Even though I am writing this on a grey, spring day in West London, my mind is firmly focused on a summer in the Mediterranean. No, I haven’t booked a holiday (quite yet), but all signs are pointing to the fact that this year is gearing up to be all about the Riviera summer. Allow me to set the scene: turquoise seas, salty air, cobbled streets and waterfront cafés, the picturesque stretch between southeast France and northwest Italy is undeniably aesthetically pleasing, but it’s also setting the tone for a burgeoning fashion trend.

Drawing straight from the 1950s’ and 1960s’ slow, European lifestyle, designers and street-style stars are leaning into the romanticism of a Riviera summer. Think print, colour, slimline silhouettes, swimsuits and sarongs in place of string bikinis—and, dare I say, kitten heels over flip-flops. In short, if it looks like it could be sat on the back of a Vespa or draped on a yacht with a pair of cat-eye sunnies, it’s exactly the right mood.

Take, for example, the spring/summer 2026 runways. At Jacquemus, models wore their hair back in headscarves, pairing leggings with ankle-tied shoes, and over at Pucci, white shirts with upturned collars were tucked into pencil skirts, the iconic kaleidoscopic prints worn head-to-toe and finished with matching mini bags. After last summer’s pyjama pants and boyfriend shirt energy, 2026 is bringing back the art of dressing up with aplomb.

Riviera Summer on the Runway

Models wore cotton headscarves and a simple, fresh palette on the Jacquemus S/S 26 runway.

Chemena Kamali paired vibrant retro florals with sleek leggings and white shoes for the Chloé spring/summer collection.

Pucci staged its S/S 26 show against a Sicilian backdrop, perfect for showcasing a typically ladylike collection of crisp shirts, midi skirts and fluid silk.