Colors
Dec 3, 2023

Fashion People Know That These Odd Color Combinations Hit Every Time

by Eliza Huber

In the last few years, I've had to rewire the entire part of my brain that's dealt with colors, specifically, the art of combining them. Growing up, there were so many pairings that fashion made out to be undesirable if only because they clashed. Wearing them together was as much a sartorial sin as wearing white after Labor Day (another rule I've since thrown out). But nowadays, those once-forbidden combinations are the exact ones I'm drawn to most, from neutrals like brown and gray to bolder duets like purple and green.

Now that I've given up every last morsel of trained disdain for unexpected or clashing color pairings, I'm much more open to them, so when I see them on the runways or in my Instagram feed, I don't look away but rather save them for later inspiration. I want to wear red with gold, brown, and gray, but I'm also not scared to style the trending color with even louder shades like pink. I embrace it, and so do fashion people all over the world, from Copenhagen to Paris. See for yourself by scrolling through the nine oddly satisfying color combinations that the style crowd wears on repeat.

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@hannamw

There's no doubt that red is dominating the color scene this year, but what not everyone knows is how perfectly the vibrant shade goes with metallic gold. Something about the two colors just pops, especially when there's also some black involved.

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@emilisindlev

As shown here, Mrs. Prada is to thank for fashion's obsession with all things orange and green (and gray!). It's giving Ireland! Veggie straws! U of Miami! Whatever it's giving, we're here for it.

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@oumaymaboumeshouli

If you're more of a silver person than a gold one, let me introduce you to the ultimate color combination for the platinum lover: royal blue and silver. It's just so sharp and futuristic.

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@meccajw

Not only is this color combo fashion-person approved, but it was also everywhere on the runways during the S/S 24 shows, appearing at Altuzarra, Carven, and The Row.

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@emiliamuss

If you asked me in high school to wear teal with brown, I would have shuttered at the thought. Now, I can't think of two more alluring shades to combine in one outfit.

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@himichelleli

If you love loud fashion, you love wearing pink and red together. It's one of those combos that surprisingly just works. But I always find that you need something to break it up for the look to really click, and adding a touch of white (or even black) works every time.

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@emnitta

It is fall, after all, so of course we're going to be obsessed with wearing brown and orange together. From Jacquemus to Wales Bonner, designers love to play around with this color pairing, and we're more than happy to reap the benefits of their hard work.

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@sofiarichiegrainge

When in doubt, look to the runways, the likes of which featured red-and-gray outfit combos all across the board this season, with highlights showing up at 16Arlington and Tibi.