Once divisive, the peplum silhouette is finding its place in contemporary wardrobes again, with fresh proportions and modern styling giving the trend a new lease of life.
Fashion has a way of revisiting the silhouettes we once thought we had left behind. This time, it is the peplum’s turn. The waist-defining detail, known for its flared fabric extending from the waistline, is returning to the fashion conversation with a more sculptural, considered approach. Once synonymous with fitted tops and pencil skirts of the 2010s, the silhouette is shedding its dated associations to find a place in modern dressing.
Priyanka Chopra recently offered a compelling take on the trend in Los Angeles, wearing a baby-pink, gold floral jacquard ensemble by Matières Fécales. The actor stepped out in a plunging jacket featuring a pronounced peplum waist, paired with a matching skirt. The look balanced a romantic colour palette with dramatic tailoring, distressed hems, and a trailing train. Styled by Law Roach, it was the perfect example of how a familiar silhouette can feel entirely new through experimentation.
The peplum, of course, is hardly a new invention. Its history stretches back decades, with Christian Dior’s celebrated New Look of 1947 bringing renewed attention to cinched waists and accentuated hips. It resurfaced again in the 1980s through power dressing before becoming a defining feature of women's occasionwear and office wardrobes in the early 2010s. Its subsequent retreat from the fashion conversation made its current revival all the more interesting.
On the Spring/Summer 2026 runways, designers revisited the silhouette through sharper proportions and controlled volume. The Autumn/Winter 2026 collections have continued the conversation, with contemporary interpretations moving beyond the traditional flared top to include tailored jackets, coats, and dresses. The emphasis is less on exaggerated frills and more on construction, shape, and the relationship between fabric and form.
What makes the peplum relevant again is its versatility. Paired with tailored trousers, it can lend structure to an otherwise understated outfit. Worn with a pencil skirt, it offers a polished, elongated silhouette, while a more architectural version can become the focal point of an evening ensemble. The key lies in proportion and restraint, allowing the shape to do the work rather than overwhelming it with unnecessary detail.
Perhaps the appeal of the peplum lies in its ability to celebrate femininity without being confined to one expression of it. With its return to the runway and the red carpet, the silhouette is proving that fashion's past can be revisited without being repeated.
Lead image: Getty Images
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