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The Fashion Memo

4 Unexpected Color Combinations That Are Incredibly Chic

It’s time to break out of neutrals and expand your palette – these are the pairings to try now…

Words Eanna Morrison BarrsFashion editor Millie Parry
Fashion
In order of appearance: Michaela Coel, wearing a striking red top and royal purple pants, Zoey Deutch and Ida Heiner show how it’s done

After years dominated by quiet luxury’s pared-back palette, color is making a welcome return to our wardrobes. From royal purple and butter yellow to chartreuse and icy blue, this season is full of mood-boosting brights and sophisticated pastels that will uplift any look. And while we’re all for making these colors the focal point of an outfit, they’re not always the easiest to style. That’s why we’ve tried and tested the season’s most sought-after hues to bring you four incredibly chic power pairings to try now.

Royal purple and red

Who would have thought that royal purple and tomato red would look so good together? These seemingly clashing hues strike the perfect balance of joyfully bold and unapologetically bright, proving that unlikely combinations are the key to mastering color theory. Michaela Coel paved the way for this dynamic duo when she stepped out in New York wearing a persimmon-red draped top and purple velvet pants from Colleen Allen’s fall/winter 2026 collection. To recreate the effect now, style Róhe’s knitted tank – a NET-A-PORTER exclusive – with Alaïa’s sculptural barrel-leg jeans and Loewe’s ‘Petal Anagram’ ballet flats. We promise these high-contrast hues are made for each other.

  • RÓHE
    Knitted tank
    €195.00
    Select a Size
    34 - low stock
    36
    38 - out of stock
    40
    42 - low stock
    44 - out of stock
  • OLIVER PEOPLES
    Sonia D-frame acetate sunglasses
    €425.00
  • ALAÏA
    Mid-rise wide-leg jeans
    €1,205.00
    Select a Size
    34
    36 - low stock
    38 - out of stock
    40 - out of stock
    42 - low stock
    44 - out of stock
    46
  • LOEWE
    Petal Anagram leather ballet flats
    €1,155.00
    Select a Size
    35 - low stock
    36 - low stock
    37
    38 - low stock
    39 - low stock
    40
    41
    42
Brighten up your gray with this season’s most vibrant herbaceous hue

Chartreuse and gray

There is no denying that chartreuse is trending right now. At NET-A-PORTER, searches for the color increased by over 1000% last month, proving that everyone wants in on the herbaceous hue. As far as styling goes, this shade doesn’t need any competition, so pair it with a versatile gray shade that will allow the vibrant green-yellow hue to really pop. Try wearing Christopher Esber’s ‘Mirador’ silk wide-leg pants with Lisa Yang’s cashmere-blend ‘Amaya’ tank top and all-white accessories for an outfit that exudes cool confidence. Alternatively, if you’re a little color-averse, experiment with chartreuse shoes, such as Gianvito Rossi’s ‘Sofia’ mules, which will add some subtle personality to your workwear rotation.

  • LISA YANG
    Amaya cotton and cashmere-blend tank top
    €220.00
    Select a Size
    0
    1
    2 - low stock
  • TOTEME
    T-Lock textured-leather clutch
    €890.00
  • CHRISTOPHER ESBER
    Mirador silk wide-leg pants
    €750.00
    Select a Size
    6 - out of stock
    8 - out of stock
    10
    12 - low stock
    14
  • EMME PARSONS
    Delicat leather sandals
    €545.00
    Select a Size
    35
    36 - out of stock
    37
    38
    39
    40 - low stock
    41

Chocolate brown and blue

It’s official: chocolate brown is the new black. This rich, cocoa hue is endlessly wearable and our neutral of choice as the new season approaches. Delicious, dark shades of brown always pair well with a range of autumnal tones, but for right now, we love it with blue. From lighter icy shades to moodier teal tones, the combination of aqua and chocolate is unexpectedly sophisticated.

We saw it expertly styled at the Tory Burch fall/winter 2026 show, where comedian Mary Beth Barone paired a buttoned-up polo shirt and tailored pants to sit front row. Channel her harmonious color scheme with Alaïa’s cropped turtleneck T-shirt, Toteme’s draped skirt and Chloé’s ‘Matilda’ leather sandals for a chic girls’ dinner or after-work drinks.

  • ALAÏA
    Cropped cotton-jersey turtleneck T-shirt
    €655.00
    Select a Size
    34 - low stock
    36
    38
    40
    42 - low stock
    44 - low stock
  • ILARIA ICARDI
    Inflatable 18-karat white gold ring
    €5,220.00
    Select a Size
    54.5
  • TOTEME
    Draped organic cotton and lyocell-blend maxi skirt
    €470.00
    Select a Size
    32 - low stock
    34
    36
    38
    40
    42
  • CHLOÉ
    Matilda leather sandals
    €890.00
    Select a Size
    36
    36.5
    37
    38
    38.5 - out of stock
    39
    39.5
    40 - low stock
    41
Chocolate brown and blue are the ultimate sophisticated pairing – as seen here on comedian Mary Beth Barone (pairing a blue shirt with elegant brown pants) and model Mona Tougaard (wearing a bold blue jacket with a brown bow belt)
Butter yellow and black are the classic-but-cool color combination for summer

Butter yellow and black

For the style minimalist, butter yellow and black is a winning formula. The former was all over the spring/summer 2026 runways and, much like chocolate brown, has emerged as a new neutral in this year’s palette. The creamy, soft shade is distinctive enough to bring a fresh perspective to a monochrome outfit, yet subtle enough that it won’t push you too far beyond your comfort zone. Another Tomorrow’s bias-cut silk camisole comes in the perfect buttery hue and looks so effortless styled with Madga Butrym’s Capri pants or a black midi skirt and sleek leather accessories that you undoubtedly already own. Just add Khaite’s matching yellow ‘Marlene’ pumps to complete the outfit.

  • ANOTHER TOMORROW
    Silk-twill camisole
    €590.00
    Select a Size
    x small - low stock
    small - low stock
    medium
    large - low stock
  • SOPHIE BUHAI
    Noodle gold-toned sterling silver earrings
    €605.00
  • MAGDA BUTRYM
    Crepe straight-leg capri pants
    €790.00
    Select a Size
    34 - out of stock
    36 - out of stock
    38
    40 - low stock
    42
  • KHAITE
    Marlene leather pumps
    €1,095.00
    Select a Size
    36
    37
    38
    39
    40
    41

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