How to wear the fringe trend this autumn
From suede jackets to swishing skirts, the fringe trend is carrying over into the new season – here’s how to wear it.
Raffia fringing has been dominating spring/summer collections, having appeared in the form of flapper-esque fringe at Chanel to the more experimental beading and asymmetric tassels at Alaïa, Loewe and Bottega Veneta.
“Fringe is returning for autumn 2026 in a more modern and high-fashion form,” says stylist Elsa Boutaric.
“Rather than Western or boho styling, designers are using it to create movement, texture and drama, often on minimalist, structured or monochromatic pieces.”
Here’s how to wear fringe this season – without looking like you’re heading to a rodeo.
Try a fringed cardigan
One of the easiest ways to take fringe into autumn is through knitwear.
Instead of the long suede tassels traditionally associated with Western jackets, look for cardigans and knits where fringe appears along hems, cuffs or sleeves.
The trick is to let the texture provide the interest. Boutaric recommends pairing fringe with “fitted, structured pieces” and keeping the overall look monochromatic for a more refined finish.
Try a fringed cardigan with straight-leg jeans and loafers for daytime, or pair a cream or black version with tailored trousers and a pointed shoe for something smarter.
H&M Fringed Cardigan, £64.99
Start with a bag
A fringed coat isn’t for everyone. And if it makes you feel a little more cowboy than catwalk, accessories offer a considerably smaller commitment.
Boutaric calls the fringed bag “an easy, low-risk way to try the trend”.
If you don’t want to opt for beaded fringe, it also makes sense as a continuation of the suede bag trend to opt for a suede fringe tote, which gives the familiar fabric a new point of difference.
Fringed bags have already appeared in everything from slouchy suede to evening-ready crystal and satin versions, making the detail surprisingly adaptable.
For daytime, pair a brown suede fringed bag against an otherwise pared-back outfit – like slouchy denim, a white shirt and khaki jacket, for example – rather than piling on cowboy boots and a Western belt too.
Accessorize Beaded Stripe Fringe Bag, £45
New Look Dark Brown Faux Suede Fringed Slouchy Shoulder Bag, £28.99
Make a fringed skirt the statement
For something more noticeable, look below the waist.
Boutaric singles out the “hem-fringed midi skirt” as one of the most versatile ways to wear the trend, as it “adds movement without eclipsing the outfit”.
It is also where fringe can feel particularly different from last season’s Western suede. Fine threads, beading and tactile trims have increasingly replaced chunky leather and suede tassels, with recent runway interpretations placing fringe against tailoring and simple separates.
And don’t assume fringe is reserved for parties. For the office, Boutaric suggests “subtle fringe on skirt hems, sleeves or blazers”, meaning a midi with a restrained fringed hem can work with a blazer and loafers without feeling overly dressy.
And Other Stories Fringed Midi Skirt, £97
Pay attention to where the fringe falls
Like ruffles, pockets and pleating, fringe can change the proportions of an outfit depending on where it’s placed.
“Fringe draws attention and adds volume,” explains Boutaric.
That doesn’t mean certain body shapes need to avoid it, but placement can be used to emphasise different parts of an outfit.
“Petite figures can choose vertical, diagonal or hemline fringe, while fringe at the hips or shoulders can emphasise those areas,” she says. “Hemline fringe is generally the most flattering and versatile.”
Longer vertical strands can also create movement without adding the same visual width as dense layers of short tassels.
If you’re unsure, a relatively pared-back fringe running around the bottom of a midi skirt, cardigan or coat is an easier starting point than layers of tassels covering an entire garment.
Take it into the evening
Fringe arguably comes into its own after dark, when its movement becomes part of the appeal.
For evening, Boutaric recommends “longer, dramatic or beaded fringe” – a world away from the brown suede jacket most readily associated with the trend.
The trend unexpectedly seems to work well, fringe actually has a long history in evening wear, notably through the beaded and tasselled dresses associated with the Twenties, and contemporary designers continue to exploit the way it moves across dresses and skirts.
Try a black fringed dress with minimal jewellery, or a fringed top with tailored trousers rather than introducing several embellished pieces at once.
River Island Black Fringe Trim Asymmetric Top, £32
Lean in to Western fringe
Of course, Western fringe hasn’t disappeared altogether. Ralph Lauren’s pre-fall 2026 collection undoubtedly leaned into New Mexico influences and included a leather skirt requiring around 60 hours of hand-cutting to create its variegated fringe.
But for everyday dressing, you don’t necessarily need the cowboy boots, suede jacket and fringed bag all at once.
The simplest rule may be to treat fringe as the focal texture rather than the theme of the entire outfit.
A fringed suede jacket with dark denim and a simple knit can still nod to the Western revival; a fringed cardigan with tailored trousers takes it somewhere else entirely.
La Redoute Collections Suede Fringed Jacket, £144.99 (was £289.99)