Though it may be hard to imagine in the depths of January’s chill, spring dressing (and shopping!) is only a few short months away. Right now, you may be living in a well-worn rotation of sweaters and boots, but inspiration is just around the corner. One place to start? The spring 2026 runways, which—amid a season of historic designer shake-ups—delivered no shortage of fresh styling ideas.
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One of our favorite takeaways is the unexpected mix of color combinations seen across the collections this season. Beyond offering a welcome jolt from the winter doldrums, these pairings are rearranging our sense of what actually works together. For spring 2026, designers leaned into so-called “off” combinations: think purple with bright red, lime green with cobalt blue, and orange with gray. This season, it seems, the most compelling palettes are the least obvious.
Below, shop and style some of our favorite unexpectedly color combinations for spring.
Purple + Blue + Black
At Auralee, shades of rich purple and blue pair surprisingly well with black, turning the tables on age-old color-pairing rules.
Navy + Maroon + Khaki
The collegiate color combination of navy, maroon, and khaki is transformed in oversized swinging shapes, and through the addition of “off” accessories—bright white flats, a clashing tote, and gold buttons.
