The Iconic Icons of 2026
- Whitney Wisdom
- Feb 1
- 3 min read
What makes an icon? Originally derived from the Bible, to be dubbed an “icon” something must be a symbol that is easily recognizable. I.E. 2025 was the year of the bow. Bows aren’t going anywhere as they take on many lifeforms when combined with lace, florals, and even studs. The year is young, but as a buyer who specializes in product development, mentally I am already in 2027. This means my 2026 pattern book has been created, translated to products, and ready to be shared! In a world where solids and matching sets reign the streets, go bold by repping these icons that are about to be all over.
Martinis: If you saw me in December, you saw me in this jacket. I wore it nearly everyday and for me it takes a very special piece, for me to not want to keep switching it out. The best part of rocking a print that is so iconic as martinis is that you hardly have to do anything to style it. Martinis speak for themselves! Random people stopped me in the street, at the grocery store, at holiday light shows - it was constant and it was as if everyone just had to say something! And it wasn’t just people who looked like me - a young white female professional gawking over this puffer. It was all walks of life crossing the street to get a better look. That’s when I realized martinis are about to be the iconic icon of 2026.
It starts with a ‘tini but as you know, trends develop overtime. Any kind of feminine drinkware that one would describe as “just darling” plays. Think bubbling over champagne flutes in beaded gold, holiday cosmopolitans with a glittery lime, and summertime spritzes in sunset hues. In 2026 we don’t set tables, we wear them.
What makes a martini an icon? Martinis symbolize femininity but also lust and desire packaged in a vintage Hollywood ambiance. Martinis as an icon allow its wearer to straddle the past and present which is precisely what fashion is all about!
Taxis: I’ve been around for 3 decades now and I can say in full honesty that I’ve never seen as much yellow as I have today. What started as butter yellow only in 2025, will transition into brighter and bolder more risky yellows in 2026. What is the most well-known symbol for bright yellow? A New York City Taxi cab! (Or ok fine, I guess the sun too.) Uber launched 15 years ago in NYC and ever since the number of taxi cabs open for passengers has dwindled. It is not farfetched to say that in our lifetime, taxis could be become obsolete. How do we make everyday items from the past live on? We wear them! Everyone loves a piece that revokes a “remember when.”
I recently got a taxi claw clip. I love how the color pops in my dark strands but I was seriously impressed with how much nostalgia this mighty powerful hair clip has evoked. What makes a taxi an icon? Taxis signify the hustle and bustle of hectic travel. When you are in a taxi you are on a mission. You are going somewhere. Mentally, my style lives in the city.
Croissant: She’s buttery, she’s comforting, she’s warm. A croissant icon is ladylike in a way a donut could never be. About an 8 hour flight from that legendary taxi cab, a croissant is just as girly as a ‘tini but with younger energy. Croissant’s add a fun shape to any type of baguette diamond. As a print croissants are often coupled with roses, bows, and anything in the loveshack fancy realm to create the ultimate Paris ambiance. Au revoir belle!
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