As something of a maestro when it comes to colour, Pierpaolo Piccioli was expected to serve something special for his debut at Balenciaga. He did not disappoint, with a spring/summer 26 collection that breathed new life into old house codes, not least with his colour palette, which included violet, scarlet and emerald (more on that later). But as well as jewel-bright tones, he also plumped for a creamy shade that gave multiple garments an air of sumptuousness.
Interestingly, this inclusion somewhat preempted Pantone’s Colour of the Year, which for 2026 is “Cloud Dancer.” Described as “a lofty white that serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection,” this is a colour engineered to tune out the noise, acting, perhaps, as a balm to everyday life.
But, of course, what might be a succour to one person, enabling them to feel cool, calm and collected, could simply be, well, slightly boring to someone else, who perhaps feels invisible or even sad in stealth-wealth neutrals.
Luckily, the spring/summer 26 collections didn’t just cater to one school of thought but, instead, offered up multiple colour theories for contemplation. Prada’s show contained typically “off” gradations, including, but not limited to, canary yellow, lime green and turquoise blue. Naturally, they did the job of making certain garments – fluid knee-length skirts attached to a set of braces or, equally, knickers with a pair of pockets on either side – look even more outlandish (and brilliant, obviously).
Elsewhere, bold colour-blocking was interspersed with easy-to-wear shades like black, white and chocolate. I’m thinking of Alaïa, whose spring/summer 26 collection was a typically sculptural affair, with colours as steal-stealing as the clothes themselves in fuchsia, mustard and teal.
It’s one thing to appreciate a colour as it comes down the catwalk. But, as easy as it might be to get swept up in a designer’s singular vision, recasting your wardrobe in electrically-charged hues as opposed to basic navy or beige, it will first pay to consider what colours feel like “you”. To help, we’ve dissected six colour trends – from emerald to lime – that you could add to your roster ahead of the new season. Do that and, when spring arrives, you’ll already be known for your colourful personality.
Fuchsia
Fuchsia made its presence felt on the catwalk at Alaïa, where a knitted skirt, falling in asymmetric pleats that zig-zagged up one calf, was the definition of “hot pink.” And it didn't stop there. At Chloé, puff-sleeved fuchsia crop tops were somewhat neutralised by sensible khaki skirts. Meanwhile over at Conner Ives, the shade was practically top-to-toe, with one outfit comprising a collar-popped tracksuit top, a fringed skirt and toe-thong leggings, all in a shade of pink that would have tickled Margot Robbie’s Barbie (before she found the Birkenstocks).
Lime
Prada is always one-to-watch for what trends will cut through over the next six months, not least because of the way it manages to make any colour an interesting proposition (even its actual runway was a glossed clementine orange). Despite the profusion of shades, it was this particular dress – boat-necked and pleat-skirted – that attracted our attention because of its citrus hue, which was somewhere between lime and chartreuse. Neither of those colours has a reputation for being particularly easy to wear but, rest assured, you might have warmed to alt-greens by the dawn of spring.
Klein Blue
Jil Sander’s spring/summer 26 collection was a lesson in “less is more”, with a focus on Klein Blue, a saturated primary-coloured shade that appeared on single-breasted coats, soft-power dresses and cropped jumpers. Eye-popping in some ways, but grounded in others, I guarantee you won’t regret inviting its exuberance into your wardrobe, as long as it’s tempered by opaque black tights or a wool skirt in white.
Tomato
Tomato is a non-mover when it comes to colour trends – but for spring/summer 26, there’s a twist. At Chanel, texture was combined with tomato, giving a chilli-pepper surface to skirt that skimmed the hips (and wiped the floor, quite literally, with the other tweed pencils on show, delectable as they were). In her recently launched pre-fall look book, Stella McCartney, meanwhile, offers tomato-red “leather” trousers, giving the colour a matte effect that’s 100 per cent eye-catching, whether you’re observing from near or far. You can achieve a similar look this spring with silk, corduroy or suede.
Pantone’s Cloud Dancer
We’ve already discussed the relevance of Pantone’s “Cloud Dancer,” which is creamy (and dreamy) enough to seduce most – even those who, ordinarily, are mildly allergic to neutrals. At Balenciaga, which has not been a label known for refined or retiring colours under its previous creative director, Demna, Piccioli proved that, contrary to popular opinion, a vanilla shade can be anything but boring. And he wasn't the only one. Bottega Veneta showed a look that was close to “Cloud Dancer,” both in shade and silhouette, with a filament-textured, and oversized, tee fitted over a gathered satin skirt, both sublime in so-called CD.
Emerald
For one of the most exciting debuts at Paris Fashion Week, Loewe’s creative-director duo, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, delivered something of a wham-bam colour palette featuring searing primary shades. This green – or more accurately emerald – was particularly head-turning, especially when rendered as this clean take on a spring leather jacket, which was moulded to perfection without a collar or seams. That should be your number-one takeaway when it comes to making jewel tones look modern: seek out garments that embody an energy that’s no-muss, no-fuss.
