OBSERVATIONS
INTENTIONAL MAXIMALISM
Since the start of 2026, nearly every signal has pointed towards a move away from minimalism. As someone who has never met a pattern or sequin she didn't like, this was welcome news. One of my favorite places to look for early signals in the experience space is fashion. What shows up on the runway rarely stays there. New creative directors at major fashion houses entered 2026 with bolder prints, richer colors, statement accessories, and a general rejection of the understated aesthetic that has dominated for years. The expectation was that this would trickle down into everyday fashion, based on the quick and dramatic reaction across Google and Pinterest search trends.
At the end of 2025 search terms like “leopard print,” “blue eyeshadow,” and “sequins,” rose, while search terms like “quiet luxury” were on the decline, as reported by @databutmakeitfashion on Instagram. Now, it is June and there really hasn’t been the exaggerated wave of maximalism that we expected. Social media and search trends show otherwise, though. People are still actively looking for inspiration on maximalist inspired fashion, design, and decor. Pinterest’s latest trend report for 2026 shows the steady rise in searches for things like “eccentric makeup,” “chunky belt,” “80s
luxury,” “red marble bathroom,” “circus interior,” and “maximalist accessories.”
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