SS26 holidays: how to build a capsule wardrobe you’ll actually love

Context: SS26, the summer of practical romance

SS26 trends champion an unapologetic romanticism, but one designed to live on the move: lace, crochet, botanical prints and fluid volumes dominate the silhouettes, on the runways and in the resort collections alike. In London and Copenhagen, an idea of holidays that are “easy but considered” is taking shape: light fabrics, artisanal details, and plenty of play on sheerness and layering.

In the wardrobe, that means cotton or silk dresses, often inspired by cottage or Riviera imagery, but designed to go from day to night without effort. The challenge for your suitcase is no longer to cover every possible scenario, but to bet on a few key pieces you can wear in different ways.

SS26: how the holiday trend is taking shape

Holiday dresses: romance, under control

The SS26 holiday dress draws on a “modern romance” vocabulary: florals, lace, midi or mini volumes, sometimes close to the world of literary heroines, but with clean cuts and easy-to-wear fabrics. What you see everywhere, from Italian resort shows to online edits, is the printed or embellished dress (lace, embroidery) that stands on its own, worn with a simple sandal and a compact bag.

The idea: pack one or two statement dresses that work with the same pair of sandals and the same mini bag from morning to night. Skip the “one occasion only” dresses and favour the ones that, accessorised differently, take you to the market, onto the boat and out to dinner.

Sunglasses: the real “attitude” piece

Sunglasses remain at the heart of the holiday look, along two lines: very fashion-forward geometric frames, and variations on the aviator inspired by the 1980s. This season, they’re as much about setting the tone of the outfit as protecting your eyes – minimalist, Hollywood glamour or more retro.

One well-chosen pair is often all your suitcase needs: a shape that frames your face well, lightly smoked lenses, and a frame that works as well with a dress as with light tailoring.

Bags and baskets: raffia reigns

Beach and city bags meet around raffia and woven textures, in shapes ranging from the soft tote to the more structured basket, sometimes highlighted with house codes (coloured stripes, crafted handles, metal buckles). SS26 confirms the return of bags in natural materials, often oversized by day and more compact by night, while keeping the same summery texture.

For a capsule, the most coherent option is still a large raffia tote for the beach and getting around, paired with a smaller bag or a pouch that slips inside and comes out in the evening.

Swimwear: versatility comes first

In swimwear, two strong directions stand out: iconic prints (zigzags, florals, tropical motifs) and cuts designed to leave the beach. A mid-rise bikini, for example, works easily with fluid trousers or high-waisted shorts, while a structured one-piece becomes a bodysuit under a skirt or a sarong.

The most cutting-edge swimwear labels are betting on exactly this double life: denser fabrics, adjustable straps, necklines that also work in the evening.

Sandals: between crochet and minimalism

For footwear, SS26 sets two ideas against each other: textured sandals (crochet, raffia, crafted straps) that extend the beach mood, and ultra-minimalist styles in the spirit of luxury flip-flops. On the runways and in multi-brand edits alike, the low-heeled or thick-soled crochet sandal and the pared-back graphic flip-flop keep coming back.

In a capsule suitcase, two pairs are enough: a more fashion-led textured sandal, and a comfortable minimalist one that can handle long walks while staying chic enough for the evening.

Sarongs, scarves, co-ords: the heart of multi-use

The SS26 shows and street style insist on the versatility of scarves, sarongs and co-ords. A scarf can be worn as a belt, a top, in your hair or wrapped around a bag handle, while a sarong slides from simple cover-up to skirt or strapless dress for the evening.

Co-ords (a top with shorts or wide-leg trousers) make holiday dressing simpler: worn together by day, then split up to multiply your looks with a swimsuit, a white T-shirt or a loose shirt. This is where the capsule delivers on its promise: few pieces, plenty of combinations.

Effects on the silhouette, and the role of the bag

A successful holiday wardrobe in 2026 lengthens the silhouette rather than breaking it up: clear midi or mini dresses, defined waists without stiffness, fluid volumes that don’t swamp you. A swimsuit worn as a top by day, a scarf knotted at the waist or in your hair, a sarong turned into a dress: together, they build a body line that’s supple but structured.

The bag steadies the whole look. A generously sized raffia tote adds verticality to a very fluid silhouette (maxi dress, sarong, flat sandals), while a more structured bag – mini or worn on the shoulder – frames romantic dresses in the evening. It’s the bag that takes a look from beach-ready to dinner in town, without changing everything else.

Three real-life capsule suitcases

A seaside and city weekend

• Printed romantic dress + structured mini bag + minimalist sandals.
• One-piece swimsuit worn as a bodysuit under wide-leg trousers in the evening, with the same bag and gold jewellery.
• Scarf as a belt by day, in your hair by night.

A resort week (hotel or cruise)

• Shorts and shirt co-ord, worn together or separately with a bikini and a vest top.
• Large raffia tote for the day, mini bag in fabric or metal for the evening.
• Graphic sarong turned into a wrap skirt over the one-piece for dinner.

A more urban holiday

• Floral or embroidered midi dress, light trainers or delicate sandals.
• Geometric or aviator sunglasses to set the tone, plus a trench or light shirt if needed.
• Swimsuit worn as a bodysuit under white jeans or linen trousers for drinks on the terrace.