In the years following the pandemic, the world of comfort-centric design exploded within the high-fashion market, with everything from orthopaedic shoes and practical gorpcore jackets to fashionified sportswear claiming the trend spotlight. The trouser category was, naturally, not immune to this new brand of cosycore, and we saw stretchy waistbands and roomy utility silhouettes holding court in the collections of even the most elevated designer brands. You know when The Row embraces a tracksuit (albeit in cashmere) that luxury is starting to look a little different.
Yet for those who live by the Karl Lagerfeld mantra that “Sweatpants are a sign of defeat”, you’ll be happy to know that polish is making a return to our trouser choices in 2026. Of course, we can’t ignore the continuing ripple effects of quiet luxury on the fashion landscape, and Pantone’s colour of 2026, Cloud Dancer – which also happens to be a key colourway for this season’s trousers – certainly has undertones of “I only travel in town cars” about it. From Louise Trotter for Bottega Veneta’s slouchy slacks to Victoria Beckham’s wide-legged offering, expect to see this unashamedly high-maintenance hue proliferate next year. Our top tip? Invest in stain remover.
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Lingerie-inspired dressing made its presence felt in 2025’s ubiquitous lace-trimmed slips and camis, but for 2026 trousers are getting the boudoir treatment, too. Slippery silken styles sashayed down the runways of brands from Ferragamo to Schiaparelli, typically rendered in neutral tones of brown, black or cream. Ferragamo, in particular, captured the spirit of the season with its Jazz Age-coded collection, which featured satin smoking jackets styled with matching trousers and cinched with befringed, drop-waist cummerbunds.
But for those who still crave the comfort of their stealth-wealth joggers, fear not, because 2026 has delivered trouser silhouettes that you’ll want to throw on, even on the darkest January mornings. Enter: the equestrian trouser, aka the jodhpur, aka your excuse to wear leggings to work. Championed by the likes of Celine and Jil Sander, this streamlined look could not be further from the sporty silhouettes of 2025 (whatever you do, don’t call it “athleisure”) – instead, it’s all about minimalist pairings worthy of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. Take your cues from Celine’s Michael Rider and pair heavy-duty leggings (flimsy gym styles are a no-go) or slim-fit trousers with a boxy blazer and ankle boots.
Other highlights include slouchy, low-risers (where Matthieu Blazy goes, we follow), Annie Hall pinstripes and wide-leg leathers (Glenn Martens’s creepy mouth guards optional). In other words, there‘s a trouser persona for every occasion. Scroll down to see and shop Vogue’s round-up of key trouser trends from 2026.
Cloud dancer
Back to the boudoir
Saddle up
Low slung
Lessons in leather
Annie Hall pinstripes
