Aussie designer Karla Špetić behind risqué runway shows predicts the top fashion trends of 2026

Australian designer Karla Špetić has revealed the ‘obvious trend’ era may finally be coming to an end – with fashion in 2026 set to look dramatically different from the viral aesthetics that have dominated social media for years.

After a decade defined by microtrends, ‘cores’ and algorithm-driven dressing, the designer behind some of Australian fashion’s most provocative runway moments says consumers are now pulling back from loud, highly performative style in favour of something far more restrained.

‘I think we’re moving away from obvious trends a little bit and more towards a considered way of dressing,’ Karla told the Daily Mail.

‘People seem to be looking for pieces that feel refined and long lasting rather than very seasonal statements. It feels less about what’s “in” and more about how something fits into your wardrobe over time.’

The prediction marks a major shift for an industry that has spent years fuelled by rapid-fire online aesthetics, from quiet luxury and coquette dressing to balletcore and mob-wife glamour.

Instead of chasing entirely new identities through fashion every few months, Karla believes shoppers are becoming far more intentional about how they dress – and increasingly resistant to clothing that feels disposable.

The designer’s comments may come as a surprise given her own reputation for pushing boundaries on the runway.

At the 2022 Australian Fashion Week, Karla sent models down the catwalk wearing sex toys styled as jewellery as part of her Oasis Resort 23 collection, pairing the provocative accessories with sleek monochrome silhouettes and sensual body-conscious tailoring.

Two years later, she again stunned audiences with sheer lace slips, visible lingerie and garter belts layered over full-length skirts during her 2024 runway show, cementing her reputation as one of Australia’s boldest designers.

But beneath the shock factor, Karla says her work has always been grounded in craftsmanship, silhouette and construction rather than fleeting trends.

Now, she believes the broader fashion industry is beginning to move in a similar direction.

‘There’s a growing awareness around consumption, so people are naturally gravitating towards simplicity and quality rather than excess,’ she said.

‘It’s not so much about looking expensive, it’s more about feeling resolved in what you’re wearing.’

Fashion insiders say the growing popularity of ‘quiet luxury’ is less about designer labels and wealth signalling than it is about exhaustion.

After years of relentless trend cycles accelerated by TikTok and fast fashion, many consumers appear to be gravitating towards clothes that feel timeless, adaptable, and easier to wear repeatedly.

For Karla, the key to looking elevated has very little to do with logos or expensive accessories.

‘It always comes back to fit and proportion,’ she said.

‘A well cut blazer, a great trouser, or anything that defines the waist can completely shift how something feels.’

She added that even shoppers on a budget can achieve a more polished look by simplifying their wardrobe rather than constantly adding to it.

‘I think editing is the biggest thing,’ she explained.

‘Keeping your palette quite consistent, focusing on fit, and not over styling. Even simple pieces can feel really elevated when they’re worn with intention.’

Tailoring, she says, remains one of the smartest long-term investments people can make.

‘A well cut blazer or structured piece is something you can come back to again and again, and it really anchors everything else.’

As 2026 is well underway, the fashion mood appears to be shifting away from loud aesthetics and towards something quieter, sharper and far more deliberate.

‘Trends will always shift,’ Karla said.

‘But what tends to last is proportion, fabrication, and how something is constructed. Pieces that are considered in that way don’t really feel tied to a specific moment.’