You’ve replaced ceremonial-grade matcha with ube, barn jackets with funnel-neck windbreakers, Puma Speedcats with Nike Air Superfly LXs, and classic burgundy pedicures with glossed toffee. But, humor me for a second: Does this mean you’ve got taste?
The signs may indicate so – you’re drinking wine and wearing the “right” things – but are we really confusing being on trend with embracing good taste? Because taste is a whole lot more chemical thing, right? Not a trail of breadcrumbs that anyone can follow on Instagram, but a mix of personal style, an appreciation of vintage (or, even better, archival) clothing and a staunch avoidance of anything “obvious”. Was quiet luxury good taste? Was “Boom Boom” in bad taste? And, perhaps most relevantly, whether it is even possible to pass Taste in 2026?
These days, it is not only “obscenity” that can equate to “bad taste”, but also declining relevance. The term can, confusingly, also describe something that is so “bad” (read: weird, offensive, alternative), that it’s good. Take the tabois of Maison Margiela. This Japanese-inspired shoe resembles a cloven hoof and has been compared to a camel’s toe, none of which has stopped Zendaya, Rihanna, and Michael B. Jordan (and many other celebrities and fashionistas) from wearing it. And herein lies their problem.
one in recent instagram reels, fashion commentator @trendyjosh_ Briefly explained how mass appeal has effectively weakened the edge of the shoe to some extent. “Nine times out of 10, if someone was wearing Tabis, ‘fits were fly. (…) When it really started to go mainstream, like by now in the summer of 2024, that’s when ‘fits started to take a turn. It’s basically been no different than wearing loafers, or Mary-Janes or whatever,” he said, adding a final word of advice. “Tabis are still one of my favorite silhouettes, but it’s time to give them a little rest.”
(Image credit: Getty Images/Arnaldo Magnani)
In 2026, the saturation point of a product is reached more quickly due to Instagram and TikTok – it’s only a matter of time before the algorithms kill it off – creating something of a “cult” following – but also the availability of said product, which would previously have been much harder to obtain, especially at a low, secondhand price. Now, a well-chosen search term on your resale platform of choice (Vinted, Vestiaire Collective, The RealReal or good old eBay) usually sooner or later delivers the stuff you bought while sitting on your couch.
Taste has to remain true – despite temptation – to you. As Fana HaileSenior Stylist in Tibi“Taste is (someone) who has their own point of view. Now more than ever, in the age of AI and social media, I think the people with the best taste are (those) who dance to the beat of their own drum,” she says, citing two examples: Bob Marley and Lee Radziwill, Jackie Kennedy-Onassis’s younger sister. “I find it almost a form of rebellion – very punk.”
However, this is also a consequence of this age of connectivity. “There are no gatekeepers (or not that prominently). If you think something is delicious, it is. Period,” says Haley.
(Image credit: Backgrid)
Ideally, tastes should have a way of communicating with each other; Not a medium of decision, but a medium of connection. Davina EffettiA fashion stylist based in New YorkShe describes herself as an introvert, which has influenced the way she puts together her outfits, and as a result, her taste. She says, “By making my appearance great I have found it easier to enter places and conversations. It has always aroused curiosity in those around me, both familiar faces and strangers.”
“Anyone I encounter, whether in real life or online, who makes me scratch that itch and opens my eyes to the wonder of what could be – that’s what taste means to me.” Effetti She says discovering her taste has been nothing short of a “metamorphosis”, going from growing up in school uniforms to imitating “the copy-paste formula of dressing like everyone’s favorite style influencer” during college. “I’ve stopped berating myself for that phase,” she says. “I’ve come to understand that it’s part of the journey.”
It was in her final year of college that she started imagining a different way of dressing. “My sense of how I wanted to present myself to the world began to change. At first, it was influenced by people I had just begun to admire; I thought people who had a similar mindset had a similar mindset. But eventually I realized that every outfit was actually a conversation with my own mind.”
Refining your taste is a lifelong practice, and ultimately develops your sense of self. Effetti does Imagine what it’s possible to taste in 2026, despite the noise that may or may not distract you. She muses, “My interest didn’t solely develop from following my favorite content creators, style influencers, or celebrities. I mean, it started out that way, but where I really found myself became this specific product of self-actualization.” “Especially when it comes to style, it was about understanding how big a role clothes play in the emotional and psychological aspects of my life.”
