The 5 Color Trends That Will Be Winning Fall 2022, Guaranteed

This summer, there was a strong sartorial spotlight on saturated shades more than ever before. Even luxury brands such as The Row, whose collections usually follow a strict neutrals-only rule, featured bright colors amid the latest campaigns. While summer may be nearing its end, it looks like there's no shortage of vivid hues ahead. When I attended fashion week back in February, the first thing I took note of was the colors that came down the runways. Despite all the designers working with completely different aesthetics and an infinite number of options, there's almost always a theme of colors, and it enamors me every time. I'll save you from the Miranda Priestly rant about the way color moves across the fashion cycle, but it's an iconic movie line I have memorized by heart for a reason.

After spending hours sifting through the many runway shows of fall/winter 2022 and data given by color experts like Pantone, I'm here to give you the ultimate trend report for the next season. Ahead, I'm highlighting the top colors I predict will make it to the masses in the coming months. When most people think of fall, they might think of neutral autumnal shades like maroon and brown, so the picks ahead might surprise you. With bright blue, hot pink, and delicate pastels, we're in for a ride this season. Keep scrolling to see and shop the full report. The colors below will most definitely pack a punch. 

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Cecilie Bahnsen; Christian Siriano; Ottolinger; Off-White)

Shades like aqua and cerulean are seeing extreme popularity right now, but this striking cobalt blue just so happens to reign supreme. I know all colors look good against neutrals, but there's something about this blue that just pairs so beautifully with pared-back colors like beige and taupe.

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Valentino; Abacaxi; Chanel; Carolina Herrera; Ester Manas)

There's already been an overload of hot pink thanks to the virality of Barbiecore, but I doubt the momentum will be slowing down anytime soon.

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Jason Wu; RTA; Carolina Herrera; Eudon Choi)

While this wasn't a shade I was expecting to see so much of during fashion month, it ended up growing on me quickly. While a stick-of-butter hue has been the go-to shade of yellow for the fashion set, the direction for fall is brighter. 

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Miu Miu)

Pastels may be traditionally reserved for the springtime, but true fashion is about breaking rules—don't you think?

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(Image credit: Courtesy of 16Arlington; Brandon Maxwell; Miu Miu)

Yes, shimmer may not exactly be a color, but with how often it showed up in different fall collections, I had to talk about it. Shimmer is no stranger to holiday season, but these aren't your average sparkly dresses. Think crystal netting, sheer sequins, and various embellishments. 

Next, I'm Freaking Out—These Fall Finds From H&M, Zara, and Shopbop Are Too Good

Associate Fashion Editor
Yusra Siddiqui is an editor who resides in New Jersey but bounces between the suburbs and NYC. (She's a Jersey girl at heart.) After interning at Who What Wear in 2019, she found her way to the team after graduating from LIM College in 2022 with a fashion media degree. She's also spent time writing and working for publications such as Fashionista, Coveteur, and Nylon, but she always knew that Who What Wear was where she was meant to be. When she's on the job, she's perusing runway shows, analyzing the latest thing fellow Gen Zers are up to on the internet, and sharing what she can about the modest-fashion market. You can also catch her dabbling in entertainment, talking about the costume choices of the latest Netflix series or diving deeper into how the plotline affects the viewers in a myriad of ways. Lastly, she likes to create content for Who What Wear's TikTok. Her personal time is spent doing similar but also different things—deep diving into almost every new TV show (Bridgerton, Gilmore Girls, and Stranger Things are favorites), planning her next local getaway (whenever that may be), and reading the latest Emily Henry or Sally Rooney novel in one sitting.