Across the many trends for spring/summer 2026, high-impact color is proving to be one of the biggest surprises of the season. There’s always at least one tone that defines a season—in recent times, butter yellow, chocolate brown, and cherry red have all been top contenders—but what seemed particularly impactful this season was how many brands embraced poignant palettes. Whether that meant primary color blocking at Celine, quirky combinations at Loewe, or monochrome dressing at Bottega Veneta, one thing is for certain: it’s all about rich saturation right now. We’re seeing the trickle effect on the street, with many celebrities injecting bolder hues into their off-duty wardrobes—so if you’re looking for a guide to wearing color, consider this your starting point.
How to Wear Color, Inspired by Celebs:
Whether you’re a minimalist or maximalist, take notes from some of our favorite celebs who have been mastering the moment. Jennifer Lawrence is always a standout in our book, often spotted in quirky color mashups. For a recent sighting in New York, the actress teamed a bold red cardigan and bright yellow graphic T-shirt together, grounded by straight-leg blue jeans and her trusted Adidas Tokyo sneakers. A few days later, she was seen wearing a long-sleeved crimson polo shirt atop pink pants from Siedrés (unfortunately sold out), styled with suede accessories and her signature ball cap—the actress certainly has a thing for red, a lesson for us all: when you find a color that works, it’s worth building on over and over.
Up-and-coming designer Colleen Allen has been generating buzz, pairing ’90s minimalist silhouettes with saturated color for spring. Michaela Coel recently wore a draped blouse in orange-red with royal purple pants from the brand for press tours for her latest films, Mother Mary and The Christophers, while Carey Mulligan opted for a long-sleeve top in tomato red, mixed with a bright orange slip skirt during Beef promotions. Together, they make a compelling case for keeping shapes simple and structured, letting the vibrant colors do the talking.
If you’re hesitant about the idea, go the Zoë Kravitz route by small splashes to your staple neutrals. Alongside a black car coat, earth-toned jeans, ballet flats, and a brown suede handbag, colorful accents like pale yellow tee or a brightly beaded necklace add dimension to every wardrobe essential.
Whatever way you’re leaning, keep reading to discover how the stars are wearing color this season—and shop the bold pieces necessary to get a similar look.
A Playful Mashup
Michaela Coel chose up-and-coming designer Colleen Allen while promoting two new films in New York. The Mother Mary actress wore a velvet orange-red draped blouse with royal purple pants from the brand, adding in burgundy footwear for an unexpected twist—demonstrating how to bring unlikely pairings together in an elegant way. We’d take the ensemble one step further with a matching handbag and modernist silver jewelry.
Mixing Rose Tones
Jennifer Lawrence is not one to shy away from color, often adding bold primary colors into her off-duty wardrobe—bright red being one of her favorites. Here she mixes flowy pink pants with a long-sleeved polo shirt in her color du jour, sticking to mix-matched rose tones—then adding in pale yellow suede flats and funkier accessories, such as a long shell necklace and her favorite ball cap, for a new bohemian feel.
The Minimalist Way
Even neutral enthusiast Zoë Kravitz isn’t immune to the color movement. The actress chose a pale yellow T-shirt to pair with closet classics, such as a black car coat and earth-toned jeans, on a spring day in New York. High-vamp ballet flats from The Row, a ball cap, and an oversized brown suede tote bag are natural add-ons Kravitz regularly gravitates towards, while the pop of red beaded necklace totally caught us by surprise. Expect to see more color in minimalist wardrobes as temperatures rise.
Sheer Perfection
Carey Mulligan went for a retro-inspired feel in another Colleen Allen creation, mixing simple silhouettes in fiery tones for a distinctly minimalist-does-color feel, pulled straight from the ‘90s. The Beef actress accessorized her long-sleeved top in tomato red and somewhat gauzy orange slip skirt with strappy metallic gold heels. Consider this for date night or your next wedding, keeping accessories to a minimum for maximum impact.
The Chartreuse Effect
Celebrating the launch of the Old Navy x Christopher John Rogers collaboration in New York, Katie Holmes wore a punchy knit top from the collectsion in one of spring’s biggest color trends— chartreuse. If you’re wondering how to make the polarizing color more approachable, recreate this look—using a single piece, like the fine-gauge sweater, as your anchor—then style with medium-wash blue jeans, adding high-vamp kitten-heeled pumps in black for a day-to-night effect. We’d complete the ensemble with a roomy tote and gold hoops for extra flair.
Tonal Dressing
Rihanna went for monochrome while out and about in Paris, layering various shades of burgundy. The key to wearing the notoriously fall-coded color in the warmer months is using lightweight essentials: a short-sleeved and long-sleeved tee atop wide-leg cargos, in varying tones, feel fresh and spring-forward. She took the look one step further, accessorizing with a bright yellow Dior Saddle bag as a playful add-on, proving how well these two opposite shades go together.
Quirky Combinations
Another diehard minimalist embracing bolder palettes, Kendall Jenner was seen at a wedding in Cabo San Lucas wearing a color-blocked ensemble featuring lavender and chartreuse—the spring color trend on everyone’s mind. We’d recreate it with a fitted tee and sleek pencil skirt, adding the supermodel’s essential accessories into the mix, such as a woven pouch bag, strappy sandals, and chunky silver hoop earrings.
Pop of Red
Gigi Hadid is also a fan of the pop of red—the color trend that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. Recreate this easy spring look with a cardigan from her brand Guest in Residence, to style with beloved closet staples, such as high-waisted jeans in blue. Brown accessories are mainstays for the supermodel—soft loafers, a hobo bag, belt, and sunglasses, all in a chocolate tone, offer those finishing touches that never lose their urban appeal.
Primary Brights
Jennifer Lawrence is back in her color era. The actress was spotted mixing primary hues in New York, layering a red collared cardigan over a graphic T-shirt in bold yellow. Grounded by her favorite straight-leg jeans in blue and Adidas Tokyo sneakers, the actress added even more off-duty cool with a worn-in ball cap, turquoise jewelry, and designer handbag.
Citrus Notes
Hailey Bieber traded her all-black ensembles for something light and bright for her Rhode pop-up at Coachella. Leaning into the California cool vibe, she wore a vintage Dior lace slip dress in citrus tones for a day in the desert—something you can easily recreate with this Saint Laurent playsuit, featuring a similar boudoir vibe. Add even more color with saturated accessories—a pink shoe or a bold blue bag work well—then finish with personal jewelry and sleek sunnies.
High-Impact Color
Alana Haim chose a bright yellow-green dress from Dario Vitale’s spring/summer 2026 Versace collectsion for promotions for The Drama, reminding us to experiment with unexpected colors. The musician and actress gave it a punk twist—wearing it with black slingback pumps, a Louis Vuitton east-west bag, and oversized frames. Do the same, then throw on a leather jacket to brave the chillier spring temperatures; it’s a look that feels bold, yet still minimalist-forward.
