Peplum Silhouette Makes Chic Comeback

Fashion editor Megan Uy explores the return of the once-maligned peplum trend and how it's now being embraced in fresh, stylish ways.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 12:35am

After initially dismissing the peplum trend as a fleeting throwback, fashion editor Megan Uy has had a change of heart. She's noticed the silhouette making a major comeback, appearing on everything from everyday staples to red carpet gowns, and in a much more elevated, sculptural way than its previous corporate-coded iterations. Uy admits she's now a convert, appreciating how the peplum shape has evolved into a wearable art form with a cool, whimsical vibe.

Why it matters

The resurgence of peplum highlights fashion's cyclical nature, with trends from the past being reinterpreted for modern sensibilities. It also speaks to consumers' ongoing appetite for nostalgic styles, as well as designers' ability to breathe new life into previously maligned silhouettes. The peplum comeback demonstrates fashion's power to surprise and delight, even for the most skeptical of style editors.

The details

Uy first started spotting the peplum trend again last summer, but initially brushed it off as a temporary throwback moment. However, as she's continued to see the shape pop up on fashion girls, social media, and the red carpet, she's had to reconsider her stance. This time around, the peplum feels less corporate and more sculptural, with a sense of movement and fluidity that Uy finds appealing. The silhouette is showing up on a variety of garments, from trenches and leather jackets to tanks and sweaters, taking on new, more whimsical iterations.

  • Last summer, Uy started spotting the peplum trend again.
  • In 2026, the peplum silhouette is everywhere, from fashion influencers to red carpet events.

The players

Megan Uy

An associate shopping editor at Cosmopolitan magazine, where she covers fashion, beauty, home, and more.

Dua Lipa

A pop star who wore a peplum gown during Oscars weekend.

Kate Hudson

An actress who also wore a peplum gown during Oscars weekend.

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What they’re saying

“I never thought I'd say this, but peplum has serious cool-girl energy right now.”

— Megan Uy, Associate Shopping Editor

The takeaway

The peplum trend's comeback demonstrates fashion's ability to surprise and delight, even for the most skeptical of style editors. What was once considered a cringey, overly corporate silhouette has been reinterpreted in fresh, sculptural ways that feel whimsical and modern. This resurgence highlights fashion's cyclical nature and consumers' ongoing appetite for nostalgic styles.