I Tried the Color Clashing Trend That's Everywhere

Trends come and go so quickly these days it could give you whiplash. It seems everyone's been jumping at the opportunity to predict which will be the next big color to fill Millennial Pink's influential shoes. Whether it's neon shades or outrageous orange (I'm putting money on it), everyone is clamoring to nail down a slice of the color wheel.

Gen Z yellow, melodramatic purple, outrageous orange—all the whimsical colors vying to replace Millennial Pink right now are reminding us of shades we frequently saw in our crayon boxes. So regardless of which will win out eventually, I'll be over here test-driving all of them—and not one at a time, either.

When it comes to combining the most saturated colors, throw out the fashion rulebook you were playing by before. You might have been told before to lightly dip your toe into bolder shades by grounding the rest of your outfit in reliable neutrals. But this season's enticing and electrifying hues are best styled together.

Just ahead, I'm sharing how I'm tackling the color clashing trend along with a few more combinations I'm kind of losing it over (in a good way).

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The Combo: Lime Green + Lavender
(Image credit: @annaflorencelaplaca)

I tackled this trend with a decidedly neon approach. The result? Utter liberation. Everything in me pushed back on doubling up on loud colors, since I rarely stray outside my neutral color palette. I had to fight everything in me not to tone down my lavender skirt with a boring gray sweater, but once I stepped out for the day, I felt secretly rebellious for breaking all those old rules about wearing loud color.

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The Combo: Lilac + Marigold
(Image credit: @courtyard_la )

The two colors have been competing for months for the prized status of 2018's It color. But while it remains to be seen which will win out, play fair and wear them together.

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The Combo: Barbie Pink + Red
(Image credit: @chrissyford )

Nope, no Valentine's Day references here—just a fresh way to wear the Millennial Pink pieces we know you still own.

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The Combo: Lemon + Fuchsia
(Image credit: @sabinasocol )

Pro tip: Neon shades enhance the color of sun-kissed skin, so doubling up on them is highly encouraged in the summer.

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The Combo: Tangerine + Teal
(Image credit: @maria_bernad)

First of all, I used to think orange outfits were hideous. But this fresh color combination quickly changed my mind.

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The Combo: Mint Green + Fluorescent Pink
(Image credit: @emilisindlev )

I'm not saying that this green-and-pink 'fit reminds me of a watermelon. I'm also not saying that I don't love it.

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The Combo: Soft Blush + Burnt Orange
(Image credit: @marenschia)

If fully saturated neons and fluorescents aren't really your thing, I bet this subtler take on the color clashing trend will speak to you.

Hopefully, by now you're jumping at the chance to wear these summer colors. But if not, check out 15 all-white outfit ideas that I promise feel fresh.

Editor

Anna is an editor on the fashion team at Who What Wear and has been at the company for over five years, having begun her career in the Los Angeles office before relocating to New York, where she's currently based. Having always been passionate about pursuing a career in fashion, she built up her experience interning at the likes of Michael Kors, A.L.C., and College Fashionista before joining the team as a post-graduate assistant editor. Anna has penned a number of interviews with Who What Wear's cover stars over the years, including A-listers Megan Fox, Issa Rae, and Emma Chamberlain. She's earned a reputation for scouting new and emerging brands from across the globe and championing them to our audience of millions. While fashion is her main wheelhouse, Anna led the launch of WWW Travels last year, a new lifestyle vertical that highlights all things travel through a fashion-person lens. She is passionate about shopping vintage, whether it be at a favorite local outpost or an on-the-road discovery, and has amassed a wardrobe full of unique finds. When she's not writing, you can find her shooting street imagery on her film camera, attempting to learn a fourth or fifth language, or planning her next trip across the globe.