What’s in & What’s out this winter? Here’s all you need to know this fashion season.
Tired of seeing the same Gen Z fashion trends every winter? Here at CARBON, so are we! Here are the fashion do’s and don’t of this winter season.
As the festive season is upon us, we are all putting on more and more layers to be as warm as possible. However, some of us still want to look as fashionable as we can, so we have the perfect list for you on the top trends this winter and how to make sure your outfit isn’t last season. Whether it’s trends such as Faux Fur Jackets, or specific colour themes such as Cocoa Powder (a red-toned brown), which trend forecasters from WGSN and Coloro predicted for 2026/27, keep reading to find out what you should wear this winter!
What’s in?
1. Faux Fur
Look out for this extremely popular fashion trend this winter, as Faux Fur is coming back, and is a trend that tends to appear most winters as it’s a very warm and cosy clothing item and mixes comfort with style, which is appealing to a lot of people, especially Gen Z.
Not supporting animal cruelty and sustainability is also a big factor when thinking about purchasing clothing, so getting a fur jacket that looks similar to animal fur without supporting animal cruelty appeals to a lot of people. Wearing Faux Fur also can portrays your morals and values, proving that you are a responsible shopper and care about what’s going on in the world.
In this day and age where thrifting/shopping second-hand has become very popular, both because of social media and for sustainability reasons, Faux Fur is often a pretty common find as there are often many vintage pieces up for grabs. Faux Fur jackets are also a quite gender fluid clothing item, which helped their popularity rise.
How to style Faux Fur:
2. Turtle-neck Sweaters
Turtlenecks are a huge staple if you want to keep your body and neck warm this frosty season. It can be styled in many different ways based on what vibe you’re looking to achieve.
For example, they can be worn underneath items such as leather, denim, and even fur jackets. Either way, turtlenecks are a classic item of clothing that have been worn for decades, and can add elegance to any outfit.
The most popular styles of turtleneck incorporate materials such as cashmere and wool, or you could even wear a quite recent creation, a turtleneck jacket.
How to style the Turtleneck Sweater:
3. Big Scarves
Big Scarves are in this year, being popularised by social media trends, particularly with Gen Z. Their size often serves as both as a hat and neck scarf, often described as a “wearable blanket”, whilst also being a big fashion statement for many people that adds uniqueness to an outfit.
This is a great staple to add to your wardrobe this winter if you want to elevate your outfits, and provides warmth and cosiness from the harsh freezing cold conditions.
There’s so many different ways that you can wear this type of scarf, that doesn’t just include the head and neck. For example, over the the shoulders as a wrap, keeping the body warm and being a practical staple for many different situations.
How to style Big Scarves:
4. Boots with Leg Warmers
Boots and leg warmers are back this winter! With the rise of 80’s and Y2K influence and trends coming back on TikTok, this trend blends style with practicality and warmth for the cold weather.
Leg Warmers are also often very affordable items, as many social media users have shared ways on how to make your own from old socks and pieces of clothing. This makes them a very accessible item that most people will be able to own.
Pairing these with boots, this adds an extra layer to keep you cosy and warm for winter, as well boots being a feasible item for conditions such as snow and rain.
Either way, boots and leg warmers are a perfect way to layer and elevate your outfits, and often go with most outfits.
5. Cocoa Powder (Red toned brown)
“Cocoa Powder”, which is a red toned brown, is a statement colour, and was a forecasted colour for winter 26/27 by WGSN. It’s described to evoke a sense of nostalgia, which has been inspired by a craving for the past and physical reality with the rise of AI, which may appeal to a lot of people.
It’s suitable for footwear and accessories in both menswear and womenswear, with the shades versality being endless. This earthy and elegant hue should be embraced as new dark that has transseasonal appeal and is a perfect colour for the winter season, with most leaves having browned as autumn is over.
What’s out?
1. Chunky Chelsea Boots
Thinking about getting Chunky Chelsea boots this winter? You may want to reconsider, as these chunky boots have fizzled out of style this year, being replaced by longer, sleeker classic boots.
Despite still being practical shoes, longer boots such as buckled and cowboy boots have overtaken this year. Chunkier boots are also a lot harder with things like bulkier clothing, for example, wide-leg jeans, as they often can overwhelm the outfit.
2. Leggings and Moto Jacket combo
The leggings and moto jacket has become very unpopular this winter, as Gen Z are tending to move towards more baggy and oversized clothing. The reason for this is because leggings are currently seen as being too “tight fitting” and not as comfortable and in style as baggy clothing tends to be.
This combo is also seen as “outdated” and “too millennial” often not fitting with current trends, making this trend unappealing to recent generations, as people are looking for newer ways to express themselves.
By Aimee Cazeaux
