Trend watch writer

Iris Mbeki

Tracks what is rising, what is fading, and how long a shape is likely to still look current.

Iris follows silhouettes, color directions and micro-trends from runway through high street to resale racks, and is happy to say a trend has about one summer left in it.

Trend reporting from showroom floors and city sidewalks. Tracks what actually gets worn, not what gets posted.

Articles by Iris

Dark metal pendant on three brown and black cords showing waxed cotton fuzz, leather darkening, and braided polyester.

Trend Watch

Pendant Cord Necklaces Are Back. Choose the Cord First.

Waxed cotton, leather, and polyester may look interchangeable under a pendant. Sweat, friction, and sliding knots expose their differences within days.

Iris Mbeki · 8 min read

Close view of silver crackle-leather court sneakers showing fine breaks in the coating across the toe.

Trend Watch

Cracked Metallic Sneakers Hide Creases Better Than Foil

Silver sneakers are losing their mirror finish. Crackled and brushed coatings are easier to wear daily, although their care demands are less familiar than plain leather.

Iris Mbeki · 7 min read

Cream and navy low-top sneakers showing pale suede toes, dark heel tabs and gum rubber soles on a sidewalk.

Trend Watch

Two-Tone Sneakers Hide Summer Wear Only in the Right Places

Darker panels can make summer sneakers look presentable longer, but many two-tone pairs leave the messiest areas pale. The useful distinction is placement, not color count.

Iris Mbeki · 8 min read

Close view of a black cotton bubble-hem dress draped over a chair, showing the rounded hem and creases at the back.

Trend Watch

Bubble Hems Can Survive a Chair. The Wrong Lining Cannot.

Bubble skirts have reached everyday cotton dresses, but their volume depends on what happens inside the hem. Check the lining, elastic and care label before buying.

Iris Mbeki · 8 min read

A glass-stone flower brooch pinned to a gray merino sweater with a small felt support patch visible behind it.

Trend Watch

Brooches Are Leaving Lapels, but Fine Knits Pay the Price

Brooches now sit on sweaters, shirts, and bags, where pin thickness and ornament weight matter more than the styling shot suggests. Some fabrics need support; others are better left unpierced.

Iris Mbeki · 8 min read

Black metal pendant on a waxed-cotton cord showing a fuzzy worn patch beside one sliding knot.

Trend Watch

Pendant Necklaces Are Back. The Cord Is the Weak Point.

Long pendants have returned on leather, waxed cotton and synthetic cord. The pendant may carry the look, but the cord determines whether it survives beyond one season.

Iris Mbeki · 8 min read

Black cotton bubble-hem midi skirt hanging beside a long lined coat, with the turned-under hem and elastic waist visible.

Trend Watch

Bubble-Hem Skirts Go Everyday, but Washability Is the Test

The new bubble skirt is cotton, casual and often machine washable. Its longer-term value depends on waistband recovery, a stable lining and whether the hem works under a coat.

Iris Mbeki · 8 min read

Close view of a dark woven leather tote showing its unlined interior, top rim and handle attachments.

Trend Watch

Woven Leather Bags Are Leaving Vacation. Check the Lining.

Woven leather now turns up in bags meant for work and fall, not just resort dressing. An unlined basket and a lined carryall may look related, but they do different jobs.

Iris Mbeki · 7 min read

Olive cotton trousers with a printed silk scarf threaded through wide belt loops and tied in a small side knot.

Trend Watch

Scarf Belts Are Back, but Belt Loops Decide If They Stay Put

A silk square can soften tailored trousers, or spend all day creeping loose. Loop width, waistband stiffness and the front closure make the difference.

Iris Mbeki · 7 min read

A powder pink quilted leather hobo bag beside charcoal trousers and a cherry red vintage shoulder bag.

Trend Watch

Powder Pink Is Spreading, but Cherry Red Is Easier to Buy

Pale pink is moving into everyday bags, shoes and sunglasses while cherry red settles into resale. The better choice depends on your neutrals and tolerance for visible wear.

Iris Mbeki · 8 min read

Black leather almond-toe ballet flat beside a round flat and sharply pointed flat on a plain floor

Trend Watch

Almond-Toe Shoes Give Pointed Flats More Room to Work

The almond toe is returning between severe points and soft rounds. Its value depends less on the label than on where the shoe starts to narrow.

Iris Mbeki · 7 min read

Black leather peep-toe slingback worn with charcoal sheer tights, showing a narrow oval opening and concealed toe seam.

Trend Watch

Peep-Toe Shoes Are Back. Tights Expose the Fit Problem.

The revived peep-toe pump looks convincing with bare feet. Add tights, and toe seams, slippery linings and an oversized opening can turn a polished shoe into a seasonal novelty.

Iris Mbeki · 7 min read

Matte black wrapped sunglasses beside a navy blazer and white T-shirt on a wooden bench.

Trend Watch

Sport Sunglasses Work Off the Bike When the Shield Shrinks

The sport-sunglasses trend becomes more wearable when a single broad shield gives way to two compact wrapped lenses. The tradeoff is less coverage, but a better fit with ordinary clothes.

Iris Mbeki · 7 min read

Close view of a black woven bag corner showing strip edges, crossings and the underside of a handle.

Trend Watch

Woven Leather-Look Bags Expose Their Weakest Edges

The woven-bag wave makes ordinary totes feel current, but all those exposed strip edges create extra failure points. Material matters more here than the silhouette.

Iris Mbeki · 8 min read

Worn black leather ballet flats beside a newer pair, showing a softened toe, rubbed lining and bowed side opening.

Trend Watch

Old Ballet Flats Show Which New Pairs Will Age Badly

A worn leather flat can tell you more than a pristine product page. Toe structure, lining, sole depth and the shape of the opening reveal which revived styles may have a short life.

Iris Mbeki · 8 min read

Close view of a cotton-poplin bubble top resting over high-rise trousers, with the gathered hem and lining edge visible.

Trend Watch

Bubble-Hem Tops Ride Up More Than Skirts. The Lining Explains It.

The gathered shape has moved beyond dresses, but it is less stable on a cropped top. Lining length, elastic grip and fabric weight decide whether the volume holds or climbs.

Iris Mbeki · 7 min read

Chocolate-brown suede tote beside a white shirt and dark jeans, with its unlined interior visible.

Trend Watch

Soft Suede Totes Are Rising. Summer Clothes Pay the Price.

The slouchy suede tote looks right for summer, but pale clothes, dark denim, rain, and raw interiors complicate daily wear. Here is what to inspect before buying.

Iris Mbeki · 7 min read

Current black leather slingback beside an older secondhand peep-toe pump, viewed from above to compare their forefoot shapes.

Trend Watch

New Peep-Toe Shoes Look Wider. The Opening Still Decides.

A wider-looking sole does not guarantee more room at the toes. One current slingback and an older secondhand pump show where the revived shape has improved, and where it still presses.

Iris Mbeki · 8 min read

Close view of a black leather toe-ring sandal showing the loop resting behind the second toe joint.

Trend Watch

Toe-Ring Sandals Fail When the Loop Lands in the Wrong Place

The smallest part of this sandal determines whether it walks like a shoe or survives only for photographs. The useful versions keep the loop quiet and the foot stable.

Iris Mbeki · 7 min read

Black bubble-hem skirt turned inside out to show elastic, lining and the joined lower seam.

Trend Watch

Bubble Hems Can Go Flat in the Wash. Check the Inside First.

Elastic, lining and internal tethers produce similar volume on the rack but age differently. Turn the hem inside out and read the full care label before paying for the puff.

Iris Mbeki · 8 min read

Black leather fisherman sandals with narrow straps and low soles beside wide-leg trousers on a stone floor.

Trend Watch

Fisherman Sandals Are Slimmer, but Coverage Pays the Price

The fisherman sandal is losing some bulk. Thinner straps and neater soles look polished, but they expose more foot and leave less cushioning between you and the pavement.

Iris Mbeki · 8 min read

Close view of a black leather slingback with a narrow peep-toe opening beside a wider square-cut pair.

Trend Watch

Peep-Toe Shoes Are Back. The Cutout Decides the Pain.

The workable versions frame the front toes with a broad opening and a yielding edge. Narrow, reinforced cutouts can turn into pressure points as the foot slides forward.

Iris Mbeki · 8 min read

Blue barrel-leg jeans laid flat, showing a bowed side seam and tapered ankle beside a measuring tape.

Trend Watch

Barrel Jeans Have Hit Resale. The Wildest Curves Are the Risk.

Used barrel jeans are becoming easier to find, but the loudest horseshoe cuts are poor alteration candidates. The safer buy has a moderate curve, familiar rise and intact hem.

Iris Mbeki · 8 min read

Brown cylindrical handbag open beside a phone, bottle and long wallet on a plain table.

Trend Watch

Barrel Bags Are Rising. Their Rounded Ends Lose Packing Space

The cylindrical handbag has moved beyond designer and vintage references into wider retail assortments. Before buying, check whether its curved ends suit the rectangular objects you carry.

Iris Mbeki · 8 min read

Chocolate-brown suede hobo shown with close views of its handle, lower corner, nap, and unlined interior.

Trend Watch

Secondhand Suede Bags Are Rising. The Photos Hide the Wear.

Soft suede hobos look timely on resale sites, but color alone tells little. Nap loss, handle darkening, edge wear, and odor decide whether the bag is worth pursuing.

Iris Mbeki · 8 min read

Soft leather shoulder bag beside a structured top-handle bag, both shown with their everyday contents.

Trend Watch

Soft Slouch Bags Win on Capacity, but Closures Decide It

Retail is leaning into relaxed shoulder bags. Their flexible capacity is useful, but an open top and unsupported base can make a sound rigid bag the better keeper.

Iris Mbeki · 8 min read

Black viscose midi skirt with evenly spaced white dots, shown beside a navy knit and black flat sandals.

Trend Watch

Polka Dots Are Getting Bigger, and They Date Faster

Dot scale changes more than mood. Pin dots can work like a neutral, while oversized spots make the season and the garment much easier to place.

Iris Mbeki · 7 min read

White and cream leather sneakers with gray suede toes and gum soles lined up on a worn concrete step.

Trend Watch

Cream Sneakers Hide Wear Better, but the Sole Color Matters

White sneakers are losing ground to cream, gum and muted gray. The useful upgrade is a sole and upper combination that ages quietly rather than advertising every scuff.

Iris Mbeki · 7 min read

Charcoal pleated Bermuda shorts beside loose navy sport shorts with loafers and broad sneakers.

Trend Watch

Tailored Bermudas and Sport Shorts Need Different Shoes

Knee-length shorts are moving in two directions: trouser-like Bermudas and roomy sport pairs. Their rise, hem width, and fabric behavior call for different styling.

Iris Mbeki · 8 min read

Espresso leather belt with brushed brass buckle laid across navy, charcoal and faded denim fabrics.

Trend Watch

Dark Brown Can Replace Black, but the Hardware Decides

Espresso and chocolate accessories are being sold as everyday neutrals. A dark shade can cover black’s old ground, but only after undertone, hardware and contrast pass inspection.

Iris Mbeki · 8 min read