Style Buzz: Fall 2026 Colors Guide
Ideas to Inspire Your Style This Week!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"I just want my clothes to be casual, comfortable, and cute!"
I was at a typical pub in England - surrounded by staid middle age men - when this stunning lady came in with a couple of friends. Everyone stared at her and were slightly caught off guard. She did not blend in at all - an orange suit, red bustier and shoes, and pink hair? Of course I'm going to talk to her and tell her I loved her look! She was darling and it turns out she's in a creative industry so it makes sense that her outfit reflects that part of her. I also love how she made my day by being unapologetically herself!
xxx rachel
FALL COLORS GUIDE
I wrote about the Fall/Winter 2026 trends a few weeks ago, and while cuts, silhouettes, and fabrics are the predominant features, color plays more than just a supporting role. I'm not talking about all blacks and dark browns, and you really don't have to match the dull grey skies that are headed our way. Fun fact: it's been proven that adding in bright colors is a surefire way to elevate your mood (unofficially it's called Scandi Style). So let's look at the standout colors of the season and get creative about using them in the coming months!
Green Envy: Pantone is calling our favorite fall green hue, chartreuse, Green Envy this year. Its a bold color that pairs beautifully with everything from navy, to burgundy to brown. Shop this section for chartreuse and shades of green.
Brown is the New Black: Brown has become a more interesting alternative to black that proves to be just as versatile while also friendlier to most skin tones.
Spiced Shades: From orange, to red to burgundy, spiced shades are synonymous with the fall season. Two of Pantone's colors, Arabian Spice, an orange cognac brown and Red Mahogany, a deep brown burgundy, are examples of the season's spiced shades.
Regal Purple: While this hue isn't included in Pantone's F/W palette, deep royal purple will emerge this year as the season's hottest hue. The deep purple is cool toned and saturated, symbolizing royalty and luxury.
All Aboard: Blue: Turquoise and Pantone's new blue hue, All Aboard, surprise us this season adding a touch of spring to the cooler season.
Seasonless Shades: Pantone describes the season's neutrals as ‘Seasonless Shades’. This year they encompass rich hues that pair perfectly together or with one of the season's standout shades. This year you'll find navy and indigo rise in popularity, and a warm medium brown, Toffee, take center stage. Pantone's seasonless shades also include a warm cream, Egret; a light tan, Candied Ginger; and a soft grey, Underworld.
So how to do this in your own closet? Start with some clarity about the specific colors here:
Then get inspired to try different combinations! Pair Arabian Spice with Cognac. Add a pop of Turquoise to an all-black outfit. Pair Chartreuse with Brown and Navy. Here are some suggestions to help you do this confidently:
Your whole outfit doesn't have to reflect the trend. A piece or two can suffice.
Pick one color to be the standout in an outfit.
Ease into a color with accessories - jewelry, shoes, handbags, scarves.
Use neutrals like cream, navy, or brown to tone down the impact of a color.
If you don't like a color, you don't have to wear it! But sometimes, you don't know you like it unless you try it. (Go on, be brave!)
Orange + Brown: Inspired by a look seen on the Tod's runway, this combination of orange and brown is fresh for fall. Brown is the new black and when paired with a bright, saturated hue, it feels modern and different, even through it is still a neutral.
Purple + Navy + Red: This bright, bold and icy purple is trending for fall and symbolizes luxury. When paired with a red accessory it feels unexpected but intentional. The rest of the look is kept subdued with neutrals to not distract from the colorful focal points.
Burnt Olive + Teal + Toffee: The earrings were used as the inspiration of this look, featuring a bold turquoise paired back to fall neutrals, and the skirt makes sure that they're noticed by bringing attention to the color.
Chartreuse + Toffee: Surprise the office by pairing your chartreuse with a toffee brown instead of black. The pairing of these warm golden tones is perfect for a casual day in the office, working from home or weekend plans with the family.
Navy + Burgundy + Silver: When it comes to workout wear, navy should be considered a color as so many women don't stray from black for their activewear. Paired with burgundy and silver accents, this look is intentionally styled for Pilates and the errands that come after.
Chartreuse + Burgundy + Chocolate Brown: Chartreuse is one of the most stand out colors this season, and when paired with another standout color, burgundy, it makes an unexpected color pairing that just works. Chocolate brown accessories don't distract from the other elements in the look.
Red + Animal Print: When doing a bold color like red, you can keep the rest of the look neutral as the dress here does the heavy lifting. Styled with an animal print bag and coordinating tall boot, this is a great outfit for a fall event.
Indigo + White: Indigo rinse jeans are the on trend wash of the season. Another trend this season is wearing a lightweight jacket as a top, as seen here. Ideal for fluctuating temperatures, this is the perfect fall night out look.
ANATOMY OF AN OUTFIT
This is a peek into my favorite outfit of the week where I break it down for you: why I've put it together and why it works, what elements could be swapped out, things to consider, etc.
Denim doesn't have to mean casual! I had a meeting this week with an advisor and wanted an outfit that looked polished and respectful of the setting but not too formal. I knew I'd be in an office where the air conditioning might be on full blast (it was an unseasonable warm day) so a jacket was definitely a must-have. The dress is a favorite and it's got a similar shade of blue that works well with denim. It's also really comfortable, letting me focus on the topic without fidgeting, and the shoes were a last-chance-to-wear-them-before-the-rainy-seaon option. Finally, I added some sparkle with my jewelry and ubiquitous bee pin. I love the result when you pair something uber-casual with something dressy - everyone wins!
Dress: Lauren by Ralph Lauren
Jacket: Levi's
Shoes: Marc Fisher
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