Why the High-Volume Fashion Trend Is Defining Fashion Right Now

During Fashion Month, designers embraced the high-volume fashion trend, putting dramatic silhouettes at the forefront of their spring-summer 2026 collections. The antithesis of the revamped bandage dress and the plethora of naked dresses on the red carpet, these oversized, sculptural looks that sit away from the body were everywhere we turned, from New York to Paris—call it cocoon dressing.

At some shows, the trend took flight in the form of sculptural hoop skirts: Meruert Tolegen sent a model down the runway in a strapless minidress that jutted out at the waist, which would make walking through the door a challenging feat. Tibi and Dior made strong arguments for wide, larger-than-life skirts that offer wearers ample space from passersby, while Saint Laurent made sculptures out of nylon ball gowns. And balloon-like outerwear and barrel-armed tops walked the likes of Givenchy, MKDT Studio, Vaquera, Zimmermann, and Chloé.

The shift toward inflated silhouettes has been brewing for a while now, with barrel jeans, wide-leg trousers, and exaggerated blazers trickling down from the runways into our wardrobes. But this Fashion Month, the outsized looks drove home that, yes, we could all really use some room to breathe right now. “Fashion always absorbs the emotional atmosphere,” says Maite Aramayo, a fashion writer who runs the newsletter Sugarlesscoat. “When there’s uncertainty or tension in the world, great designers translate that into form and material rather than making literal political statements.”

“We’ve seen a kind of oversaturation of these almost quasi-superhero spandex ensembles that adhere to the body and put the female form very front and center,” says Mosha Lundström Halbert, founder of the fashion podcast Newsfash. “For a lot of women, that’s not how they feel most comfortable moving through the world, with everything on display.”

Many of the voluminous runway looks create a force field of fabric, acting as a form of protection. “To me, it’s designed for women through the female gaze,” says Kristen Bateman, a fashion writer, author, and creative consultant, referencing designers like Simone Rocha and Cecilie Bahnsen, who have always championed large, billowy styles. “We’re living in strange times, and I don’t think naked dressing fits the bill for many real-world women’s lives.” While it may be a style that works on the red carpet, Bateman says she wouldn’t feel safe or comfortable freeing the nipple on, say, the New York City subway.

But how does one wear a larger-than-life look IRL? Fortunately, the fashion trend isn’t as daunting as it may seem. At its core, it’s about the freedom of hiding (or showing) as much of your body as you want to. Ahead, we rounded up a selection of billowy outerwear, dresses, tops, and bottoms to try on for size this season.

The best high-volume outerwear

The easiest way to embrace the trend is with outwear that speaks for itself when it comes to silhouette. Here, the high-volume look comes in the shape of exaggerated shoulders and hips or arms with a round, sculptural shape. Suddenly, you’re a living sculpture.

The best high-volume bottoms

Barrel-leg jeans remain a favorite among trendsetters, but other silhouettes like bubble hems, flared skirts, and balloon pants offer a similar sense of space. With these silhouettes, it’s about comfort more than showing skin—whether that means a light-as-air midi or a pair of exaggerated pants.

The best high-volume tops and dresses

The exaggerated arms of the season’s blouses have a Popeye-like quality—no iron pumping necessary. Look for silhouettes that create a surrealist shape, which feels both modern and artful. Soft scuba fabrics and heavy-duty knits are especially good at holding their rigidity.