The idea that quiet luxury had given way to a more flamboyant narrative has been discussed for a while; now that intuition is backed by numbers. An analysis prepared by the fashion data newsletter The Data Fashion Brief and published by trade outlet FashionUnited on 5 November 2026 shows that at the Spring/Summer 2027 Paris shows, embellishment was not an exception but the season’s common language. According to the analysis, the trend will continue into the following season, Fall/Winter 2027 — but not in the same colours.
997 looks, 16 fashion houses
The study is based on 997 looks from the season’s 16 biggest shows in Paris. These looks were tagged using an AI-assisted tool by garment type, silhouette, fabric, surface treatment, colour and detail. Each trend was assessed on two measures: how dominant it was within a house’s collection, and how many houses it appeared in across the season.
The result is clear. Embellishment elements such as ruffles, fringe, sequins, beading, embroidery, 3D flowers, feathers or appliqué appear in 31 per cent of looks and turn up at all 16 houses included in the analysis. Dior, Chloé and Isabel Marant featured embellishment in more than 60 per cent of their collections. Textured fabrics were used in 18 per cent of looks, while metallic surfaces were seen at 14 of the 16 houses.
From Balmain: Spring/Summer 2027, a hand-embroidered leopard shirt and skirt with 1,340 hours of work
The picture is similar on the print side. According to the analysis, the largest share of Balmain’s palette, at 34 per cent, belongs to animal print. At Dries Van Noten, graphic and floral prints make up 22 per cent of the palette and are the house’s two strongest trends. The study also looks beyond Paris: in Milan, animal print tops Roberto Cavalli’s palette at 28 per cent, followed by pink, red and gold.
From Balmain: animal motifs in the Spring/Summer 2027 collection
Three different routes: full throttle, minimal and the middle ground
One notable finding of the analysis is that fashion houses did not join the trend with the same intensity. A few houses, such as Dries Van Noten and Balmain, embraced maximalism all the way. Some, like Lanvin, stayed on a minimal line. The majority chose a middle path: embellishment and eye-catching accessories on a pared-back base. The analysis illustrates this middle route with the example of Celine and argues that it is the most realistic option for most brands.
From Dries Van Noten: floral prints and embroideries in the Spring/Summer 2027 collection
Accessories are among the pieces carrying the weight of this season. Oversized belts, chunky gold jewellery and large-framed sunglasses stand out in the analysis. The study also links this interest to search data: according to a Google Trends review, searches for sequins rose 40 per cent year on year, searches for fringe 34 per cent and searches for oversized belts 93 per cent. Worldwide searches for Celine’s round sunglasses rose by 190 per cent.
A second opinion: W Magazine’s reading of the season
Other publications’ season reviews also show that the trend does not rest on a single data set. W Magazine opens its roundup of Spring/Summer 2027 runway trends, published on 29 October 2026, with the observation that quiet luxury has left the stage and maximalism has returned with fur, feathers and sequins. Among the twelve trends the magazine selected are baroque beadwork bringing together Chanel, The Row, Celine and Loewe, as well as the gilded, flamboyant takes of Saint Laurent, Gucci and McQueen. One of W’s examples is a look by The Row made from an antique fabric worked with sequinned fringe; that even a house known for its minimalism made room for embellishment is a sign of how broad the trend is.
The two sources use different methods: one counts looks one by one, the other makes an editorial selection. But they reach the same conclusion: Spring/Summer 2027 is a season in which embellishment has returned.
What carries over to Fall/Winter 2027?
According to The Data Fashion Brief, embellishment carries over into the next season, but bright colours do not. Drawing on the season report of Première Vision, the fabric fair in Paris, the analysis states that spring’s pink, red and gold accents will give way to darker tones. The expected look is a heavier maximalism: fringe, volumes giving a fur effect, and sequins worked into tweed and lace. In other words, it is not the embellishment itself that changes, but the colour and fabric that carry it.
The analysis also touches on the consumer behaviour behind the trend. According to a survey by Business of Fashion and McKinsey of more than 2,000 luxury customers in the US and China, 81 per cent of luxury customers under 35 look first at design and creativity when buying. The study explains this as a desire for self-expression rather than displaying status, and an interest in pleasure and escape in uncertain times. The trend’s first real test in the market will be January’s trade fairs.
Why it matters
The value of this study is that it makes measurable a change that can be spotted by eye on the runway. A figure like 31 per cent shows that embellishment was not confined to a few showy presentations but spread across all of Paris’s major houses. This means the season could affect not only eveningwear but also everyday collections.
Seen from Turkey, the subject is directly linked to manufacturing. Embroidery, beading and sequin work are among the areas in which ready-to-wear and eveningwear manufacturers in Turkey have long been strong. Embellishment staying on the agenda for two seasons could open a window of opportunity for local brands and suppliers who bring this craftsmanship into their collections. To follow how this trend evolves on the runway through the season’s fashion weeks, take a look at our Fashion Week Calendar 2026–2027 guide.
Sources
- FashionUnited / The Data Fashion Brief — Maximalism got bigger, and the data says it carries into Fall/Winter 2027
- W Magazine — Spring/Summer 2027 runway trends
Image: Red tulle fabric embroidered with floral motifs in sequins and beads (representative image) — Shashi Bellamkonda, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
