The Unexpected Color Combinations Fashion People Everywhere Will Soon Be Wearing

And just like that, another New York Fashion Week is in the books. Yesterday, the spring 2026 runway season wrapped up in NYC, and looking back at the shows, one thing is clear: American fashion is far from dead. From Ralph Lauren to Brandon Maxwell, Khaite to Tory Burch, and many more, designers delivered pieces that were not only wearable but also evoked emotion. Standout themes included coastal glamour, sporty chic, and soft tailoring. As for color trends, the spring 2026 New York shows focused heavily on color-blocking—especially with unexpected shade pairings.

Every spring and summer, we see fashion people mix colors, but usually in a safe way. Looking ahead, it's clear that the combinations will get a bit more daring. Designers paired shades that, at first glance, seem unconventional yet somehow work together effortlessly. For example, Tibi styled a bubblegum-pink turtleneck sweater with green micro minishorts. At Prabal Gurung, we saw citron, similar to neon yellow, set against baby blues and even hot pink with cherry red. Another head-scratching but incredibly elegant combo was at Diotima, where Rachel Scott, who can do no wrong, paired crimson with periwinkle. But that's not all.

Keep scrolling to see all the unexpected ways color-blocking took place during NYFW and shop the pieces you can wear now through spring to re-create the runway looks.

Bubblegum Pink + Army Green

Army green and bubblegum pink might seem like total opposites on paper—earthy and utilitarian versus sweet and youthful. However, Tibi managed to make the combination really stand out. What kept the outfit from feeling over-the-top was the way it was grounded by sheer black tights and sleek black heels.

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Citron + Baby Blue

Who would have thought citron and baby blue could be a match made in heaven? We certainly didn't—until we spotted the bold color combo in Prabal Gurung's S/S 26 collection. If you're going to try this out, keep in mind that the blue part of your outfit should be a muted blue tone so the vibrant yellow really stands out.

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Crimson + Periwinkle

If you love your spring ensembles to be bold, pairing crimson and periwinkle will serve you well. It's one of those combinations that surprisingly just works. Plus, it has Scott's seal of approval, which is a big deal. Seriously, though, give it a try, whether it's red pants with a light-purple blouse or a periwinkle sweater styled with a crimson-red skirt. Since you'll need something to break up the colors for the look to really click, adding white or even black shoes always works.

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Shortbread Yellow + True Red

Proenza Schouler revealed its S/S 26 collection in collaboration with Scott, so we weren't surprised to see more color-blocking. Scott stayed on the theme of red but introduced more of a true red instead of a shade with hints of orange and paired it with shortbread, a darker alternative to butter yellow. This was evident in a leather strapless dress styled with red furry heels. Usually, when choosing shoes to pair with a yellow dress, most people would opt for neutral tones—beige, gold, or even black—thinking they would complement the bright hue without competing with it. But the choice of red turned heads—in the best way—because it felt fresh and dynamic.

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