Party season 2026 is shaping up to be all about faded glamour, bohemian spirit and a little eccentric aunt energy, with opera coats, brocade and velvet taking centre stage as the key looks for festive dressing.
The poster girl for the season is Auntie Mame, the comic film about an orphan who goes to live with his madcap aunt in Manhattan during the Depression. Mame teaches her nephew to make martinis while wafting around in embellished bodysuits, feather-trimmed gowns and floor-length crepe robes.
Contemporary references and designer nods
For a modern take, Alexa Chung's recent Reformation collaboration featured a rich velvet "red carpet scarf" in shades of chartreuse and electric blue. Other reference points include Dries van Noten's glistening AW26 offering and Taller Marmo's Noir collection, modelled by Erin O'Connor.
"Pure nostalgia is setting the tone this season," say Taller Marmo's founders Riccardo Audisio and Yago Goicoechea. "We are looking back 100 years, decoding the Roaring Twenties and seeing a lot of fun and curious resemblances to our own 2020s. Cocoon shapes, butterfly sleeves, low waists, sequins, feathers, evening coats and opera coats are back."
High street and statement pieces
On the high street, beaded dresses that nod to flapper style without going full Gatsby have been appearing, with the best to be found at Zara. The embellished velvet jacket will also be a frequent sight, worn with silky trousers or paired with a velvet slip skirt.
"Velvet has been a real standout for us, while satin is proving extremely popular in bold pops of colour such as emerald green, chartreuse and plum," says Brigitte Chartrand of Net-a-Porter. "Jacquard, fringing and beaded tops are also doing extremely well." She names Colleen Allen, Vivienne Westwood, Dilara Findikoglu, Heirlome and Emilia Wickstead among the designers that have perfected party dresses.
Statement coats and accessories
Long, luxurious outerwear has come to the fore, including sweeping opera coats, brocade beauties, fur-trimmed duster jackets and contrast collars. The silk-satin Conner Ives robe coat, which debuted in the designer's AW25 show, has been worn by Kate Moss, Kendall Jenner and Sienna Miller, who wore it to the Serpentine Summer Party mid-heatwave. The real thing costs £6,500, while more accessible options include Reformation's £498 Stella style in reversible shearling and Rixo's £395 embroidered Micah jacket, which won't restock until January.
For accessories, pouch bags with drawstring closures and tassels are recommended, along with the season's cummerbund belt trend. Shoes favour mules with small wedge heels and glam satin slippers, available in jewel tones at Ancient Greek Sandals. For bows and extravagance, Loeffler Randall has opened its first UK outpost on Chiltern Street, while budget-friendly options at Charles & Keith include fur-trimmed dark brown Mary Janes.
