Ruffles, Ribbons and a Tiara Triumph: How Dressing Like a Princess Is About to Become Spring’s Biggest Trend

Welcome to the Gen Z Mood, where I—Who What Wear UK's 27-year-old social media editor—keep you updated with my mood of the month and the most exciting things I’ve spotted on the scroll. I'm always looking for new and thrifty ways to shop trends, and I'm taking you with me.

The Mood: Princess treatment

I want to be more of a princess in 2026. Not in a damsel-in-distress kind of way and not in a Disney kind of way (despite my excitement for production being well underway on The Princess Diaries reboot). But in more of an Olivia-Rodrigo-tiara-wearing, Laufey-performing-from-a-gilded-castle, Gabriette-making-"succubus-makeup"-a-trend kind of way.

Let me explain. All things medieval, witchy, and fantastical have been bubbling up for a while in fashion circles. Remember Chappell Roan’s VMA’s Henin hat? Or Matthieu Blazy's breathtaking fungi fairytale in Paris? Or those candelabras at Yuhan Wang’s spring/summer 2026 Show? Between Wuthering Heights making us all yearn for Victorian corsets—amongst other things—and cool girls styling everything from capes and bonnets to brooches and tiaras on the streets of East London, I can’t help but think this whimsical, princess-coded aesthetic is about to have a moment.

For some time now, Gen Z fashion trends have been shifting away from the "clean girl" capsule wardrobe that defined the 2020s so far, and towards a more eclectic, thrift-oriented, crafty sense of style. It’s messy, it’s thrown together and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. And more than that, it loves a reference and a theme. This plays perfectly into the nostalgic, childlike art of cosplaying as a whimsical princess, or at least letting this idea inspire elements of your wardrobe.

This is something TikToker and trend commentator @notbriannaly believes is so on brand for Gen Z. "[They] yearn for the freedom and the joy of childhood and the 'good ol’ days'. We’ve [Gen Z] realised the hardships and discouraging obstacles that can come with actual adult life, so why not make life whimsical?"

So far this year, Brianna has amassed over 1 million views on her "whimsy" content, pointing towards her theory that there is an appetite amongst Gen Z for the fantastical things in life and channelling this into our wardrobes. From crafts to outfit inspo, the content creator is defining whimsy with her advice and shopping picks. "Why not turn every day, every outfit, every activity into something fun and magical and exciting?" she says, alluding to the idea that whimsy doesn’t just mean a princess-coded wardrobe; it can be a lifestyle, too. "I like to make content about making life itself and the act of living more whimsical. Clothes can only take you so far, but being whimsical is, in a way, spiritual."

Brianna is right; it’s not just about fashion. My TikTok feed has been flooded with inspirational edits adopting the aesthetic: videos about princess-themed party ideas covering everything from costumes to candelabras, and "princess bedroom idea" videos have amassed thousands of views since the start of the year. One thing is clear: Gen Z loves a holistic approach to trending aesthetics—and a theme.

And this twinkle in the zeitgeist hasn’t gone unnoticed by fashion insiders, either. After teasing her new "everyday" tiara collection with an Instagram post featuring Lily Allen and Suki Waterhouse over the new year, this month, Jennifer Behr launched the collaboration collection with fashion columnist Julia Hobbs (just in case this trend’s It-girl allure wasn’t evident enough). The limited-edition line intends to place the tiara as an everyday accessory, bringing a little je ne sais quoi to the simplest outfits.

For a while, the spotlight neglected interesting accessories. But with the rise of vintage and evolution away from quiet luxury, attention is shifting. Behr tells me, "Interesting accessories are becoming more important again. There has been a lot of excitement around fashion jewellery—the runways have had really gorgeous jewellery again."

The launch couldn't come at a better time for whimsy-loving Gen Z. The luxury accessories designer is excited to connect with a new customer. "With Gen Z being tired of saving their 'best' pieces, it has set the tone for the fashion world to make every day special with accessories that stand out," she says.

This emphasis on personal connection was considered in the capsule's design, too. "Julia and I kept coming back to how creative and expressive '90s grunge-glamour fashion felt, and how right it feels to tap back into that energy now. Tiaras for everyday have a very rock-royalty-Courtney-Love-vintage vibe."

So, are we all going to start wearing tiaras on the tube? Behr is certainly optimistic. "Just the other day, I saw a photo on social media of Kitty Lever wearing our tiara on the subway. I loved it," she says, pointing again to the It-girl essence of this magical accessory. Cool girls don’t want a Prince Charming; they want a Dilara ball gown made from hair, topped with a headband encrusted with sparkling jewels.

So when we combine TikTok-trending "whimsy-maxxing" with the sea of outfits fit for a fairytale on this season’s runways and the array of brand collaborations rolling out for spring, all signs are pointing to spring/summer 2026 being the era of the princess.

From vintage velvets to corseted styles and the chicest capes on the high street, scroll on for the princess essentials I'm shopping.

SHOP THE PRINCESS EDIT: