From the outside, the fashion industry is often characterised by all-consuming seasonal trends: big-picture mood shifts and silhouette swaps that bulldoze through those presented six months prior. However, some of the most stylish people I’ve observed in my career have embodied a rather different approach, one with a steadier centre of gravity that finds new and small ways to update old favourites for any given season – be it a colour pairing, layering trick or waistband placement. Well for 2026, the cool girls have spoken: all your wardrobe needs to feel fresh for autumn is a cummerbund.

For the uninitiated, a cummerbund is a sash-like accessory most typically worn as part of a traditional men’s black tie suit or tuxedo. And while many of us will associate it with certain sort of martini-swilling, silver screen stock character, it has roots in Persia, South Asia and the Middle East – the word itself originates from Hindi and Urdu, derived from Persian words meaning “waist” and “band”. It is said that British military officers stationed in colonial India adopted the style when they saw it worn by Indian soldiers of the British Indian Army. It was then exported back to Europe and incorporated into mainstream men’s eveningwear as an alternative to the waistcoat.

Cut to the present day and cummerbunds have become the latest in a long line of menswear icons that have been co-opted by womenswear designers, and across autumn/winter 2026 and spring/summer 2027, it has found its way into the runway shows of Polo Ralph Lauren, Kallmeyer, Talia Byre, Ahluwalia and Mithridate, to name but a few. Designers have, on the whole, retained the accessory’s after-dark connotations, styling it with crisp tailoring and shirting, however Byre and Daniel Fletcher for Mithridate went down a more casual route with fluid balloon trousers and draped blouses.

Courtesy of Mahalia Chang.

Courtesy of Mahalia Chang.

The cummerbund has also found its way onto the waistlines of industry insiders. For example, this summer, British ’s senior style editor, Mahalia Chang could regularly be spotted in the Conde Nast canteen repping a cummerbund with everything from jeans to camo trousers. It’s a styling hack she also embraced when out and about at London Fashion Week this September.

“Working in menswear, I find myself gravitating towards traditionally masculine pieces a lot. I’ve been wearing a few wing-collar tuxedo shirts recently, so progressing to cummerbunds felt natural,” Chang explains. “Plus, I love an entirely useless accessory – something that’s pure styling only, no function. Somehow that makes it feel more fun.”

When it comes to styling, the cummerbund naturally lends itself to a cinched waistline, so is great for adding personality to any high- or mid-rise trousers, jeans or skirts currently sitting in your wardrobe – particularly when paired with a slim-fit top, blouse or tee (best to avoid anything too oversized).

Chang’s advice? “I think the key is to balance out the vibes. Don’t go for a proper shirt and trousers, then you’ll look like you’re late for the ball. I style mine with denim, which helps to relax it. Or, if you want to wear a trouser, go for a graphic tee on top or a long-sleeve T-shirt.”

That being said, if you’re cautious about a daytime cummerbund (it’s certainly a ), sticking to a more formal-wear mood is a safe bet. Consider it an easy way to elevate your favourite tailored trousers – ’s commerce director Maddie Fass – for dinner or an autumn wedding, or sprucing up a pencil skirt, as spotted on Amalie Gassmann at New York Fashion Week. For a more roaring ’20s vibe, meanwhile, it could be worn lower on the hips with a skirt or dress (see look seven from Oscar Ouyang’s spring/summer 2027 show). Plus, don’t forget to check out preloved sources, such as eBay and Etsy, for that authentic vintage finish.

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