What is it that makes a wardrobe noteworthy in 2026? Reams of haute couture from gay Paree? Subversive silhouettes to propel and challenge? Retro reinterpretations that TikTokkers clamour to reshare and rewear? When style is so varied and so individual – and subculture reigns as supreme as traditional glitz in ever-expanding pockets of the social-media realm – all the above counts. It’s not what you wear but how you wear it.
Who’s wearing it well? This year’s crop of best dressers is an arguably motley crew. Club-hopping kids in leather and lacy minis next to scene queens in custom silk; teen idols sizing up to grande dames and Gen X overlords; Zoomer-era swag taking on museum-board slick. When fashion trends are fickle and algorithmic, being true to oneself is the sword to take into battle à la mode.
1. PRINCESS OF WALES
At Trooping the Colour in a coat dress by Catherine Walker, teamed with a Philip Treacy hat
Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
All that said, the 2026 number one spot goes to none other than the Princess of Wales – fighting fit and lighting up royal occasions, from Reggio Emilia in May, her first overseas tour since recovery, to her Three Peaks Challenge in June. Titular moment? Royal Ascot, her first in three years, in a canary-yellow Roksanda design (a rewear from 2022 – the princess loves to recycle), with millinery from Jane Taylor. See also the perfectly modern ecru pleated skirt (Jenni Kayne) and linen-y striped blazer (Blazé Milano) on her Italian tour. At Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling’s wedding, her Roland Mouret blush tea dress was divine.
