Some fabrics tell the story of a season better than any thermometer. This summer, that role belongs to crochet's openwork stitch, from the runways to seaside terraces.
Crochet has established itself as one of the major fashion trends of summer 2026. It appears just as much on the spring-summer runways, covered by Vogue France, as in the beach wardrobes described by The Guardian: openwork dresses, light tunics, flowing trousers. Behind the fashion moment lies a more lasting reason for its comeback: crochet is a craft, a fabric made by hand, stitch by stitch. Here's where this enthusiasm comes from, and how to make it your own with taste.
Why crochet, and why now?
The crochet dress makes a comeback every summer, but this year it holds a special place, notes Vogue France: a season marked by carefree ease, echoing the spirit of the 1970s. On the spring-summer 2026 runways, the trend took several forms, still according to Vogue: short, colourful silhouettes in a festival-wardrobe vein, but also pared-back, immaculate versions, or work reminiscent of pieced-together vintage doilies. The magazine even made it one of the threads running through its August issue.
The red carpet is no exception. Vogue France points out that at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, a crochet dress by Schiaparelli, inspired by a piece worn by Jane Birkin in the late 1960s, had already signalled this big comeback. A lineage that speaks to the nature of this trend well: less a novelty than a summer classic that every generation reinvents.
From the runway to the beach: how to wear it
The good news is that crochet isn't remotely intimidating. Its easiest-to-wear form remains the beach piece: a tunic or light dress slipped on over a swimsuit. The Guardian, which files this craving for sea-inspired textures under the name “mermaidcore,” specifically recommends crochet and netting as this season's sarongs, alongside raffia and softly shimmering fabrics. The watchword: restraint. Borrow the sea's palette and textures — faded blues, sea greens, sea foam — rather than piling everything on.
A few pointers for wearing it without a misstep:
- Manage the sheerness. An openwork stitch is worn over a base layer: a well-cut swimsuit at the beach, a light slip or a matching nightdress in town. It's what separates a considered look from a wardrobe accident.
- One statement piece at a time. If the crochet piece already speaks loudly, keep accessories simple and stick to flat sandals. The reverse also works: a crochet tank top over flowing trousers is enough to set the tone.
- Play with natural tones. Ecru, sand, terracotta, washed blue: these shades show off the texture and suit the light of our Mediterranean summers.
Even the wedding dress
A sign that the trend goes beyond a simple beach season: crochet is also making its way into bridal fashion. Vogue France spots it among the 2026-2027 bridal trends, from the New York Bridal Fashion Week runways to those of Barcelona Bridal Week. The spirit there is “at once romantic, artisanal and surprisingly contemporary,” with delicate interlacing and openwork effects that celebrate handiwork. The appealing idea: a dress designed for the emotion of the day, but also to last and be worn again long after the wedding, far from single-use fashion.
The real luxury is the time behind handmade work
If crochet resonates with us so much, it's perhaps because it speaks a language we know well. Here, handmade work has never been mere nostalgia: it's a living skill, passed down from mother to daughter, kin to that traditional Tunisian fashion where every piece bears the trace of a hand. The openwork stitch belongs to the same family of patience as the chechia and the sefseri: slow objects, made to endure through time.
At a time when fashion is looking to slow down, this fabric comes right on time. Choosing a crochet piece — better still, choosing one well made and built to last — fits with the desire for a more responsible wardrobe, one that favours fine craftsmanship over accumulation. The trend will pass; the taste for the right gesture will remain.
