Is fleece in style for fall 2026? The fleece + flared pants formula
Yes, if searches and sell-outs count. Three different fleece searches jumped in three weeks, and the pieces behind them are selling through. Here's what's moving, what's cheaper, and how to wear it with flares.
Three fleece searches in three weeks
On Depop, the resale app Gen Z shops, "Aritzia fleece" was the #4 rising search the week of 10/3 (+3.6k), "Landscape fleece" rose 2.1k the week of 10/7, and "Sherpa" rose 1.8k the week of 10/15. Those are searches, not sales, but the store pages below show the sales side.
A fabric from 1981
Fleece is a brushed polyester knit. Malden Mills, the company behind Polartec, introduced it in 1981 as a light, warm alternative to wool that still insulates when damp. The Aritzia half-zip people are searching for is made from Polartec fabric.
The ones selling through
Aritzia's Polartec Highlands Half-Zip ($110) had 4 of 17 colorways sold out and 6 more down to one or two sizes on 10/4. Beach Riot's landscape-print Leona fleece quarter-zip ($188) had S and M sold out at Urban Outfitters on 10/12. And the black Fear of God Essentials fleece hoodie was the #4 most-traded item on StockX on 10/19, with asks around $65 including fees against $120 retail.
Aritzia Polartec Thermal Pro Highlands 1/2 Zip
Beach Riot Leona Wilderness Fleece Quarter-Zip
Fear of God Essentials Fleece Hoodie (FW24, Black)
Cheaper ways in
Columbia's Fire Side II sherpa full-zip was $95 and in stock on Zappos on 10/15, with 4.6 stars from 613 reviews. Free People Movement's cropped Hit the Slopes fleece was $69.97 at Nordstrom Rack on 10/17, against a $168 comparable value.
FP Movement Hit the Slopes Fleece Jacket (Frosted Peach)
The flared pants part
The pairing is about proportion: a short or half-zip fleece stops at the waist, so a flared or bootcut jean gets to be the wide part of the outfit. A longer zip-up works better over a straighter flare. Keep the shoe low and chunky, since the hem will cover most of it.
How we pick: only things with dated proof that people are buying or searching for them — a sell-out, a rank, or a search spike — never because we like how they look. Stock changes daily; check the store before you buy.