A slim long sleeve under a shorter knit. A fitted tee under a cropped crewneck. You probably already own both pieces. Let the base layer peek out clearly, pair it with low slung trousers or relaxed denim to keep it modern.

Baby Doll & Micro Shorts

The baby doll silhouette is back but it is sharper now. Short, slightly voluminous dresses worn over micro shorts. Or styled so short that the micro short becomes part of the look. It removes the sweetness and adds edge.

Sporty Ballet Sneaker

The ballet flat trend is not fading. It is evolving. They are worn with everything. What is new is the merge with sneaker. Hybrid soles. Sport inspired detailing. Elastic straps that feel almost technical. If you already own a classic flat, update it through styling. Add visible socks. Pair it with contrast like a windbreaker jacket.

Cut It Out

Designers from Rabanne to Rick Owens played with absence. Unexpected openings. You do not need to literally cut your clothes. But you can reinterpret the idea. Choose tops with asymmetric necklines, slightly off shoulder styling can nod to the trend without committing to extremes.

Plaid

Plaid is no longer reserved for late autumn. Across the runways of Victoria Beckham, Coperni, Christian Dior and Acne Studios, checks appeared lighter and on transitional silhouettes. Instead of heavy flannel, think lightweight plaid skirts.

Clothes Worn Wrong

Backwards tank tops and jeans at Acne Studios. Two garments tied asymmetrically around the waist. The message is clear. Imperfection is intentional. You do not have to leave the house looking unfinished. But you can experiment. If you get it, you get it.

Oversized Accessories

When the outfit stays minimal, one oversized element creates tension. A massive belt cinching a simple dress. A huge tote against a sharp gym fit. Adjust proportion. Let one element dominate the frame, it adds personality without adding more clothes.

by Lareen Roth

Affect’s Spring Guide: How to Dress during the Blooming Season