Trend reports usually tell you what to wear. This one is about something bigger: how people will buy, value and think about clothes in 2027. Over the past year, the world’s leading forecasters, from WGSN and Lidewij Edelkoort to the analysts who speak at the major fabric fairs, have published their outlooks for the year ahead, and they agree on more than usual. Put together with what we saw on the Spring 2027 runways, they point to a fashion world that is more careful with money, more hungry for meaning, and more ready to have fun. Here are our ten fashion predictions for 2027.
1. “Buy less, but buy better” becomes the rule
The phrase comes from trend forecaster Lucie Greene, who sees shoppers moving from buying individual trends to buying into brands they trust. It reflects a wider mood. Forecasters describe 2027 as a year of overlapping crises, a “polycrisis” in WGSN’s words, and consumers are responding by spending carefully. Analyst David Shah has noted that people are still spending on travel and experiences but holding back on clothes. The result is a shopper who buys fewer pieces and expects each one to earn its place.
2. Luxury has to justify its price
After years of steep price rises, luxury brands face a more sceptical customer. Forecasters argue that premium labels now need to show tangible value, in materials, construction and service, rather than relying on logos or hype. At the same time, the mid-to-high market is gaining ground: brands such as COS, Arket, ME+EM and Rixo are winning customers who want quality without luxury pricing. Expect 2027 to be a year when the gap between “expensive” and “worth it” becomes very visible.
3. Resale keeps growing faster than new
Secondhand fashion is forecast to grow two to three times faster than the market for new clothing through 2027. That has knock-on effects everywhere. It is one reason designers are reviving archive icons for Spring 2027, from the Proenza Schouler PS1 and Gucci GG Marmont to the Fendi Baguette and Hermès Bolide: shoppers already know and trust these designs, and they hold their value. It also means shoppers increasingly ask whether something will hold its value before they buy it, and treat a good bag or coat as something they may one day sell on.
4. Craft becomes the answer to AI
This is the prediction forecasters agree on most strongly. In a world flooded with AI-generated images and machine-perfect surfaces, the visible mark of a human hand becomes both an aesthetic and an ethical signal. Christine Boland, Edwin van den Hoek and the trend teams at Munich Fabric Start all identified handwork, patina and imperfection as the new status markers. The runways agreed: Chloé, Khaite, Bottega Veneta and The Row showed open-work, crochet and visible craft for Spring 2027. Expect lace, embroidery, fringe and hand-finished details to justify higher prices across the market.
5. Elegance returns, and streetwear fades
After a decade in which hoodies and trainers dominated, several forecasters now see streetwear losing its grip. At Munich Fabric Start, trend consultants went as far as declaring street style and sneakers finished, with everything becoming more elegant. Edelkoort describes a shift towards a more formal and functional way of dressing. On the runways, tailoring, skirts, polished brogues and evening jackets all pointed the same way. Streetwear will not disappear, but the cultural energy has moved to dressing up.
6. The waist is back
Oversized silhouettes have ruled for years. For 2027, forecasters agree that defined waists are returning, through belts (including double belts), peplums, corsetry and fitted tailoring. It showed clearly on the Spring 2027 runways, where wide statement belts appeared at Altuzarra, Celine and Ferragamo. Read more in Motion & Measure.
7. Layering makes a comeback
Edelkoort has argued that clothes have become “flat”, with everything cut to similar lengths and worn in single layers. Her prediction for 2027 is a return to layering as a creative language: different lengths, textures and pieces stacked to build a look. In menswear, Van den Hoek sees layering concentrated around the neck, with a turtleneck, shirt, waistcoat and jacket worn together. It is a trend that rewards people who already own a lot of clothes, which fits the “buy less” mood perfectly.
8. Joy, play and “kidulting”
Against a stressful backdrop, forecasters expect people to look for joy. WGSN talks about “strategic joy” and play, reflected in key colours such as Pop Pink and Energy Orange. Shah identifies “kidulting”, the adult enthusiasm for childhood nostalgia and cute collectibles that made Labubu a global phenomenon, as a key driver. On the runways, this showed up as novelty bags, charm-covered shoes and playful prints. Fashion in 2027 will take itself a little less seriously.
9. Sustainability becomes about materials, not marketing
Several forecasters say sustainability has lost some of its marketing appeal, but not its importance. The focus is shifting from slogans to material quality: natural fibres, certified organic cotton, durable construction and fabric innovation. Trade fairs are already showing biodynamically grown cotton and plant-based dyes, while lab-grown fibres and biotextiles are scaling up. For shoppers, the practical version is simple: well-made clothes that last are the most sustainable choice.
10. Stores become experiences
Greene argues that people no longer visit shops simply to buy products. Successful stores are becoming places to experience a brand, through cafés, events, education and culture. She points to Aimé Leon Dore, which extends its world through a café and even a streamed radio station. At the same time, made-to-order, small-batch production and services such as repairs and alterations are expected to grow. In 2027, the best brands will sell a relationship, not just a product.
What these predictions mean for what you wear
The big shifts explain the runway trends. Craft and value explain why designers showed beaded jackets and heirloom bags. Joy and play explain the gold, the clashing prints and the colour. The return of elegance explains the skirts, tailoring and polished shoes. For the full list of what to wear, read our story on the end of quiet luxury and our guide to the skirt trend.
How to shop smarter in 2027
- Ask about the making. Fabric, construction and finishing matter more than the label.
- Check resale before you buy. Pieces that hold their value are usually the ones worth owning.
- Buy one special thing. A handmade or embellished piece will outlast many trend-led basics.
- Shop your wardrobe first. Layering and the return of archive classics mean you may already own the key pieces.
Fashion predictions 2027: frequently asked questions
What will fashion be like in 2027?
More considered and more expressive at the same time: people will buy fewer, better pieces, while the clothes themselves become more colourful, crafted and playful.
Is streetwear going out of style in 2027?
Its dominance is fading. Forecasters and the Spring 2027 runways point to a return of elegance, tailoring and dressing up.
Will secondhand fashion keep growing?
Yes. Resale is forecast to grow two to three times faster than new clothing through 2027.
How will AI affect fashion in 2027?
Brands are using it for forecasting and design, but forecasters expect a counter-reaction: visible craft and human imperfection will become more valuable precisely because they cannot be faked.
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