A clean slate, new beginnings, a new perspective - however you see the turning of the year, the leap into 2026 is a new year zero for the fashion world. While you can likely still feel winter biting outside, Spring/Summer has been underway for a while on racks and in ranges, with new trends and colours to explore.
In terms of the Chinese zodiac, 2026 is set to be the year of the Horse. As we leave behind 2025 and the year of the Snake, we’d like to have a look at some of the differences between the two, mythologically speaking…
The Snake and the Horse
2025’s zodiac, the Snake, can be described as intense, wise and temperamental, with a fiery nature and a strong personality. They can often be described as protectors or as powerful guardians. However, the other side of this is a tendency towards vanity, with a suggestion that the snake’s nature makes it a little untrustworthy. The turning of the year is often taken as an invitation to “shed your skin”; remove unhelpful or negative energies, and leave behind things that have been holding you back.
For 2026, the Horse is an outgoing, forward-facing sign; confident, agreeable, and responsible. They do not like to be left alone and crave company, but also strongly dislike the feeling of being “reined in” by others. They’re often fit and intelligent, needing and adoring physical and mental exercise. Warm-hearted and enthusiastic souls, they’re full of life and act decisively, though they are also impatient and can be easily swayed. They can also be ostentatious, well aware of their beauty and vitality, as they are often both socially popular and attractive to others.
Needless to say, opinions are mixed as to what this represents for the year ahead. If you believe in this kind of thing, expect bold movement and acceleration, passion and big ideas, and an unpredictable energy. Certainly, this sounds like an enticing prospect coming out of winter!
Colour of the Year
Every year, colour experts Pantone publish their “Colour of the Year”, meant to say something about culture at large, and become a prediction of sorts for the year ahead. This year, the ivory-off-white colour tone “Cloud Dancer” has been chosen. Here’s what they say about it -
“A lofty white that serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection. A billowy white imbued with serenity, Cloud Dancer encourages true relaxation and focus, allowing the mind to wander and creativity to breathe, making room for innovation.”
With many of us desperately seeking a chance to disconnect from a world that won’t let us, this serene colour makes total sense. Luckily, this beautiful shade is already a staple here at Cravat Club, with many designs in the same area:
While this multiway pocket square may present its kabuki theme in deep blues and reds, the fringe of ivory brings the whole design balance, reminding the wearer of the incredible flexibility of our multiway designs. Whether you’re an aficionado of Japanese culture, or need an accessory that can adapt gloriously to the season, we’d strongly recommend you take a look at the multiway range.
This serene and thoughtful shade is most purely represented by our Royal Icing cravat and pocket square pairing. Often requested for weddings and formal events, this slightly vanilla-toned white can be used for a subtle accent to a darker outfit, or as a dramatic accent to other light, pastel shades. Similarly, it can be a go-to for enhancing your formal outfits, or the missing piece of a very strong and deliberate look. Beyond versatile.
2026 Colour Trends
Alongside easy-to-wear shades of black, white and chocolate brown, collections have featured bold colour blocking and strong pigments.
Fuschia
Never a colour to do by halves, pinks are asserting themselves this season. The bright fuschia tone can be adhered to, or softened by using similar, more muted tones in its place.
A hot-selling Japanese dragons design in a striking pink, the Ikeuchi cravat is a perfect seasonal expression of one of our signatures.
A classic paisley never lets you down, and is capable of constant reinvention when employed with some imagination. The blush pink interacts with the softer rose and deep indigo to give you patterns and tones to play with as the seasons change.
Part of our Candy Core range, this sweet and sour deep pink is perfect for when the colour is the outfit. Pairing perfectly with darker block colours, this bold shade works to draw the observer’s attention to the details.
Purple
We have seen this rather fancifully called “amaranth”, and is an urbane, cosmopolitan colour with grey tones. Think of this as a sophisticated springtime-in-the-city shade as much as a floral one. Purples can be challenging to get right, but pick the perfect accessory and your outfit will sing.
The purples in the colourway do the heavy lifting in this cravat, perfectly offset by the dark vanilla and navy tones backing up the pattern. Adds a sheen of mystery to a grey jacket, and leaps out against a white shirt.
It almost seems as if the fashion world read our minds, as this Hawaiian-inspired shade fits current trends perfectly. Dark browns and greys pull the best out of this cravat, which can be either feather-light or surprisingly formal, depending on your styling.
Lime & Emerald Greens
You can also include Acacia, a natural, yellowish green in this section. There are really two contrasting ends of the spectrum here; one tends towards natural, springlike shades, while the other goes for saturated gemstone pigmentation.
An Ancient Egyptian scene in striking colour, this cravat demands attention and lends a playful touch to any spring outfit. While the brighter details certainly enliven a plain outfit, the subdued based tone ensures that it will work in harmony as part of the whole.
Named for the vibrant green Japanese tea variety, this core tone is both vibrant and earthy, with enough earth to tie it to nature, alongside enough presence to ensure your details stand out. Truly the shade gets more versatile the longer you look at it!
A Mongolian hunting scene in deep forest green, this cravat can give you a solid centre for more fanciful experiments in seasonal shades. The intricate pattern lends an outfit fun and interest all of its own, while the colour plays well with everything else you want to wear.
Klein Blue
Saturated blues are firmly in fashion for the season. This profoundly primary shade is accompanied by bright teals and calmer maritime blues, filling out the seasonal palette.
A gentle and classic pattern framed in indigo denim, this design offers you the very definition of “classic”, while still staying true to the season’s demands. A cravat for all seasons, if you will.
The vibrant, oceanic blue of this cravat is simply stunning in person, offering a hue with real punch. If blue is your colour, this one will truly shine around your throat, and create a style centrepiece for you to base an entire outfit around.
Tomato Red
Again, a matter for interpretation. While we would say that this includes the orange-red of ripe tomatoes and poppies, there is also room for more vibrant, lava-like shades too.
A yellow, teal and butterscotch paisley pattern set on a vibrant vermilion base works beautifully together and really sets any outfit alight. This is the beauty of paisley, it's incredibly versatile and you can really push the boundaries with colour.
Based on the “custom colours” that guitar company Fender used in the 50s and 60s, which were taken directly from the candy paint of automobiles, this red cravat certainly lives up to its name. Use as an accent with a dark jacket for a heartstopping pop of colour, and give a nod to a time where people were utterly unafraid of standing out.
Sweet Orange
Also known as “muskmelon”, this cantaloupe-inspired shade is truly vibrant, with a creamy pastel tinge that could be your new best friend.
It seems that there’s a paisley for every occasion, and the Lionel cravat can accompany any warmer weather outfit with serious presence. A white shirt’s perfect companion, it can also bring out the very best in a monochrome grey jacket, providing just the lift of colour you’d need.
Yes, we know, a papaya is not a melon. However, the shade pits bright pigment against pastel sheen in exactly the same way, and sings of sunshine in the same manner too! Use with navy or royal blue to maximise the colour, or sit back with a lighter shirt/jacket combo for a gentlemanly, relaxed look.
Take Only What You Need
Having given you a brief overview of what both the zodiac and the fashion world have in store for you this year, we’d like to remind you that while some guidance can be taken from it, we’d advise you take it with a healthy pinch of salt. The year of the Horse may tease out some latent energy in something you were planning, or leaving the Snake behind might encourage you to think anew about a project, but all this requires a big serving of self-reliance. Likewise, what plays out beautifully on the catwalk is likely to take a different form once your personal tastes, practicalities and use cases come into the equation.
Ultimately, we hope this is a source of inspiration and not fear; because just like the enforced fun of New Year’s Eve, any changes demanded of you that don’t come from within are likely to fall flat. In terms of style, try out some seasonal colours, perhaps something different from your defaults, and see if they might work for your personal style. As for the life changes? Well, they’re on you, friends…
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