I think Gen Z tends to get a bad rap when it comes to fashion. Granted, the mismatched array of hyper-eclectic prints, aesthetics and microtrends that flooded our social-media feeds circa 2020 hasn’t helped the case. Cast your mind back to the leopard-print jorts of 2024? Or perhaps the crochet balaclavas of 2021 are enough to send a shudder down the spine. Either way, it’s pretty safe to say that Gen Z isn’t typically the first place fashion people turn to for fashion advice.
Yet, surveying the summer 2026 wardrobes of the incredibly chic 20-something fashion editors at Who What Wear UK, or dissecting the trends Gen Z’s coolest It girls dictate (think capri leggings or jelly shoes), the whole thing actually feels pretty minimalist to me. Whether they’re leaning into the sleek sophistication of the ‘90s à la Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, or mastering the art of off-duty dressing, their looks are united by a sense of restraint. That’s not to say that Gen Z has abandoned microtrends altogether; a glance at the generation’s current love affair with ’00s athleisure is proof enough. However, as their style has matured, I feel it’s high time we give them their flowers and explore what minimalism looks like through their lens in 2026.
From lace detailing to utility-style pieces, the trends Gen Z is adopting this summer feel all too similar to those circulating throughout the rest of fashion—just with a bit of a carefree twist. Scroll to discover six of them.
6 Minimalist Trends Gen Z Is Loving This Summer
1. The Little White Dress
Style Notes: Come summer, a white dress will serve you well. Yet in 2026, it’s the shorter iteration Gen Z are favouring over the traditional floaty maxi. From Olivia Rodrigo’s internet-dividing babydoll dresses to classic broderie-anglaise styles, shorter hemlines serve as a rebellious form of self-expression and a way to make fashion feel a tad more playful. Last year, we saw the style layered over jeans; however, they look just as good paired with bare legs and ballet flats, loafers and sandals.
Shop the Trend:
Free People
Flaunt It Mini Dress
I think Olivia would love this style.
ASOS DESIGN
Ruched Plunge Barrel Mini Dress
This dress comes in six different prints and patterns.
Reformation
Franceska Linen Dress
Kookai
Ariel Belted Mini Dress
Throwback brand Kookai has recently opened a store on Carnaby Street.
Rixo
Inez Cotton Mini Dress
M&S
Satin Lace Insert Mini Skater Dress
I can’t believe this dress is only £45!
2. The Unexpected Pop
Style Notes: Whether you’re Gen Z or millennial, summer 2026 is once again proving that colour has a universal appeal. From tranquil tones of lagoon blue to bold statement reds, fashion’s most pared-back dressers are embracing these shades to brighten their outfits without sacrificing their simplicity. Adding a punch to white linen trousers and a fashion-forward finish to pleated midi skirts, an injection of colour is a fail-safe way to make your look feel more current without doing much heavy lifting.
Shop the Trend:
ISABEL MARANT
Sakine Satin Blouse
Satin blouses in soft tones of butter yellow, pale pink and cool blue will be everywhere this summer.
If you’re after something bolder, try COS’s best-selling Clean Cut T-Shirt in one of the 16 shades.
H&M
Twist-Detail Halterneck Top
Pair with an all-white look to allow this draped top to pop.
ZARA
Asymmetric Ruffle Top
This whole look just screams high summer.
A playful take on the classic broderie-anglaise blouse.
Whistles
Cowl Neck Silk Drape Top
I never would have thought that red and brown would pair this well together.
Bury me in these showstopping shoes.
3. Lots of Lace
Style Notes: On the cusp of transitioning from trend to capsule-wardrobe staple, lace trims are the gift that keeps on giving for the Gen Z style set. With a French lingerie-inspired edge, a lace-trimmed hem can do Margot Robbie in Wuthering Heights and a summering Elsa Hosk, cut and colour dependent. Whether you lean into “dated” Y2K colours like Amaka Hamelijnck (above), or opt for classic whites, this is a pretty way to make your staples feel more current.
Shop the Trend:
Free People
Reya Lace Top
A very vintage-inspired take.
Anthropologie
Cropped Lace-Hem Trousers
This is exactly how I’ll be incorporating the trend this summer.
Leny
Nunu Lace-Trimmed Woven Shorts
I can just imagine this set on a yacht in the South of France.
Reformation
Fern Satin Short
If you buy one lace-trimmed piece, make it satin shorts.
MANGO
Cross-Over Lingerie Skirt With Slit
If you’re looking for a way to spice up a ’90s midi skirt, a lace trim is a great way to do it.
Whistles
Lace Hem Satin Midi Skirt
Slightly edgy, 100% cool… bravo, Whistles.
4. The ’90s Called
Style Notes: Following the release of Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette earlier this year, Gen Z has discovered ’90s fashion. Mirroring Carolyn’s effortlessly pared-back style has become more than a trend but a whole aesthetic for many, with search interest for knee-skimming midi skirts, bootcut jeans and strappy sandals at an all-time high. Balancing a polished yet unfussy feel as we turn the corner into summer 2026, this is one has real staying power.
Shop the Trend:
NORMA KAMALI
Ruched Stretch-Jersey Mini Dress
Pair with kitten-heel sandals for a polished look.
Reformation
Santino Knit Top
How stunning is this fine-knit top?
ZARA
Long Polyamide Blend Dress
Summer whites done right.
Reformation
Helen Low Waist Midi Skirt
I need this whole look, stat.
With Nothing Underneath
The Boyfriend
AGOLDE
90s Mid-Rise Straight-Leg Jeans
Leset
Barb Satin Miniskirt
Style with a three-quarter-sleeve tee and ballet flats this summer.
5. Viva La Vintage
Style Notes: Maybe it’s the diet of ’90s TV shows we’re all into, or just an overwhelming love of nostalgia, but vintage pieces from the era have never been more popular. Full of personality-driven individuality, these pieces have been climbing Google’s ranks all summer. From classic Burberry plaids to the bamboo heels of Tom Ford’s Gucci, “old” has never been more “in”.
Shop the Trend:
These could be straight out of the ’80s.
Gucci
Slide Sandal With Double G
In the ’00s, Paris Hilton wore shoes like this almost every day.
Gucci
80mm Patent-Leather Pumps
I’d recognise a Tom Ford-era Gucci heel anywhere.
Valentino
Logo Slingback Pumps
Style with jeans and a nice top.
Gucci
95mm GG canvas pumps
Haven’t you heard? The peep-toe is back.
Gucci
GG Leather Heeled Sandals
Christian Dior
2010s Pointed Toe Pumps
6. Utility
Style Notes: Gen Z prioritises comfort, functionality and rebellious self-expression, so it makes sense that utility is back in a big way. Think autumn’s funnel-neck jackets, or the workers’ belts everywhere right now; there’s a multi-faceted durability to this trend that has Gen Z shopping in droves.
Shop the Trend:
The White Company UK
Utility Cotton Blend Jacket
The White Company has some of the coolest minimalist pieces on the market right now.
MANGO
Mid-Rise Cargo Pocket Trousers
I’m very into these cargos.
If Miu Miu is championing the trend, you know it must be cool.
Anthropologie
The Kayden High-Rise Carpenter Barrel Trousers
Khaki jeans have been all over my feed this year.
So good, I had to include the miniskirt too.
