As autumn/winter approaches, fashion is moving towards a more expressive kind of elegance, one that embraces colour, craftsmanship and statement-making prints without sacrificing ease. Designer Ranna Gill sees the season unfolding in rich jewel-toned earth shades such as rust, burgundy, sage, indigo and dusty mauve, paired with maximalist florals and paisleys. Silhouettes are set to strike a balance between fluidity and structure, from relaxed dresses and wide-leg trousers to tailored blazers, while hand-appliquéd details and embroidered denim bring craft and drama to everyday dressing and eveningwear.For Gill, however, the strongest fashion statements are not necessarily the most fleeting ones. She believes the pieces that endure are defined by fit, fabric and a print with soul, clothes that carry a sense of personality rather than simply reflecting the trend of the moment. As Indian women become increasingly experimental with mixing prints, Indian craft and Western tailoring, she also sees a shift towards wardrobes that work harder: outfits that can move from the boardroom to dinner with minimal changes, and glamour that feels as comfortable as it looks. Here, Ranna Gill decodes the key fashion trends for Fall ’26, from the colours and silhouettes set to dominate the season to the styling mistakes to avoid and why comfort may be the most important luxury in modern fashion.
Fall/Winter fashion 2026
What are the key colours, silhouettes and textures that you think will define fashion this autumn/winter?I think jewel-toned earth tones, rust, burgundy, sage, indigo, dusty mauve, alongside our signature maximalist florals and paisleys. Silhouettes are fluid yet structured: relaxed dresses, wide-leg trousers, tailored blazers with hand-appliquéd motifs, and a strong return of embroidered denim as eveningwear.Fashion trends come and go, but some pieces stay in our wardrobes for years. What, in your view, makes an outfit truly timeless?Fit, fabric, and a print with soul. A timeless piece isn’t loud for the sake of it, it has a story in its detailing, whether that’s an embroidery or a cut that flatters regardless of trend cycles. That’s what I chase with every collection.How do you think the way Indian women dress has changed over the last few years? Are they becoming more experimental with fashion?Indian women are far more fearless now : mixing prints, layering Western tailoring with Indian craft, wearing colour without apology. There’s a real confidence in personal styling rather than just following the runway.What is one fashion trend you wish people would stop blindly following, and what would you encourage them to embrace instead?I’d love people to move away from fast, disposable “trend of the week” dressing. Instead, invest in pieces with craftsmanship, hand embroidery, quality fabric, that only get better with time.
Fall/Winter fashion 2026
With busy lives and increasingly versatile wardrobes, do you think women today are looking for fashion that can move from work to dinner to an evening out? How are designers responding to this shift?Absolutely, women today don’t have the time for multiple outfit changes, so we design pieces that transition naturally. A shirt-dress or a printed co-ord can go from a meeting to dinner with just a change of shoes and jewellery.What are some simple styling mistakes you see people making, and what is one easy way to instantly elevate an outfit?The biggest mistake is over-accessorising a print-heavy outfit. My rule: let a strong print speak for itself, and elevate with one statement piece : a great bag or bold earrings , rather than layering on everything at once.How important is comfort in fashion today? Can something be stylish and glamorous without being uncomfortable?They’re not opposites, that’s an outdated idea. Our fabrics are breathable, our silhouettes have movement, and yet nothing compromises on the drama of print and embroidery. Comfort is what makes glamour wearable.What inspired Maison Celestial, and what kind of woman did you have in mind while creating the Fall ’26 collection?Maison Celestial was born from the idea of a polished, elegant woman who carries her own mythology with her , romantic, well-travelled and confident. The collection itself is rooted in art and architecture we shot the campaign against the grand facades and columns of a museum, and that same sense of structure and old-world artistry runs through the prints and silhouettes. I wanted to build a wardrobe for someone who moves between a boardroom and a cocktail evening without changing her spirit, just her layers.
Image Courtesy: Ranna Gill
Sustainability has become an important part of the fashion conversation. What changes do you think the industry and consumers still need to make?The industry needs to slow down, fewer, better collections, and more accountability in sourcing. As consumers, buying less but buying well, and valuing craftsmanship over quantity, is the real shift needed.If you could give women just three fashion rules to follow this season, what would they be?Wear what you feel confident in, don’t be afraid to mix prints, and always choose fit over trend, a well-fitted piece will outlast any fashion moment.
