Zendaya’s mini dress proves that grey is the unexpected colour trend of SS26

It is a truth universally acknowledged that as soon as spring arrives, we shed our wardrobes of moody hues and heavy fabrics in favour of lighter textures and dopamine-inducing palettes that signal that summer is finally within reach. There is one unexpected shade, however, that has emerged as this warm-weather season’s unlikely frontrunner: grey.

While we may be leaving grey skies behind, fashion is leaning fully into the understated colour’s appeal. Since the Met Gala on the first Monday in May, the once wintry tone, often associated with office dress codes and emotionally neutral corporate corridors, has become one of the chicest shades to watch this season.

Zendaya was the latest to champion the trend at the Louis Vuitton Cruise 2027 show in New York this week, in a long-sleeved grey mini dress with an asymmetrical neckline, paired with matching stilettos. 

The sophisticated shade also swept across the Met Gala red carpet earlier this month, with stars including Gigi Hadid and Sabrina Carpenter opting for head-to-toe greyscale dressing.

© Getty Images for The Met Museum/

© Getty Images

Across the spring/summer 2026 runways, designers reimagined grey as anything but corporate, presenting it in soft tailoring, sheer layers and sculptural silhouettes. At Chanel, the shade appeared in airy, ethereal forms, while Miu Miu gave it a cooler, more playful edge through sharp separates.

© Getty

© Getty

© Getty

© Getty

From silver-toned tailoring to slate slip dresses, grey is proving itself to be the neutral shade that fashion insiders are reaching for this season – and these are the pieces worth adding to your wardrobe now.