These Are the 7 Trendy Basics I Think Everyone Should Wear in 2026 (and They're All at Nordstrom)

These Are the 7 Trendy Basics I Think Everyone Should Wear in 2026 (and They’re All at Nordstrom)

It’s sort of a given that the start of a new year sparks a strong desire to overhaul one’s entire life—suddenly, we’re compelled to start traveling more, adopt a new wellness routine, or even try dating again. While all of these resolutions are worthy of striving towards, we’d be lying if we didn’t admit that these changes take time, something which can be frustrating if you’re an impatient person (guilty as charged).

Thankfully, there’s one foolproof way to feel like your life has changed overnight without doing anything too drastic: invest in a few trendy basics for your closet. Before you disregard what we’re saying, let us explain. It might seem superfluous to suggest that a few new staples can change your life, because, well, they’re not necessarily going to have the same impact as developing a new positive habit.

However, there’s no better way to visually indicate you’ve shifted into a new era, or rather, a new year, without taking bigger risks like getting bangs or quitting your job. By making a few upgrades to your everyday basics, you’ll not only scratch your itch for change in the short term, but, in the long term, it can shift the way you see your personal style and even your sense of self. Basically, your future self will be happy that you not only signed up for the pilates class, but purchased those trendy basics, too.

Of course, like any resolution, figuring out where to start is always tricky; that’s where we come in handy. After spending countless hours researching the runway, street style, and the new arrivals section, we’ve identified 6 trendy basics available at Nordstrom that every stylish person will be wearing in 2026. These staples might be life-altering, but they’re a great way to start making changes.

1. Leather Bomber Jackets

No matter what’s trending on the runway, certain types of jackets remain a pivotal part of fashion people’s capsule wardrobes—bomber jackets being one of those pieces. But don’t be fooled; that doesn’t mean the bomber jackets that fashion people are wearing right now are, by any means, boring.

First and foremost, the version of this outerwear trending right now deviates from the traditional nylon or jersey iterations we’ve seen in the past by being made from leather. Furthermore, we’ve seen this classic outerwear given a cool spin in recent runway collections from Saint Laurent, Khaite, and Phoebe Philo, featuring distressed leather, oversized shapes, trending shades, and other trend-forward details (think: funnel necks, built-in scarves, and unique hardware).

The result is a new take on this staple that single-handedly made it a must-shop among the style crowd for 2026.

Nordstrom

Bubble Hem Leather Jacket

Topshop

Bubble Boxy Faux Leather Jacket

Open Edit

Oversize Faux Leather Jacket

Khaite

Owey Plongé Leather Bomber Jacket

Avec Les Filles

Pieced Back Leather Bomber Jacket

AllSaints

Sofi Leather Bomber Jacket

2. Skinny-ish Cigarette Jeans

Trendy basics at Nordstrom are shown in a street style photo of a woman standing on the sidewalk wearing oversized brown aviator sunglasses, with a black turtleneck sweater and cigarette slim jeans styled underneath a long brown suede and shearling coat, a brown Bottega bag, and black ruched loafers

It’s no secret that jeans are one of the few evergreen staples that outlast everything. But despite their continued relevance in our closets, you can always count on a couple of “controversial” denim trends to crop up each season—the most recent example being the debut of the cigarette jeans.

Drawing inspiration from the slim-cut trouser trend that surfaced in recent runway collections, we’ve seen designers at luxury houses and indie labels alike embrace denim that straddles the line between skinny-adjacent and slim-fit straight-leg jeans. The hybrid silhouette has quickly cemented itself as a trend-forward basic in the eyes of the style set, as cigarette-fit jeans let one dabble in edgy denim trends (without catching too much smoke for wearing true skinny-fit jeans).

Sandra Low Rise Slim Straight Leg Jeans

Reformation

Jax Super High Waist Straight Leg Jeans

AGOLDE

Low Rise Slim Fit Jeans

Levi’s

Wedgie High Waist Slim Jeans

TOTEME

Low Rise Organic Cotton Denim Straight Leg Jeans

3. Ruched Loafers

Trendy basics at Nordstrom are shown in a street style photo of a woman standing on the sidewalk wearing a tan trench coat over a black t-shirt styled with a brown belt, gray trousers, a brown plaid flannel tied around the waist, a black shoulder bag, black ruched loafers, and brown sunglasses.

Frankly, there’s no better way to step into a new year than by investing in a few classic pairs of shoes for your capsule wardrobe (excuse the pun). After all, how are you supposed to achieve all your other resolutions if you’re always wearing uncomfortable footwear?

Luckily, there’s one shoe style that’s both functional and fashion-forward: ruched loafers. Every season, loafers remain a beloved staple among the style set for their ability to elevate even the most “casual” pieces: jeans, leggings, the works.

Even beyond that versatility, what makes this specific shoe trend stick is its continuous reinvention each season—most recently in the collections of Saint Laurent, The Row, and Prada. The subtle spin on this classic silhouette in the form of a ruched toe bed reminds us that staples can feel fresh, if you’re willing to step outside the box a little.

Steve Madden

Stewart Convertible Penny Loafer

Prada

Ruched Toe Penny Loafer

Reformation

Ani Ruched Penny Loafer

4. Scarf-Sweaters

Trendy basics at Nordstrom are shown in a street style photo of a woman standing on the sidewalk wearing black sunglasses, silver earrings, a gray sweater with a built-in cape scarf, a silver cuff bracelet, gray knitted pants, a black crescent bag, and black ballet flats

Like it or not, there’s one undeniable truth: no winter wardrobe is complete without knitwear. Even if you’re not a winter person, you can still find ways to enjoy this time of year, starting with investing in a more trend-forward sweater.

Although there are a few worthwhile knitwear trends, the scarf-sweater has cemented itself as a must-shop in the eyes of the style set. Drawing inspiration from the outerwear trend that dominated a few seasons ago, we’ve seen sweaters with built-in scarves and cape details that can single-handedly achieve all your resolutions.

Whether your goal for the new year includes elevating your style or being (or looking) more wealthy, you’ll find that a scarf-sweater will give you the kick-start you need to achieve that aim in 2026.

Halogen

Crewneck Scarf Sweater

Rails

Cortina Scarf Neck Wool & Cashmere Sweater

ASTR the Label

Silvana Scarf Sweater

Vince

Drape Neck Wool & Cashmere Sweater

Nordstrom

Scarf Collar Wool & Cashmere Sweater

STAUD

Siren Sweater & Scarf Set

5. Lace Slip Skirts

Trendy basics at Nordstrom are shown in a street style photo of a woman standing on a sidewalk wearing black sunglasses, a white funnel neck jacket, a black slip skirt with contrasting white lace trim, black pointed pumps, a black frame handbag, and a white resin ring

Although we’ll never deny that sweaters are a pivotal staple, we wouldn’t judge you if you don’t want to buy another winter piece (for now). When you want to pretend winter is over, consider turning to another staple: a slip skirt.

Much like knitwear, slips are the kind of staple we’re all guilty of associating with specific seasons, but can actually be worn year-round. That’s no more apparent than in the way we’ve seen the style set wear slip skirts with everything from baby tees and flip-flops to sweaters and jeans.

The styling possibilities of slip skirts alone are why they’ve remained a beloved staple with the style crowd, but it also doesn’t hurt that we’ve seen them given trend-forward updates in recent seasons, too. From The Row to Reformation, labels have revitalized this staple by releasing slip skirts with delicate lace trims. It’s a romantic touch that lets us all indulge in the fantasy of a new season.

Reformation

Carolina Lace Trim Silk Midi Skirt

Favorite Daughter

The Lacy Favorite Satin Maxi Skirt

Open Edit

Lace Trim Satin Midi Skirt

Veronica Beard

Hartley Lace Detail Asymmetric Slip Skirt

Good American

Lace Trim Satin Midi Skirt

Petal & Pup

Alira Satin & Lace Midi Skirt

6. Peep-Toe Heels

Trendy basics at Nordstrom are shown in a street style photo of a woman standing in an elevator bank wearing a long black coat over a black blouse styled with a black skinny belt, black mini skirt, black sheer tights, a red clutch bag, and black peep toe heels

Beyond investing in comfortable footwear, another thing you’ll want to consider when updating your capsule wardrobe is which events are on your calendar. Whether you’re planning to attend a girlfriend’s wedding, a few galas, or simply want to go out more in the new year, you’ll need at least one pair of shoes that can be pulled out for any occasion—allow peep-toe pumps to enter chat.

Yes, you read that right.

If you never thought you’d see the day when this semi-controversial shoe made a comeback, then you (like many of us) were proven wrong with its return in the S/S 25 collections of Miu Miu and Prada. The signature shape has slowly reclaimed its status as a must-have staple in the minds of stylish women everywhere, thanks in part to the viral pairs from Tory Burch, Ferragamo, and Alaïa, which gave the silhouette a posh update. From curved heels to sculptural wedges, there are so many variations now available that you can find a pair that suits whatever plans you have for 2026.

Jeffrey Campbell

Snoah Slingback Peep Toe Pump

Tory Burch

Pointed Toe Pump

Arezzo

Olivia Slingback Peep Toe Pump

FERRAGAMO

Arcadia Ankle Strap Wedge Pump

Sam Edelman

Wrenna Ankle Strap Peep Toe Pump

Stuart Weitzman

Val Slingback 85 Sandal

7. Bowler Bags

Trendy basics at Nordstrom are shown in a street style photo of a woman walking down the sidewalk wearing black oval sunglasses styled with a long leopard print fur coat layered over black trousers worn with a black bowler black and black ankle boots

Last but certainly not least, you can’t really build a capsule wardrobe without considering accessories—no, we’re not just talking about footwear. The bits and bobs are ultimately what can make the “boring” staples in the back of your closet feel brand-new again.

While there are plenty of accessory trends one could consider incorporating into their closet for the new year, none come close to scoring all the points quite like a bowler bag. While we’ve seen this style trend before, the sport-inspired shape has once again gathered a following with the release of buzzy bowler bags from The Row, Ferragamo, Jacquemus, and Coach.

Although it might be easy to attribute the revival of bowler bags to a larger part of the reboot of ’00s aesthetics, in actuality, the popularity of this trend stems from it being the perfect alternative to typical commuter carryall totes. Bowler bags have a functional enough shape that you can carry all your essentials, but they still allow you to feel, well, stylish. It’s no wonder, then, that bowler bags have remained a strikeout trend with the fashion set, and will likely do so well into the new year.