How To Wear Spring’s Top Trends Now, According to Eight Fashion Stylists

Repeating outfits is great for your fashion footprint, but it can quickly wear thin on inspiration. There’s only so much mileage you can get from the same five pieces before it starts feeling like a uniform. The fix isn’t a whole new wardrobe, it’s a stylish accessory to revive what you already own. A fringed scarf tied as a belt, a felt cap with bead appliqué, or a nostalgic pair of jazz shoes can instantly keep a standard tee-and-slacks combo fresh.

All three appear, unprompted, in our stylists’ picks this season, proving that clever, low-touch styling is the easiest way to reinvent clothes you’d otherwise retire. It also reflects where fashion’s heading more broadly. After years of minimalist, logo-less restraint, the appetite has returned for outfits with personality and flair.

Elsewhere, soft, feminine silhouettes are staging a comeback. Lace, sheer fabrics and lingerie-inspired details bring romance back into circulation, while the trending scarves of seasons past have evolved directly into the clothing, built straight into the neckline.

But that’s just the start. We asked eight Australian stylists for the top trends to watch this spring – here’s what made the cut.

Jazz shoes

“Soft leather jazz (or Oxford) shoes are shaping up to be big this spring. After years of shedding our chunky-shoe obsession, we’re finally embracing a low-profile, slimline silhouette in footwear. The best style notes come from the Celine spring/summer 2026 show, which proved these shoes are versatile enough to wear with anything from denim to miniskirts to tailored pants. Best of all, soft leather requires zero break-in time.

“I have my eye on this pair by Essen: stark white, with a black grip-dot detail running up the back of the heel. They’d pair perfectly with black Bermuda shorts and a fresh white tee – maybe a silk scarf to accessorise. Special mention to these Charles & Keith derbys in chalk, for days when I’m feeling a slightly warmer palette. I love the subtle gold details. Other great options can be found at Tony Bianco, Cos and Nine West via The Iconic – the latter aptly named the Jazzy.”

– Jade Leung, Melbourne stylist

Statement hats

“Hats will be big this spring. As the weather gets warmer, people will be more open to experimenting with different shapes, styles and designs, and a hat is one of the easiest ways to change up an outfit without touching the clothing itself. The right one becomes a statement piece and can really bring a whole look together.

“Jing He’s felt cap adds texture and movement through its beaded fringe detailing, while Monphell’s Conductor hat offers a more unusual, structured shape. I also like Cos’s sculpted wool beret for a more minimal and polished approach, or Maroske Peech’s Newsboy cap for a softer, vintage feel. Kourh’s rouge cap shows how a strong colour can carry an outfit on its own. I’d pair each statement hat with a simpler outfit, so the hat stays the focus. Proportion matters too: a larger structured hat against an oversized jacket, or a smaller cap against something more dramatic.”

– Kimberley Jonjin, Sydney stylist and creative consultant

Integrated scarves

“This spring, I’m looking at the silk scarf as a styling piece rather than an accessory. Tied as a top, wrapped into bag handles, threaded through belt loops, draped over tailoring and knotted into the hair, but also designed intentionally into garments like blouses and dresses.

“After a winter of strong tailoring, leather and structured silhouettes, this feels like the natural shift into something softer, more fluid and a little more undone. It’s also a clever way to refresh pieces already in your wardrobe, which feels particularly relevant as fashion moves towards how you style rather than simply what you buy. The concept is inherently timeless, which gives it real staying power – its versatility allows it to evolve well beyond a single season.

“Alemais’ silk scarf shirt and dress have a beautiful Australian resort sensibility, but still feel fashion-led. Shona Joy offers a more directional take on the trend, where the scarf becomes part of the shirt and dress, creating movement and softness through the silhouette. For something quieter, St Agni’s take is more minimalist – ideal for someone who wants to experiment with the trend without being too overt, letting the fabric and drape do the work.”

– Rebecca Ferré, Melbourne personal stylist and creative director at Locarno Styling

Cummerbund belts

“The cummerbund is the new belt. This spring, we’re seeing cummerbunds move beyond traditional formalwear into everyday dressing: worn over dresses, skirts, trousers and even denim. It’s less about dressing up and more about using the waist as a styling opportunity. Styles like Oroton’s wool belt or Hawes & Curtis’s ox blood design can completely change the proportion of an outfit without needing to buy a whole new wardrobe – they create shape, add a little drama and make even a simple outfit feel considered.

“You don’t necessarily need to buy a traditional cummerbund, either. A scarf wrapped around the waist – like Wolf & Badger’s tie belt, or Viktoria & Woods’ and Witchery’s fringed scarves – creates a similar effect and feels particularly fresh for spring. I’d wear one over a simple white shirt and relaxed trousers, with jeans and a fitted knit, or over a fluid dress. The key is to keep the rest of the look relatively effortless so it doesn’t feel too formal.”

– Jamie Reilly, Adelaide stylist

Tees with a POV

“Slogan T-shirts have been on the up for a while. I’d cite the start of the trend’s return as Loewe’s 2024 “I Told Ya” tee from Challengers – and it’s been gaining traction ever since. As we move into warmer weather, the mood is shifting across the city and the people long to be silly. These shirts, doused in irony, make getting dressed fun again. After all, it’s time to celebrate T-shirt weather! For elder gen Zs like myself, these tops recall late 2000s Supre: think tees emblazoned with “Save the Whales”, “Global Warming is Not Cool” or, my personal favourite, “Bite Me” – vampires were all the rage in 2008, lest we forget.

“I love the bold colours available this season, like these styles by Bye Bambi and Mode Mischief. Pare them back with jeans or three-quarter shorts – another big trend this spring – for something casual. For a more elevated look, these options by Little Yarn and Jungles Jungles would work well with an oversized suit pant and a high heel. Styling tip: tuck the back hem into your bra to break up the silhouette. 

“The trend’s also a great excuse to support local businesses outside the fashion industry – this one from Mince Magazine hits the brief perfectly.”

– Holly Karas, Melbourne stylist

A splash of turquoise

“This season’s hue borrows straight from our iconic Australian coastlines *pins last trip to Rotto on my mood board*. Nowhere does turquoise feel more at home than WA, where the colour is reimagined through Poppy Lissiman’s signature aesthetic. The playful texture of the Pammy clutch and bold design of the Binkie duffle promise to elevate any casual look.

“Staying on the west coast, Blanch Wear is taking over every cute wine bar in Freo. Each set is fun, versatile and colour-blocked to perfection – another spring trend to watch – with the Lucy tank and midiskirt both earning my pick.

“Shifting across to the east coast, beautifully irregular turquoise gemstones make each pair of Chrissy L’s earrings feel more discovered than designed. The mineral’s mottled pattern mimics the coral gardens of the Great Barrier Reef – just add a starfish and we’re basically there.

“And from reef to shoreline, the fluidity and timeless nature of Bondi Born’s silk cami dress captures the richness of turquoise perfectly, making it effortless – much like a spring day in Bondi with your loved ones.”

– Chelsea Holm, Sydney stylist and creative consultant

Lace-trimmed skirts

“After seasons of oversized, minimal dressing, I think we’re ready to have a little more fun with fashion again and embrace pieces that feel feminine without feeling overly polished. Lace and lingerie-inspired details will be big this spring, and the midiskirt is where it all comes together. I’d style one back with something a little tougher or more relaxed – a simple tank, an oversized blazer, or relaxed denim – so the softness never tips into overly done.

“Sir’s new-season styles are the perfect example, with romantic lace detailing on silk and satin in spring-ready lemon and ivory, while Camilla and Marc offers something more pared back in black. For an edgier take, tonal colour is the way to go: Shona Joy’s champagne style and Henne’s olive number are two to watch.”

– Stefan Francesca, Adelaide stylist

Modern romance

“Romance is having a fashion moment, but not in the traditional sense of ruffles and sweetness. The modern interpretation is the juxtaposition of delicate elements with more structured pieces. Think a lace blouse beneath a sharp blazer, a translucent skirt paired with tailoring, or sheer panels on a structured black dress like the Carolyn maxidress by ELS. 

“Sheer is also a beautiful way to inject colour like this plum dress by Bianca Spender. It also works to soften black, by adding a sense of sensuality and femininity without compromising sophistication, like with the Esma blouse and Cosima skirt by Ida&S. A popular injection for many clients’ wardrobes has been the Hopkins top by Elka Collective.

“The staying power of this trend lies in its versatility. Rather than committing to a head-to-toe boudoir aesthetic, it’s about playing with what you reveal and what you conceal.”

– Kerrie Carucci, Brisbane stylist