Every so often there comes along a runway trend that makes perfect sense in theory, but does have you wondering how exactly you’re supposed to wear it in practice. As summer prepares to give way to autumn, we’re readying our wardrobes for when the temperature drops, but an unexpected standout, hero piece for the cold-weather season has emerged, and it isn’t one that we saw coming. Enter: the bandeau. Lovely in July heatwaves, slightly less obvious when the forecast calls for cardigans and wool coats.

Still, designers have made a very convincing case for keeping our shoulders bare in the upcoming season. Strapless tops and dresses emerged across the A/W’26 collections in surprisingly sophisticated forms—from sleek, minimalist corsets to sweeping evening gowns. Spring/summer may have treated us to sheer tops and delicate spaghetti straps, but in autumn/winter, there is nothing but skin between you and the elements.

At Ferragamo and Dries Van Noten, gold and tapestry strapless midi dresses were presented like baroque art, while Giorgio Armani and Lanvin worked the silhouette into rich velvet and embroidered eveningwear. It was over at Issey Miyake though where the bandeau reached new levels as polished resin corsets and boob-tubes were paired with pencil skirts and layered over dresses, like glossy suits of armour. In short, this isn’t the 2000’s jersey bandeau top making an unexpected comeback for winter, the A/W’26 interpretation feels far, far more polished.

With designers moving away from summer’s loose and louche approach, bringing back the bandeau is all about revisiting sleek, contouring silhouettes and understated colours that subtly champion the female form rather than overtly sexy, see-through. If summer’s barely-there dressing screamed for attention, autumn’s bandeau whispers.

While the dress may be the more obvious iteration, strapless tops could also prove to be a useful buy. Rather than wearing them alone (as much as Issey Miyake may try and convince us otherwise), think of it as a layering piece. A fitted, strapless top underneath an oversized blazer gives tailoring a softer, more feminine edge, while a bandeau or bustier over shirts and dresses can be paired with wide-leg trousers for an evening look that feels modern without being stuffy. Wondering how to make bare shoulders work for daytime? Pair with pieces that are deliberately covered-up elsewhere like boxy, wool coats, oversized trousers, long skirts and knee-high boots or a chunky knit thrown over the top.

Maybe fashion is still obsessed with nineties and early noughts nostalgia, and perhaps the strapless dress is the answer to several seasons of oversized silhouettes and head-to-toe layering, but either way, bare shoulders and body-conscious shapes feel fresh for the end of year. After all, there is a reason this particular trend keeps returning every decade or so. The strapless silhouette is undeniably classic, but designers can continually change its mood through proportion, fabric and styling, making it entirely new.