Color-Blocking and Mesh Dominate

Color-blocking's roots trace back to the Dutch art movement De Stijl in the early 20th century. The movement, founded by artists like Piet Mondrian and Theo van Doesburg, focused on pure abstraction, using only primary colors, black and white, and clean horizontal and vertical lines. The trend famously entered the fashion world with Yves Saint Laurent's 1965 "Mondrian" collection, which featured six cocktail dresses directly referencing the artist's geometric paintings. The dresses were composed of individual blocks of pre-dyed wool jersey and silk, meticulously pieced together to create a seamless, graphic look that became an icon of 1960s Mod fashion. While associated with the 60s, color-blocking had revivals in the 70s with more free-spirited hippie aesthetics and in the 80s with bold, neon colors influenced by glam rock and hip-hop culture. Designers like Marc Jacobs and Gucci have also frequently used the technique to create visually striking collections. The mesh trend has a much earlier origin, dating back to 1888 when British mill owner Lewis Haslam developed a lightweight, breathable fabric he called Aertex. Inspired by his aunt's hole-filled gloves that still kept her hands warm, the initial use was for men's shirts and undergarments. Long before its high-fashion applications, mesh was a utilitarian material used for items like fishing nets and hammocks. Its move into mainstream fashion was significantly boosted in the 1980s when Adidas began using Aertex for sportswear, capitalizing on its breathable qualities. Modern mesh fabrics are typically made from synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon, which allow for a durable, flexible, and lightweight material. On Spring 2026 runways, designers such as Alessandro Dell'Acqua for N°21 have focused on the fabric's potential for transparency and layering, creating depth by layering sheer chiffon dresses over skirts, shorts, and lace bras.