What’s ‘common’ in 2026? Let’s start with fiddle-leaf figs, Lululemon and Ozempic

My taste is pretty fixed. I collect shell animals and coloured glassware. Love leopard print, short pale nails, high-waisted bandeau bikinis and the paintings of Blue Mountains artist Anna di Mezza. I know dogs should have human names, that “hi bella” as a greeting is embarrassing and men’s signet rings are awful unless they have an anchor and stay off the pinkie.

But I don’t believe in good taste or bad taste. There’s only your own taste and the nerve to stand by it. So I adore the yearly verdict from British interior designer Nicky Haslam – once called “the most stylish man in the world” by Andy Warhol – on what’s common.

It’s snobbery as sport. It dares the rest of us to sharpen our own lists.

Since 2018, Haslam, 87, has released a viral list of “Things Nicky Haslam Finds Common”, printed on a tea towel. It costs £50 (about $95) and still sells out, presumably to people who don’t dry side plates with it.

Side plates are common. According to past lists, so are jet lag, nostalgia, “loving your parents” and Stephen Fry (“pleasing everybody – it’s so common”). Also common: Bono, airline pyjamas, bamboo, unpeeled tomatoes, Wimbledon, saying “bye bye”.

Haslam’s just-out 2026 list takes aim at stand-up comedians, car mirrors that fold in and birthday cakes for anyone over 14. Beards, torches, posh dog food, being thin and pity are common too. So is saying “nuanced”, “humbled” and “good morning to you”.

“No-brainer” is also common because, said Haslam, “you wouldn’t say it’s a brainer”.

His choices are “mostly clichés,” he told The Times. “It’s nothing to do with class. It’s common in the sense of being universal.” Common, then, is anything so popular its glamour has curdled. Although it’s hard to ignore class when the judge has the CV of a period costume drama.

Haslam’s mother was a goddaughter of Queen Victoria. His father was a diplomat and Aertex heir. He hung leopard-print curtains at Eton, worked at Vogue in New York and designed for Mick Jagger. Haslam has worked for the King and keeps framed letters from royals in the loo (which he calls the “lavvy”).

Yet he wears trackies from budget chain Primark, adores mauve and watches The Chase. Haslam writes the rules, then breaks them, and he doesn’t spare past clients including the royals.

His 2023 Common list included “The Wales Family in Blue”, saying the matchy-matchy outfits make them look like department store dummies. Royal fly-pasts are common and last year he said the whole family is in danger of being common, except Camilla: “Too parochial. They need to be grander.”

Look, ruling on what’s common is a bit common. Snobbery is the oldest cliché going, and sneering at someone’s fire pit is bad manners in a cravat. But done with this much mischief, it’s fabulous. And everyone can play.

My list: Robbie Williams, Aperol Spritz, croissants, “kinda chic” memes, capsule wardrobes, fiddle-leaf figs, gender reveals, wellness, Ozempic, the Birdcage, books with dragon or fairy sex, barrel jeans, white roses and printed undies (except Chantelle’s in, of course, leopard).

My friend Sam has wonderful taste. He’s the only straight male who I discuss trench coat cuts and mid-century coffee tables with. Sam dresses in what he calls Jesuit chic, loves a $2 shop and sometimes rings from outside “Joel’s” (Leonard Joel auction house to the rest of us).

So I wanted to hear his list. Go Sam: jackets without vents, brown shoes with blue suits, winged collars, fades, Drakkar Noir cologne, anything Johnny Depp advertises, Teslas, trifle made with cake, logo slides, bean bags and Lululemon.

My mate Mia wears Golden Goose sneakers to airports and once gave me a leather makeup bag with my initials stamped on it (sans serif font) and a Chanel lippie inside. She’s classy. She can’t cope with double-plug thongs, Boxing Day sales, chicken salt, flowers sprinkled on food or too much filler.

Ever-elegant Lucy strikes out sport, especially the races, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles and activewear. My interior designer sister Lil: oysters and Christmas lights.

Haslam’s right. Common is universal. Everyone has a list, and everyone is on someone else’s. Somewhere, someone’s tutting at mauve.

Kate Halfpenny is an author and the founder of Bad Mother Media.

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