Homecoming Mums 2026: Texas Hot Trend Watch
I consider myself a mumologist (a word I made up), which is a person who studies the history and heritage of homecoming mums (a definition I made up). I’m genuinely fascinated by the origin story of mums and all the complicated reasons why the tradition continues to evolve differently in Texas than everywhere else.
What I’m saying is that while I’m a fascinated fan-girl of the tradition, I’m not trying to sell you a mum right now. That frees me up to call it like I see it. And what people really want me to talk every fall is WHAT’S HOT IN HOMECOMING MUM DESIGN RIGHT NOW.
So let’s get to it!
Simply Mum Creations, part of The Couture Collection. Learn more at simplymumcreations.com/couturecollection
They’re so fluffy!
Homecoming mum and garter trends for 2026 in Texas are highly textured and incorporate gravity-defying braiding, loops, feather boas, bows, and more to create density, movement and swagger. High end mums, particularly custom mums, are typically quite large, complex, layered and sturdy. Not surprisingly, therefore, the bigger the mum the higher the cost.
Mum Top
Not your grandma’s mum: Texas mums haven’t been live chrysanthemum corsages for decades. Today’s mums and garters are anchored by artificial flowers (starting with one up to as many as 25+), creating a mum top ranging anywhere from 6” to extreme mums of 24”+ in width.
Mum Skirt
Layered Braids: Intricate multi-braid designs are featured throughout the mum skirt, aka what hangs down from the mum top. Braids. Are. Everything.
Lace and Bows: It’s a little too early to say if lace is on its way out, but bows are here to stay.
Boas: Fluffy feather boas lining both sides of the skirt are very popular as they add extra volume and movement without adding much weight.
Theme Mums
While theme mums can be fluffy too, what sets them apart is that they’re clearly based on a specific concept, hobby, fandom, commercial brand, lifestyle aesthetic, or cause rather than solely on school colors, fashion colors or traditional themes.
Example of a Game of Thrones theme mum. Chosen for display in early 2026 at the new Institute of Texan Cultures at UT San Antonio.
Alt color palette: Theme mums are steeped in the wearer’s personal aesthetic as well as the theme itself. The color scheme of a theme mum, therefore, tends to reflect the motif rather than high school colors or fashion trends.
Alt materials: Besides color scheme, the theme drives every choice related to the design of these mums including size, materials and shape. Note the feathers used in the Game of Thrones theme mum, pictured.
DIY roots: While you can hire a professional mum maker to create a custom theme mum, the genre continues to be highly influenced by DIYers.
Color me special
Senior mums are traditionally white, but I’m also seeing an abundance of senior mums dominated by a single “fashion color” or embellished with metallics.
White + metallic for seniors: Many seniors favor all-white mums and garters paired with silver or gold accents, depending on the school’s traditions.
Fashion colors: Vibrant "personality" or signature colors, such as lavender, light blue, mint and especially pink, are extremely popular in larger mums. Again, mums created in anything but school colors are typically reserved for senior mums, but the trend is making its way into underclassman designs at some schools. See Theme Mums above for an alt color trend.
School colors for underclassmen: Freshman, sophomore and junior mum designs are typically smaller and stick closer to school color combinations.
Color fades if you let them: Here’s a note to all you traditionalists out there. The more students are told they can do whatever they want with their mum or garter, the more they will. So I am seeing waning that the size and color of the mum reflects the class year of the wearer.
Sparkle of my Eyes
Sparkly Cricut-cut monograms and shapes, holographic elements, iridescent and “diamond dust” ribbon, and other light-catching custom adornments are hot, hot, hot. They also serve an important purpose. They reflect the wearer’s activities, interests, relationships, and personality.
Pearl lettering: Outlining monograms with faux pearl beads is a fresh accent in mum design.
LED lights: Integrating mini-lights give mums a glowing effect, especially after dark at the homecoming game.
Dye cuts: Thanks to the availability of Cricuts and other professional-level crafting equipment, mum makers are able to cut intricate shapes, letters and other custom design elements for the center of the mum top as well as splashed throughout the skirt.
Sparkly: If it shines bright like a diamond, add more.
Want to learn more?
Visit my Mum FAQs at mumentousbook.com/faq or this blog story on fifteen (yes, really!) different styles/types of homecoming mums and garter mums: mumentousbook.com/blog/what-are-the-different-homecoming-mum-styles
What do you think?
Are you seeing other emerging trends in homecoming mum design at your school? Comment below!
