Honestly, if you still think of Tory Burch as just the lady who made those flat leather circles on every suburban mom’s feet in 2012, you've been missing out. Big time.
The brand is currently going through what the internet calls a "Tory-ssance." It basically means she stopped trying to please everyone and started making clothes that are a little strange, very cool, and surprisingly edgy. We’re talking about a woman who built a $3.5 billion empire on the back of a "preppy" aesthetic but is now sending models down a Brooklyn runway in intentionally wrinkled lamé and barbed-wire-embossed kitten heels for Spring 2026.
It’s a pivot that shouldn't work. But it is.
The Reva Flats Were Just the Beginning
Most people know the origin story. Tory started her company in 2004 from her kitchen table in New York. She opened her first boutique on Elizabeth Street, and Oprah called her the "next big thing" in 2005. By the next day, her website had eight million hits.
The Reva flat, named after her mother, became a global uniform. It was the "it" shoe for a decade. But that level of mass-market success is a double-edged sword in the fashion world. When everyone is wearing your logo, the "high fashion" crowd usually stops wanting to.
Tory knew this.
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Around 2019, things changed. She stepped down as CEO to become Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, handing the business reins to her husband, Pierre-Yves Roussel. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he used to run the LVMH Fashion Group. He’s the guy who helped catapult brands like Céline and Loewe into the stratosphere.
With Roussel handling the spreadsheets, Tory got weird in the studio. And the fashion world finally started taking her seriously as a designer, not just a businesswoman.
The 2026 Aesthetic: Precision and Imperfection
If you caught the Fall-Winter 2025-2026 show at the MoMA or the more recent Spring 2026 show in Brooklyn, you saw a totally different vibe. The "preppy" is still there—Burch loves a good collar—but it’s been deconstructed.
What's actually on the racks now:
- The "Undone" Look: For Spring 2026, Tory leaned into "beauty in imperfection." Think sheer polos that look meticulously mended with tiny seed beads and skirts that have a deliberate "just rolled out of bed" wrinkle.
- Sportswear as Luxury: The Fall 2025 collection was obsessed with the "essence of sport." We saw high-collared trucker necks in bright red felted wool and jogging pants paired with satin dresses. It’s basically high-end athleisure for people who actually go to museums.
- The "Double T" Evolution: The logo isn't just a buckle anymore. It’s being used as a graphic element inspired by Moroccan architecture and 1960s David Hicks interiors. It’s subtle. If you know, you know.
The sheer variety of silhouettes is wild. You’ll see a monochrome brown brushed wool skirt suit one minute and a scarlet jersey bodycon gown the next. She’s experimenting with "quirky proportions"—oversized blazers with necklaces literally threaded through the fabric.
The $1 Billion Ambition
You can't talk about Tory Burch without talking about her Foundation. This isn't just some tax-write-off side project. She literally put it in her original business plan before she ever sold a single handbag.
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In May 2025, at the Foundation’s 15th-anniversary breakfast, she dropped a massive goal: she wants to generate $1 billion in economic impact for women entrepreneurs by 2030.
Most female-led startups hit a brick wall when trying to scale. Only about 4.2% of women-owned businesses in the U.S. ever break the $1 million revenue mark. But for the women in the Tory Burch Fellows program? That number jumps to 42%. That’s a staggering difference.
She’s basically using her success to build a ladder. Since 2014, her partnership with Bank of America (the Capital Program) has already moved over $100 million in low-interest loans to thousands of women.
Sustainability Isn't Just a Buzzword Here
By 2026, the brand has shifted its supply chain in ways that actually matter. It’s not just "greenwashing."
- The Ella Bio: Her iconic Ella tote now comes in a version made from BioFabbrica Bio-Tex™, which is 64% plant protein. It looks like leather, but it's basically made of plants.
- Leather Standards: Over 95% of their leather now comes from tanneries certified by the Leather Working Group.
- Recycled Materials: Starting in late 2025, even the dust bags used to protect the handbags during shipping are 100% recycled.
They even changed their global packaging to a specific "mossy green" that Tory picked out herself. It feels heritage, but it’s designed to be much more eco-friendly than the old bright orange boxes.
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Why She Still Matters
Fashion moves fast. Designers who were huge in 2004 are mostly gone or irrelevant now. Tory Burch survived by evolving. She didn't stay stuck in the "Upper East Side Lady" box.
She’s also one of the very few self-made female billionaires in America who actually owns her company. Being privately held means she doesn't have to answer to a board of directors who might tell her to stop making "weird" wrinkled dresses and go back to making more logo flats.
She can take risks. And right now, those risks are paying off.
How to Wear Tory Burch in 2026
If you’re looking to update your wardrobe with the current "Tory" vibe, don't just buy a pair of sandals.
- Mix the Textures: Take a crisp, tailored blazer and pair it with a "crushed" viscose skirt. The contrast is the whole point.
- The Belted Bag: The current "it" bag is a structured frame bag with a top handle and a belt detail. Keep the belt undone. It looks cooler.
- Embrace the Collar: Look for the "trucker neck" or funnel-neck sweaters. They’re a huge 2026 trend that Tory basically pioneered.
- Invest in "Brut" Denim: Untreated, stiff denim is back. Tory’s 2026 takes on the denim jacket are fitted and meant to be worn as a full set.
The brand has moved from being a status symbol for the "preppy" crowd to a legitimate fashion powerhouse for people who care about design. Whether you're in it for the philanthropic mission or the sheer "weirdness" of the new collections, Tory Burch is officially in her prime.
Next Steps for Your Wardrobe
If you want to see the new aesthetic in action, check out the Spring/Summer 2026 runway footage. Pay close attention to the way she layers sheer fabrics over "heirloom" knitwear—it’s the easiest way to replicate the look without buying a whole new closet. Or, if you're an entrepreneur yourself, head over to the Tory Burch Foundation website to see if you qualify for their next round of fellowship grants. They’re currently looking for founders who are ready to scale past that $1 million revenue mark.