spring '26 style guide

I had every intention of doing a “Spring ‘26” trend report for you all, and analyze all the up and coming trends I’m seeing across the board, letting you in on all of the fun. But this season didn’t really feel all that much fun. As I took mental notes of tassels, cobalt blues and loafers - I couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed and even exhausted. Social media has sped up the trend lifecycle in a way that is impossible to keep up with. And I didn’t feel like perpetuating the “here’s what the cool girls are wearing” energy that makes me feel like I’m missing out on something, or I’m somehow not quite chic enough because I don’t have a statement brooch or bambi print flats.

While I’m not opting out of participating in trends (I’m sitting in balloon pants as I type), I’m choosing to opt out of the rat race that is social media trend-led fashion. SO, you’re asking, what is this newsletter about? I’m just going to share the things that have been catching my eye lately, what’s on my spring wishlist, how I’m styling things I already have to feel modern, that sort of thing. Take it or leave it!

As the weather warms up - it’s tempting to shed all the layers, but something I’ve been reading about and noticing from practice is that an outfit always looks more thoughtful and complete with a “third piece” added. So before you walk out the door in your jeans and light knit sweater - consider adding a third piece. This could be a studded belt, a triangle scarf around the shoulders, a pendant necklace that makes a statement, etc. It could be as simple as a button down or sweater tied around the waist (i.e. something you already have in your closet!!) It takes an extra minute or two but does some serious style heavy lifting. If you’re a keote girl - adding a keote to my purse to tie in a hue from elsewhere in my outfit often feels like checking off adding a third/fourth level piece to the look.

At the top of my wish list is a mid length lightweight coat - not quite a trench, not quite a rain jacket and not quite a wind breaker, a little mix of all three (possible correct term here is a technical jacket?) - there’s a Massimo Dutti one I regret not pulling the trigger on before it sold out, and its memory still haunts me. The stand collar, asymmetric buttons, brown/burgundy color. A shame. So I’m on the hunt for something similar, I’m picturing pairing this with just about any and every outfit, whether its athleisure, elevated brunch, errands. Stirrup leggings, button down and flats, buttoned around the neck with my belly peeking out. Even with a pair of shorts, a knit and western boots for the in-between weather months. Can you see the vision? Unfortunately I suspect I won’t find the perfect piece that scratches this itch, and before I know it it’ll be 80 degrees in MN, I’ll have a newborn (spit up & survival mode) and she’ll become a distant memory. Perhaps a good test to see if this desire still lingers into the fall!

So in addition to the extra couple of minutes it takes to add on the third piece, I’ve been assessing the final look as a whole before walking out the door. Is everything athletic? casual? loose? structured? formal? If every piece in the outfit is telling the same story, this is where things can feel a bit one dimensional and “too obvious” for lack of a better term. This is where I’ve been experimenting with swapping an item or two with a “surprise” piece. For example, instead of walking out the door in sneakers, leggings a hoodie and windbreaker (all of which read athleisure) I swap the windbreaker for a trench and immediately feel an elevation of the look. The same goes for an opposite scenario - if you’re wearing slacks, a button down and ballet flats (polished all around) - swap the slacks for a pair of baggy jeans or the button down for a graphic tee. The mix keeps things interesting and thoughtful. This works for accessories too - sometimes I swap my leather tote for the nylon keote to add a more casual/sporty element to a look. Bonus points when swapping - throw in an animal print, pop of color, something with more extreme texture (lace, fringe, fur). Could go on here but I feel the point is made!

Now this isn’t really a color I’m seeing “trending” but I’ve deduced that after a few years of pretty strictly acquiring beiges taupes browns and creams for a wardrobe I have felt a longing for a color that feels neutral, rings true to me, compliments my coloring and existing wardrobe. It was a pair of green gola sneakers that I snagged for the olive keote launch last Fall that have been in heavy rotation ever since that made me realize - green is going to be that girl for me. While I got away with balancing out the sneakers with adding the olive keote to my looks for a while - I recently started acquiring a couple new pieces to make it a wardrobe staple and easy go-to. Every time I see someone rocking a splash of green or fully color drenched in it - it’s instant mood board for me. My recommendation for any fellow neutral-only girls is to find a color that really speaks to you and nurture it! Pin inspo, see where it naturally already is in your wardrobe and before buying another beige anything (guilty!!) see if it’s stocked in your newfound colorway. Shout out to our keote community for asking for new colors - you’ve stretched me out of my neutral comfort zone, and we now have five non-neutral shades.

This is a fraction of all the style/design/shopping thoughts swirling in my brain - but in the spirit of not letting this go on for miles and saving some tidbits for another newsletter - I’ll wrap here. If you’ve read this far, thank you for being here. I hope this provided some style inspiration and positivity around approaching a new season. Appreciate you, always!

- rachael

Shop the keote →