Neon shades have emerged as one of the most unexpected statements of recent seasons. Their return, almost without warning, is part of a broader movement in which fashion revisits decades defined by excess. Far from incidental, this resurgence reflects a desire to move away from the restraint that has gradually taken hold, and to reconnect with a more expressive, above all, chromatic form of style.
The return of 1980s maximalism on the runways
Flashy, even garish at times, neon colors have been haunting our silhouettes for several seasons now. Their comeback signals a shift in fashion: a desire to break away from years dominated by beige tones and restrained shapes. Neon emerges as a way to push back against quiet luxury and assert individuality in a landscape saturated with standardized imagery.
The 1980s are making a genuine comeback after long being eclipsed by the dominance of the nineties and Y2K. The 2026 silhouette is defined by angular shoulder pads, glossy leather, sharp pencil skirts and the decade’s signature V-shaped line.
Throughout those ten years, two almost opposing worlds coexisted: on one side, black jackets, heavy leather, sturdy denim and a raw attitude reminiscent of a thriller; on the other, the high-energy aesthetic of aerobics, fluorescent hues, nylon and glossy Lycra, all set to a pop-driven soundtrack.
This contrast, once thought obsolete, is now inspiring houses such as Saint Laurent and Vaquera, which are reviving the flamboyance of the 1980s and placing bold cuts and vivid colors at the heart of their silhouettes.
The “cunti cunta” era: kitsch as a manifesto
A more recent decade, the 2010s, is also resurfacing, particularly across social media. At the time, neon flooded every silhouette, with nothing escaping its color-saturated pull. Off-White, Balenciaga and Philipp Plein fully embraced this electric palette, making neon a defining feature of their collections and visual identities throughout the decade.
The rise of “cunti cunta,” a term coined by Loeva, co-founder of the JUDE Party, crystallizes a new way of approaching neon. This attitude stands in direct opposition to the clean girl aesthetic. Acid-yellow asymmetric dresses, unapologetic neon mini shorts, Stabilo-style swimsuits and XXL jewelry straight out of the 1980s: here, neon is not a mere accent but a tool for embracing kitsch and asserting a boldly colorful identity.
How to make the trend your own?
For those who are hesitant, small details offer an ideal point of entry. A pair of lime-green socks or a zesty pair of tights can instantly energize a look. Influencer duo Manon and Lilas regularly weave neon into their outfits, mainly by playing with the visible-hosiery trend.
Others choose a subtler approach, starting with the nails. A flash of neon yellow, a hot-pink French tip or a graphic motif is enough to introduce a touch of “cunti cunta.” For the more daring ones, however, a statement piece remains the most decisive way in. A draped skirt in radioactive orange, an acid-green second-skin top or an electric-blue nylon parka, in the spirit of Demna’s Balenciaga.
Far from a mere optical effect, neon now expresses a clear rejection of a minimalism that has become uniform, along with a desire to reclaim visual space. Its return sits at the crossroads of two flamboyant decades, the 1980s and the 2010s, when color and excess were both tools for asserting identity and capturing attention.In a landscape where silhouettes increasingly fade into neutrality and restraint, neon becomes a manifesto. It reminds us that the impact of a look is sometimes measured by the intensity of its colors. Neon does not blend in; it radiates, electrifying every silhouette.
