TikTok takes the runway: fashion trends you can't ignore in 2026

If you ever wondered who decides what’s trendy these days, it’s not "Vogue" editors, and it’s definitely not the runway girls walking in slow motion. It’s TikTok.

TikTok is the runway. TikTok is the fashion week. TikTok is the stylist, the trend forecaster, and the chaotic bestie whispering “try it” while you’re about to embarrass yourself. And the numbers don’t lie.

Australian online retailer Brand House Direct recently analysed engagement data across TikTok’s biggest fashion hashtags to see which aesthetics are dominating early 2026.

They looked at 32 different trends, measuring total views and video volume to see what people are actually obsessed with right now.

The biggest trend by far is the coquette aesthetic, sitting at over 15.3 billion views. Yes, billions. This is the era of bows, ribbons, lace, ballet flats and soft pink outfits that make you look like you’re either going to a picnic or starring in a period drama.

The easiest way to wear it without looking like a gift wrap section is a satin skirt with a cute cardigan and a hair bow. Keep it sweet, not costume.

Coming in hot at number two is gorpcore with six billion views, proving that hiking outfits are no longer just for people who actually hike.

Suddenly, everyone wants to dress like they’re on their way to climb Table Mountain, even if they can’t climb the stairs at Canal Walk. Think cargo pants, fleece jackets, sporty trainers and windbreakers.

You might just look like your PT teacher from High School, but that's okay. It's giving natural science.

Then there’s the office siren, sitting at 2.4 billion views, because apparently corporate dressing is hot again. And not the “I’m here to do admin” kind of hot. This is the “HR will be hearing about me later” kind of hot.

We’re talking pencil skirts, blazers, sheer tights, and heels sharp enough to cut through office drama. The vibe is very much suits, very much scandal.

It’s giving Miranda Priestly energy, except now she’s on TikTok and she’s wearing a skirt that would get her pulled into a disciplinary hearing by lunchtime.

And let’s be real… this aesthetic only works if your workplace isn’t strict. Because the way people are styling it right now? It’s not “professional”. It’s a sexy corporate villain, but clearly, the fashionistas are here for it.

Silk scarves are trending hard with nearly 1.5 billion views, and this is exactly the kind of fashion moment people love because it doesn’t require a whole new wardrobe or a dramatic “new year, new me” shopping spree.

All you need is one scarf. Tie it around your neck, wear it as a headband, wrap it around your bag strap, and suddenly you look like you’ve got money you’re not even trying to explain. It’s instant polish. Instant “I summer in Europe.” Instant expensive.

And it's not just the girlies rocking it, men are fully in their silk scarf era too. Some are styling it with an open-collar shirt for that suave, old-school gentleman vibe. Others are tying it like a bandana for a more street-style look. A few are even draping it under a blazer.

Indie sleaze is the messy, rebellious throwback we didn’t know we needed, sitting at 683 million views. Skinny jeans, vintage band tees, leather jackets, and scuffed boots give that “I rolled out of bed but somehow own the room” energy.

It’s early-2000s nostalgia meets deliberate chaos, the perfect balance between careless and iconic.

Denim on denim, with 666 million views, proves the Canadian tuxedo is back, and this time, it’s intentional. Matching washes, structured jackets, and high-waisted jeans make it polished, not tragic.

It’s the generation’s answer to “double denim? Don’t care, still look fire.”