There's something about that first chill in the air that makes me cross my fingers for autumn. The sight of a singular tawny leaf on the pavement is enough to make my mind stray to the funnel-neck jacket sitting in one of my many open tabs and begin planning my next Gilmore Girls marathon. But as I'm a beauty editor, one question seldom fails to bubble up around this time of year when I catch my flat brown mane in the mirror: Should I go darker with my hair colour?

It's a blanket statement to say that people dye their strands blonder in the summer and deeper in the winter, but it's not inherently false. The sun lightens many people's hair, which presents the perfect opportunity to lean into bright, sun-warmed hues. But as summer heat gives way to a temperate autumn breeze, the attention shifts from golden hues toward rich chocolate, burnished brown, and inky espresso—making everyone wonder if brunettes have more fun.

"Dramatic, cool-toned, deep browns that give a sleek and polished look [are] perfect for the transition of seasons into the colder months," celebrity hairstylist and master colourist Dimitris Giannetos tells me. Fellow celeb hairstylist Marc Ballance agrees, spotlighting environmental changes and increased attention toward hair health as another catalyst. "After a summer of travel, sun exposure, salt water and chlorine, many clients come in saying their hair feels dry and overprocessed," he explains. "Deepening the tone with a rich brunette and adding shine instantly makes the hair look healthier and feel stronger, which is exactly what people are looking for going into autumn."

Between the burnished balayage sported by Anok Yai and the romantic honey-brown bob donned by Hailey Bieber, there's been no shortage of sleek brunette dye jobs on the internet recently. Keep scrolling to see which brunette trends the pros say are worth considering this autumn, from dimensional layers to sleek single shades.

5 Brunette Trends for Autumn 2026

Glacé Chocolate

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you're severely out of the loop if you didn't have at least one conversation about Zendaya's flowing chocolate braid at the New York City premiere of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey—not only because of her impossibly long locks fashioned by celebrity hairstylist Coree Moreno but also because of her supremely shiny brunette strands that flashed caramel in the light.

"I think we're moving into a season where healthy, shiny hair is the biggest trend," muses Ballance. "Rather than lots of high-contrast dimension, we're seeing richer, more polished brunettes that look expensive because of how healthy they appear." Ballance also singles out Zendaya's castmate Anne Hathaway and her uniform iced-chocolate waves: "It's not about obvious highlights anymore; it's about creating a luxurious, shiny finish that makes the hair look incredibly healthy."

Shop Products for Glacé Chocolate Hair

Inky Espresso

Brunette is a spectrum of umber shadows and golden streaks, but one of the most alluring shades of brown you can try this autumn is an inky espresso. Giannetos calls the hue "romantic and timeless," spotlighting how fabulous it looks when worn down or pinned up in a chic knot, as shown in this recent look sculpted on Demi Moore.

Whether you're opting for a monochromatic look like Moore's nearly black brunette tresses or playing with contrast like Yai's supermodel balayage (yes, I'm feeling compelled to ask for a chocolate-brown ombré into glossy espresso ombré—no, I won't pull it off like her), it's clear that the darkest browns should be on your radar this autumn. Giannetos recommends enhancing your colour at home with a hair gloss whenever your hair needs a touch-up.

Shop Products for Inky Espresso Hair

Caramel Glaze

Not all brunettes prefer their strands dark. If you're a blonde searching for a transitional brunette shade for autumn or a deep brunette looking to lighten their hair without losing that autumnal essence, allow me to point you in the direction of Jordyn Woods and Hailey Bieber. Woods has always been hair goals, but her caramel-streaked brown tresses are serving as extra hair inspo as we sidle into the new season. Bieber recently adopted the style as well, leaning into a cool-toned iteration of her dirty blonde with golden face-framing highlights.

Shop Products for Caramel Glaze Hair

Feathery Highlights

If you're craving subtle dimension sans full-on highlights, consider these barely-there streaks I just spied on supermodel Jasmine Tookes. "This is exactly where subtlety makes all the difference," croons Ballance. "Instead of adding lots of brightness, I love the idea of placing just a few delicate highlights while keeping everything within the same shades. Your eye still picks up movement and dimension, but nothing looks obviously lighter."

To channel Tookes's feathery highlights, ask for two to three shades lighter than your natural colour in very small sections. "The result is a brunette that has depth, softness, and shine while still looking completely natural," says Ballance.

Shop Products for Feathery Highlights

Golden Threads

We've talked a lot about minimal-contrast hair colours, but that's not to say that highlights are history. “Highlights based on a person's skin tone will always give hair a lift," says Giannetos. The stylist illustrates how "deep cocoa with golden, feathery highlights" brings beautiful warmth to the deeper hue, while those with neutral tones may favour "a cooler brown." Take, for example, Penélope Cruz's gilded highlights, donned just in time for autumn. I'm certainly sending this snap to my hairstylist.

Shop Products for Golden Threads

How to Maintain Brunette Hair Colour

"Healthy hair is always the best hair," says Ballance. To preserve the vitality of your colour, celebrity stylists suggest adding a few new products to your regular rotation. "Use a colour-safe shampoo and conditioner, incorporate a nourishing hair mask once a week, and keep up with regular gloss appointments to maintain richness and shine as the colour fades," Ballance instructs.

If you're not sure where to start, Ballance suggests asking your colourist if there's a specific at-home treatment you can do to supplement your salon treatment between appointments. "The healthier the hair, the more reflective it is, and that's what makes every brunette colour look its best," he concludes.

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If you favor simple, classic outfits and often use accessories and shoe trends to make them more interesting and fresh, Kaia Gerber is a great person to look to for inspiration. Her effortless, cool wardrobe is filled with low-key yet polished pieces, such as slip skirts, trench coats, pull-on pants, cropped tees and tanks, and low-rise jeans. That brings me to her latest low-key outfit, which she paired with a bag color and heel style that made it feel even more special and trend-forward.

Gerber started with a cropped T-shirt and fold-over bootcut leggings. The bag trend she chose was a cobalt-blue style by Chanel. Cobalt is one of 2026's biggest color trends, so it undoubtedly makes any outfit it's paired with look of-the-moment. The heel trend she opted for was ballet heels. Gerber is a longtime fan of ballet flats and has been spotted repeatedly this year wearing a similar style with a low block heel. Sure, this is somewhat of a classic style as opposed to being trendy, but since the shoes are kind of everywhere right now, I'd absolutely call them a trend.

In summary, cobalt bags and ballet heels, whether worn together or separately, are the sign of an It girl in 2026. Scroll on to see Gerber wearing both in L.A. a few days ago and shop the trends for yourself.

As Seen on It Girl Kaia Gerber

On Kaia Gerber: Chanel bag; Repetto by Kaia Gerber Kaia Ballet Flats ($440)

Shop Cobalt-Blue Bags

Shop Ballet Heels

There's something about that first chill in the air that makes me cross my fingers for fall. The sight of a singular tawny leaf on the sidewalk is enough to make my mind stray to the funnel-neck jacket sitting in one of my many open tabs and begin planning my next Gilmore Girls marathon. But as I'm a beauty editor, one question seldom fails to bubble up around this time of year when I catch my flat brown mane in the mirror: Should I go darker?

It's a blanket statement to say that people dye their strands blonder in the summer and deeper in the winter, but it's not inherently false. The sun lightens many people's hair, which presents the perfect opportunity to lean into bright, sun-warmed hues. But as summer heat gives way to a temperate fall breeze, the attention shifts from golden hues toward rich chocolate, burnished brown, and inky espresso—making everyone wonder if brunettes have more fun.

"Dramatic, cool-toned, deep browns that give a sleek and polished look [are] perfect for the transition of seasons into the colder months," celebrity hairstylist and master colorist Dimitris Giannetos tells me. Fellow celeb hairstylist Marc Ballance agrees, spotlighting environmental changes and increased attention toward hair health as another catalyst. "After a summer of travel, sun exposure, salt water, and chlorine, many clients come in saying their hair feels dry and overprocessed," he explains. "Deepening the tone with a rich brunette and adding shine instantly makes the hair look healthier and feel stronger, which is exactly what people are looking for going into fall."

Between the burnished balayage sported by Anok Yai and the romantic honey-brown bob donned by Hailey Bieber, there's been no shortage of sleek brunette dye jobs on the internet recently. Keep scrolling to see which brunette trends the pros say are worth considering this fall, from dimensional layers to sleek single shades.

5 Brunette Trends for Fall 2026

Glacé Chocolate

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you're severely out of the loop if you didn't have at least one conversation about Zendaya's flowing chocolate braid at the New York City premiere of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey—not only because of her impossibly long locks fashioned by celebrity hairstylist Coree Moreno but also because of her supremely shiny brunette strands that flashed caramel in the light.

"I think we're moving into a season where healthy, shiny hair is the biggest trend," muses Ballance. "Rather than lots of high-contrast dimension, we're seeing richer, more polished brunettes that look expensive because of how healthy they appear." Ballance also singles out Zendaya's castmate Anne Hathaway and her uniform iced-chocolate waves: "It's not about obvious highlights anymore; it's about creating a luxurious, shiny finish that makes the hair look incredibly healthy."

Shop Products for Glacé Chocolate Hair

Inky Espresso

Brunette is a spectrum of umber shadows and golden streaks, but one of the most alluring shades of brown you can try this fall is an inky espresso. Giannetos calls the hue "romantic and timeless," spotlighting how fabulous it looks when worn down or pinned up in a chic knot, as shown in this recent look sculpted on Demi Moore.

Whether you're opting for a monochromatic look like Moore's nearly black brunette tresses or playing with contrast like Yai's supermodel balayage (yes, I'm feeling compelled to ask for a chocolate-brown ombré into glossy espresso ombré—no, I won't pull it off like her), it's clear that the darkest browns should be on your radar this fall. Giannetos recommends enhancing your color at home with a gloss whenever your hair needs a touch-up.

Shop Products for Inky Espresso Hair

Caramel Glaze

Not all brunettes prefer their strands dark. If you're a blonde searching for a transitional brunette shade for fall or a deep brunette looking to lighten their hair without losing that autumnal essence, allow me to point you in the direction of Jordyn Woods and Bieber. Woods has always been hair goals, but her caramel-streaked brown tresses are serving as extra hair inspo as we sidle into fall. Bieber recently adopted the style as well, leaning into a cool-toned iteration of her dirty blonde with golden face-framing streaks.

Shop Products for Caramel Glaze Hair

Feathery Highlights

If you're craving subtle dimension sans full-on highlights, consider these barely-there streaks I just spied on supermodel Jasmine Tookes. "This is exactly where subtlety makes all the difference," croons Ballance. "Instead of adding lots of brightness, I love the idea of placing just a few delicate highlights while keeping everything within the same shades. Your eye still picks up movement and dimension, but nothing looks obviously lighter."

To channel Tookes's feathery highlights, ask for two to three shades lighter than your natural color in very small sections. "The result is a brunette that has depth, softness, and shine while still looking completely natural," says Ballance.

Shop Products for Feathery Highlights

Golden Threads

We've talked a lot about minimal-contrast hair colors, but that's not to say that highlights are history. “Highlights based on a person's skin tone will always give hair a lift," says Giannetos. The stylist illustrates how "deep cocoa with golden, feathery highlights" brings beautiful warmth to the deeper hue, while those with neutral tones may favor "a cooler brown." Take, for example, Penélope Cruz's gilded highlights, donned just in time for fall. I'm certainly sending this snap to my hairstylist.

Shop Products for Golden Threads

How to Maintain Brunette Hair Color

"Healthy hair is always the best hair," says Ballance. To preserve the vitality of your color, celebrity stylists suggest adding a few new products to your regular rotation. "Use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner, incorporate a nourishing hair mask once a week, and keep up with regular gloss appointments to maintain richness and shine as the color fades," Ballance instructs.

If you're not sure where to start, Ballance suggests asking your colorist if there's a specific at-home treatment you can do to supplement your salon treatment between appointments. "The healthier the hair, the more reflective it is, and that's what makes every brunette color look its best," he concludes.

Believe it or not, it's almost loafer season, and if you're looking for a fresh way to style your go-to pair that doesn't involve blue denim, let us introduce you to khaki jeans. This denim wash sits somewhere between ivory and brown but is just as versatile as either. We editors at Who What Wear love them, and celebrities like Iris Law do too.

While strolling through New York City with friends this week, Law was spotted in a chic khaki-jeans outfit. She styled a low-rise, wide-leg pair with a short-sleeve polo shirt. To complete the look, she chose brown fringe loafers, which perfectly complemented the warm tone of the denim.

Khaki jeans aren't exactly a new denim trend. Fashion people like Zoë Kravitz, Kendall Jenner, and Hailey Bieber have been quietly wearing them since last fall, but we believe they're still flying under the radar. That said, let us convince you of why you need a pair.

For starters, they're an easy swap for black and blue jeans, and they feel a bit unexpected, making them a cool choice. They're also versatile enough for weekend brunches, office days, and even nights out, depending on how you style them. On top of all of that, they come in many different silhouettes, from wide-leg to straight, making it easy for anyone, regardless of their style, to wear them. While they pair well with just about any shoes, loafers are undoubtedly their best match.

If you didn't get a pair in fall 2025, consider this your sign to do so before the new season arrives and the good ones sell out—like they did last year. Keep scrolling to discover the best styles.

Get Iris Law's Look

Shop Khaki Jeans

I'm fully aware that summer is far from over, but pre-fall fashion finds have been trickling in on my favorite sites, catching my eye and getting me eager about dressing for the season ahead. While I browsed the new arrivals, one thing stood out above all else: color. Designers aren't leaving bold hues behind with summer. One shade in particular that is poised to define fall and maybe even dethrone burgundy is purple.

If you pay close attention to the runway trends, this probably doesn't come as a surprise. Loud, rich shades of purple like violet and royal purple popped up all over the spring/summer 2026 runways and then seamlessly continued into the fall/winter 2026 collections. The color was everywhere, from trench coats at Celine and sheer skirts and blouses at Ferragamo to textured minidresses at Loewe and asymmetrical maxi dresses at Tory Burch.

While many fashion insiders, including myself, bought into the color trend early—last spring—it seems like everyone else is just starting to notice it and get excited to embrace it this fall. So prepare yourself, as you'll certainly start to see more and more purple pieces being adopted as August rolls on.

If you're ready to buy into the trend, I've rounded up the chicest purple pieces to carry you through the season in style, from a must-have V-neck sweater at COS to fluid trousers at Toteme. I'm confident these hero items will be sold out by September 1. Scroll on to see and shop the full edit, and remember, you don't have to commit to a head-to-toe monochromatic look. In fact, I suggest subtly incorporating the color in your outfits through a pair of flats, a handbag, or a simple tee.

Shop Purple Pieces for Pre-Fall

As the lazy, hazy days of summer keep rolling out, swimsuits are still very much on heavy rotation in my weekly wardrobe. (Yes, even while I'm sitting in front of my computer working at home, you will likely find me in a bikini top and shorts thanks to these heat waves!) As I was finding inspo for a new bikini to add to my collection, I noticed two specific swimwear colors pop up on cool fashion girls repeatedly: royal purple and aqua turquoise. We've seen both colors slip into the spotlight this summer via chic accessories, shoes, tops, and dresses, so it's only natural we're spotting the bold hues pop up in the form of chic swimwear, too.

If you're looking to add some new swimwear to your summer outfit rotation, then consider a regal purple or calming turquoise for a summer poolside outfit that will have you looking altogether on-trend. Get inspired by the fashion set below, and then shop our favorite swimwear in both hues.

Purple

Shop royal-purple swimwear:

Turquoise

Shop turquoise swimwear:

It doesn't take an expert to see that vivid, saturated colors are reaching a fever pitch during the late-summer season. Whether it's the royal purple shoes we spotted on Sofia Grainge or the mesmerizing shades of pool blue that celebs like Zoe Saldana and Karlie Kloss are embracing, everyone and their mother is into wearing bright color right now. But as we've seen play out in our feeds and IRL, the easiest way to do color is via a tonal T-shirt. So if you're bored of your basic white tees these days, a simple swap to a colored version will elevate all your casual-cool outfits and make them very "2026".

As for which specific color to opt for? Just as fashion month kicks off in Copenhagen, fashion people are posing a united front on the exact T-shirt hue to signal an on-trend outfit vibe, and it's all about cobalt blue. The electrifying color is an easy match to basics like white and black trousers, but also happens to be complementary to one of fall's biggest trends, khaki jeans. Ahead, see how the coolest people in London and Copenhagen are already wearing the It basic and then shop our favorite blue tees below.

How Fashion People Style Cobalt-Blue Tees:

Style notes: Blue tee + khaki jeans + red sandals

Style notes: Blue tee + leather skirt + clutch bag

Style notes: Blue tee + drawstring pants + beaded necklace

Style notes: Blue tee + white pants + brown sunglasses + silver watch

Shop Cobalt Blue T-Shirts

Aqua, pool blue, azure—whatever you want to call it, shades of bright blue have had a strong grip on the coolest brands' inventories this summer, and celebrities and fashion people are dutifully buying in. You may recall that earlier this summer, Anne Hathaway wore a head-to-toe cerulean outfit, which was just one of many examples of celebrities embracing the trend over last summer's go-to color trend: butter yellow (still cool, but not quite as cool as bright blue). And now, within a day of each other, Zoe Saldaña and Karlie Kloss were spotted heading to press appearances in NYC wearing the aforementioned pool blue.

Coincidentally, Saldaña and Kloss both wore silk pool-blue pencil skirts—Saldaña with a white blouse and Kloss with a matching blazer. The stunning color somehow looks both cool and elegant at once, and there are a slew of pieces on the market right now that prove it. Keep scrolling to shop my carefully chosen pool-blue selections, and of course, see how Saldaña and Kloss just styled the color.

Pool Blue on Zoe Saldaña and Karlie Kloss

On Zoe Saldaña: Willy Chavarria skirt; Jimmy Choo Jenn 100 Nappa Leather Sandals ($895)

On Karlie Kloss: Vintage Dolce & Gabbana suit; Jude shoes

Shop Pretty Pool-Blue Pieces

While there are exceptions, for the most part, we've been in a seemingly endless cycle of low-key, subtle shoe trends long after the quiet luxury trend peaked. Minimalist ballet flats, simple flip-flops, low-profile sneakers, derby flats, and kitten-heel pumps are just a few of the shoe trends I'm referring to. But lo and behold, Sofia Richie Grainge, the queen of low-key, luxurious looks, just wore one of fall's "wildest" shoe trends: royal purple satin shoes.

The runways have alluded to the fact that royal purple is coming for your closet for the past couple of seasons, and brands are seeing it through. Richie Grainge's purple-and-teal wedge-heel Dries Van Noten mules aren't the only ones getting the royal purple-satin treatment. Other luxury brands such as Saint Laurent and Valentino are leaning into the trend, and Reformation has no less than five different royal purple satin shoes to choose from at the moment—all of which are selling rapidly.

For her night out at Nobu Malibu with her husband Elliot, Richie Grainge paired her purple satin mules with pieces that match her signature elegant style: a minimalist yet dramatic long-sleeve asymmetrical top and cream wide-leg pants. The outfit works surprisingly well with the "wild" shoes, so if you've been wondering what you'd wear with purple satin shoes, I guess you could say the answer is anything. Scroll on to choose your pair.

The Shoe Trend on Sofia Richie Grainge

On Sofia Richie Grainge: Dries Van Noten Satin Wedge Mules ($1132)

Shop Richie Grainge's Shoes

Shop More Royal Purple Satin Shoes

Black pants and blue jeans are all well and good, but keeping your seasonal wardrobe fresh means incorporating the of-the-moment trends into it. Earlier this year, I gave a heads-up that white pants and jeans were what you needed to incorporate into your wardrobe for spring and summer. Now, I'm doing the same for fall. Although fall doesn't exactly start tomorrow, August is the perfect time to start making your shopping list. I highly advise that the pants and jeans in the color I'm alluding to be at the top of it: dark beige. While light khaki jeans and pants have been a wardrobe staple for recent seasons, I've noticed a shift in the neutral tone, and it's a bit richer and earthier. Simply put, it's the perfect versatile fall color to pair with every other fall color trend.

I didn't have to look further than the world of Instagram outfits, the F/W 26 runways, and the new-arrivals sections of some of the internet's most popular retailers to see that the dark beige trend has already caught on, and I fully expect its popularity to increase as we head toward fall. With that, scroll on to familiarize yourself with fall's dark-beige pant and jeans trend and to shop the chicest styles in both categories. I highly advise ordering one in each; I promise you'll wear them often.

Outfit Inspiration

Why this outfit works: Summer's biggest T-shirt trend has arguably been the baseball tee, and the beauty of it is that it works just as well for fall—especially when worn with dark taupe jeans. And if you want to start wearing this fall-friendly outfit now, just add flip-flops.

Why this outfit works: Pairing dark beige jeans with a tucked-in button-down is just about as polished as a jeans outfit gets. In this particular outfit, the contrasting color combination is quite chic, and the animal-print bag adds a cool clashing element that makes things even more interesting.

Why this outfit works: A prediction I'd put money on is that chocolate brown suede outerwear will very much be a thing again. And paired with dark beige pants, it's impossible for your outfit not to look expensive. Even cooler? That she paired it all with black accessories and shoes.

Why this outfit works: If you're mentally in fall, but outside it's still summer, swap your white pants or jeans for a dark beige pair and keep your white tank top. This is an easily customizable outfit that can be adjusted and added to as the weather cools.

Why this outfit works: The pull-on-pant obsession continues, and this is the perfect way to incorporate it into your fall wardrobe. The effortless neutral-hued outfit paired with bright red flats signals to anyone who sees it that you have good style.

Why this outfit works: For starters, these Made Some pants have garnered a cult following, so if you find them in your size, I wouldn't hesitate. This outfit also shows how chic dark beige looks with white, and the draped sweater is the perfect summer-to-fall styling trick.

Why this outfit works: Speaking of white with dark beige, if, like most, you have a pretty white top in your closet, pair it with dark taupe jeans instead of blue ones. The boho-inspired combination is just right for those early fall days.

On the F/W 26 Runways

Loewe

Polo Ralph Lauren

Celine

Miu Miu

Shop Dark Taupe Pants

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One thing you can always count on when it comes to Tracee Ellis Ross is that she's not going to dress like everyone else, and that includes the colors she chooses to wear, especially the colors she chooses to wear together. Ellis Ross's eclectic style was on full display while she was out doing press in NYC this week, specifically in the pant and shoe colors she paired.

Ellis Ross paired bright-green pants with red shoes, and it probably wasn't because she was celebrating Christmas in July. Her pants and shoes were by Loewe. Ever since Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez took the helm as creative directors, clashing primary colors have become a noteworthy trademark of the Spanish brand, so Ellis Ross's decision to wear kelly green pants with cherry-red shoes is right in step with that. When worn during other times of the year, the colors we'd associate with the holiday season feel cool and adventurous instead of cheesy, and Ellis Ross's outfit, which she paired with a plain white tank top, is the perfect example of that. Keep scrolling to see it for yourself and shop the bold color combination if you dare.

Tracee Ellis Ross Wearing the Color Pairing

On Tracee Ellis Ross: Loewe pants, Origami Cubic Leather Pumps ($1150), and Amazona 180 Small Leather Top-Handle Bag ($4550)

Get the Look

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Anna Baldwin is a Who What Wear editor in residence and an Atlanta-based personal stylist who services men's and women's everyday wardrobes, helping clients edit, shop, and style with long-term clarity, not one-off outfits.

Some of the most versatile colors in my wardrobe are the hardest to describe. They're not quite brown, not quite gray—not exactly olive but not green either. Tibi calls these Ring 3 colors, the "-ish" shades that sit between traditional color families. Within Tibi's Color Wheel philosophy, Ring 1 and Ring 2 are home to classic neutrals like black, white, navy, gray, and brown. Ring 3 introduces the nuanced, hard-to-name colors that bridge multiple color families, while Ring 4 is where you'll find clearly defined, more saturated hues. I had spent years relying almost exclusively on Rings 1 and 2 because Ring 4 felt like too big of a leap. Ring 3 became the bridge, allowing me to incorporate more color into my wardrobe without feeling like I was stepping outside my minimalist aesthetic.

To me, Ring 3 colors soften the corners of an outfit. We know how to create high-contrast looks with black and white and tonal outfits within the same color family, but introducing a Ring 3 color creates a softer, more nuanced palette. It's a subtle shift that makes an outfit feel more sophisticated and creative.

As I rarely wear bold patterns or elaborate design details, interesting color combinations have become a styling skill I've intentionally refined. Below are five Ring 3 colors I reach for most often, along with how I style them.

Mink

Cool greige with taupe and soft mushroom undertones

I wanted to show how this color can combine a classic neutral with a brighter hue. The optic-white jeans create a clean, high-contrast foundation, while the dusty-lilac tee echoes the softness of the mink bag without competing with it.

Shop My Look

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Earth

Deep olive brown with muted moss and warm gray undertones—more nuanced than olive, softer than brown

I paired the earth trousers with a black top featuring white trim to lean into a classic color palette. The earth tone softens the contrast, making the outfit feel richer and more interesting than a standard black-and-white combination.

Shop My Look

Shop More Earth Pieces

Soot

Soft charcoal with smoky graphite undertones—not quite black, not quite gray

I leaned into a tonal palette with this outfit. The soot tee complements the cool undertones in the Cedar Melange skirt, creating depth without relying on black.

Shop My Look

Shop Another Soot Piece

Dark Stone

Muted olive-gray with weathered sage undertones that occupies the space between olive, sage, and stone

I paired the oversize dark-stone sweatshirt with crisp ivory shorts to keep the look casual while maintaining contrast. The blush bag introduces another muted color, proving that Ring 3 shades don't just pair well with classic neutrals. They also make softer colors feel effortless rather than overly sweet.

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Cedar Melange

Heathered taupe with cool brown, soft gray, and creamy ivory undertones—the mélange yarn creates visual depth, making it difficult to assign to a single color family

I paired the Cedar Melange trousers with a crisp, sculptural cream top to bring elegance to the relaxed silhouette. The complexity of the color adds quiet interest, while soft cream creates a fresh, polished finish.

Shop My Look

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White is typically synonymous with summer, but this year, a bolder hue is stealing the spotlight. While all-white outfits will always be in style, chic women around the globe are opting for another color that packs a much bigger punch: tennis ball yellow. Perhaps it's the buzz surrounding Wimbledon and the US Open or the growing influence of sports in fashion generally, but all the cool fashion people are trading their usual summer shades for tennis ball yellow this season.

Summer fashion is meant to be fun, after all, so it's no surprise that this shade has risen in popularity so quickly. Whether it's just a pop on a handbag or a head-to-toe look, the style set has spoken, and tennis ball yellow is the hot color of summer '26. Brands have also cosigned the trend, and items like Donni's viral taffeta pants and Reformation's beaded sandals are already selling out.

The trick to styling is to allow the color to be the focal point of the outfit, as it makes a major statement on its own. Ready to see what I mean? Below, I'm highlighting how chic women are wearing tennis ball yellow this summer, plus the key pieces to shop if you want to test out the color trend for yourself. Considering the number of cool girls wearing it, this color is only poised to get bigger.

Style tip: Keep the rest of your outfit simple, allowing the pop of color to shine.

Style tip: A slip dress feels infinitely more interesting in tennis ball yellow.

Style tip: When in doubt, go monochromatic.

Style tip: Tennis ball yellow looks even cooler when paired with another shade of yellow.

Style tip: An accessory is the easiest way to test-drive the trend.

Style tip: It's the summer of cool pants, so lean in.

There's much to discuss when a new Chanel collection debuts, ever since Matthieu Blazy took the helm. One of the most common topics of conversation is his use of color. Not to worry—there's plenty of Chanel's signature black and white throughout his collections, but coexisting with the aforementioned classic are bold, bright color pairings. Gracie Abrams just gave us an IRL representation of this, on the eve of the release of her new album, Daughter From Hell.

While out and about between promotional appearances in NYC, Abrams was photographed wearing an off-the-runway look from Chanel's Resort 2027 collection. It included a cream tank with contrast trim and the brand's iconic logo, and a grass green skirt that was also logo'd and contrast trimmed. Vibrant colors you'd find in nature are dictating many of the trends this summer, with grass green being one of them. And Abrams opted to pair it with a croc-embossed shoulder bag (also Chanel, of course) in another found-in-nature hue: azure. Yes, these shades may sound a bit specific, but once you see them, you'll realize how successful a pairing it is and that you'd be remiss to not try wearing these hues in adjacent color families together this season. I recommend following Abrams' lead and trying a grass green article of clothing with an azure accessory. Keep scrolling to shop a few special options.

The Color Pairing on Gracie Abrams

On Gracie Abrams: Chanel Resort 2027 top, skirt, and bag; Chanel sunglasses; Manolo Blahnik Callasli Leather Slingback Sandals ($945)

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Kristina Ang is a Who What Wear editor in residence, fashion writer and content creator, and social producer for Spotify. Previously, she worked as a social video coordinator at Harper's Bazaar.

Summer has only just begun, but the cool girls have already started gravitating toward the color of the season: aqua.

A large part of the growing obsession with this color originated from Matthieu Blazy's debut Chanel show in January. There, statement aqua shopping totes and two-tone heels were sent down the runway at Paris's Grand Palais. As a result, when the pieces finally arrived in Chanel boutiques in March, a frenzy ensued, with fashion insiders and excited shoppers alike bracing long lines just to get their hands on Blazy's maximalist accessories. The era of coveting the timeless black Chanel Flap bag and classic two-tone ballet flats appeared to be fading. Ahead of summer 2026, Chanel consumers showed up with an appetite for color—aqua to be exact.

Cool girls on social media are proving to be just as responsible for the color's current dominance. Tastemakers like Isa Sung, Noure JFL, and Linda Schulz have already incorporated the electric hue into their summer rotations. Even celebrities like Zara Larsson, who wore it during her Chicken Shop Date with host Amelia Dimoldenberg, have embraced the color.

If you're ready to lean into the season's boldest shade, here are the best pieces available this summer to help you incorporate aqua into your wardrobe.

Shop the Aqua Color Trend in 2026

Simon Porte Jacquemus knows how to put on a show—and dress its viewers in the chicest way possible. The designer from the South of France debuted his spring/summer 2027 collection this week at Phare de la Pietra on the French island of Corsica and invited some of the most stylish women from his home country and beyond to watch from the front row. As for what they wore for the occasion, the best dressed among them seemed keen on donning one dress color and one dress color only: aqua blue, the summer shade that's been quietly taking over, replacing the likes of regal purple and butter yellow in recent months. It was all over the show venue, setting the tone for a run of dominance throughout the remainder of 2026.

The most prominent wearer of aqua blue was Alexandra Leclerc (formerly Saint Mleux), whose looks at Jacquemus shows get better every season. This time around, Leclerc wore an aqua-blue poplin dress with a V-shaped neckline and a draped bodice that cinched beneath the knee before poofing out in a mermaid-esque fashion. (See Look 5 from the show.) She paired the dress with light-colored accessories, including an ivory box bag with feather embellishments and a pair of white classic pumps.

On Alexandra Leclerc: Jacquemus dress, shoes, and bag

Leclerc's dress was one of a handful of aqua blue pieces featured in the S/S 27 collection. There was also a strapless gown and matching headpiece in the shade, as well as a voluminous skirt and pair of ballet flats. Clearly it's making the rounds. She also wasn't the only attendee who wore the color, with others like Ro Brahmand and Quenlin Blackwell also picking dresses in a similarly vibrant and summer-ready shade.

On Ro Brahmand: Jacquemus The Pina Knit Dress ($950), Small Valérie Bag ($1690), and shoes

On Quenlin Blackwell: Jacquemus dress, Small Valérie Bag ($1690), and shoes

What stood out even more than aqua blue's presence at the show, though, was its versatility, particularly when it came to shoe styling. Often with bright color trends, there's really only one shoe color that looks best with it—notably black. However, with aqua blue, there's no reason why someone wearing the hue should avoid experimenting in the shoe-color department. For instance, while Blackwell and Brahmand chose black heels, Leclerc took another approach, opting for white heels. In the show, models donned coordinating aqua-blue footwear, as well as baby pink and yellow.

As a result, aqua blue becomes a no-brainer dress color for summer weddings. You can wear it to multiple ceremonies, easily changing up the look with different footwear. So what are you waiting for? Keep scrolling to shop the 2026 dress color trend that already has every chic woman in France's stamp of approval.

Shop Aqua Blue

Summer presents us with the perfect time to have more fun and get more playful with our fashion choices. Hands down, one of the easiest ways to achieve this is with the addition of color into our looks. From vibrant tomato red to viral chartreuse green and fashion-forward purple, for summer 2026, the leading color trends inject a fresh and dynamic touch to a classic wardrobe—guaranteed to make you stand out from the crowd.

As we settle into summer, I've been spotting eight colors in particular that are dominating among the fashion crowd from London to Los Angeles and everywhere in between. We spotted many of these vibrant shades in the spring/summer 2026 collections, from Prada to Chanel, bringing us a brighter, more optimistic palette to see us through the warm-weather season. Wearing one of these colors will 100% have you looking on-trend this summer, so keep scrolling to get your hands on the fresh and statement-making hues fashion people can't get enough of right now.

Purple

One of the most unexpected yet popular color trends I keep spotting on fashion people everywhere right now is purple. Forget the lighter lilac hues and opt for a rich and saturated color that will make your outfit stand out from the crowd. The recent Ref x Courtney Grow collection is a good place to start, replete with royal purple clutches, ballet flats, and bikinis.

Tomato Red

Designers such as Chanel, Stella McCartney, and Loewe all backed the bright and bold tomato red color on the runways—whether on textured dresses and skirts that skimmed the hips or layered under sporty anoraks. And naturally, fashion people are wearing the joyful hue in full force this summer in the form of drawstring poplin pants, tank tops, and sporty shorts.

Lime Chartreuse

Somewhere between lime and chartreuse, the vibrant color has been a hit among cool fashion people this summer so far. Whether it's satin taffeta pants, a chic bag, or statement heels, the vibrant hue brings an energy to outfits that feels both fashion-forward and effortless. Perfect for styling with your classic neutrals.

Turquoise

If there's one color that defines summer 2026, it's unquestionably blue. We've seen the whole gamut of blue shades reign supreme this summer season. As you'll see from this list, there are several shades of blue that are taking center stage. One of them is captivating and calming turquoise. Opt for a sleek summer top, asymmetric skirt, or floaty dress to lean into the trend.