My Surefire Way to Look Expensive This Season

The street style crowd had a serious Skittles moment this fashion week, as a rainbow of head-to-toe, block-coloured ensembles popped up on pavements across the globe. While beige was summer's shade of choice, this season the tonal outfit trend exploded into Technicolour—expanding its oeuvre into everything from fire-engine red and vintage brown to pastel pink and rust orange.

Thanks to a bit of fashion alchemy, the process of pairing separates from the same colour spectrum seems to pull a look together like nothing else. It offers the same unified finish that you see on the runways (designers were all over the tonal trend this season), and despite being the easiest thing to put together, it instantly looks well-thought-out and polished. Just think of it as the dream styling hack for sleepy weekday mornings.

The only thing to note here is that the trend works best with block-coloured, unpatterned pieces (clashing prints is a whole other matter). Also, the closer you can get the shade to match, the better. So what colour will you champion? Scroll down to see our favourite head-to-toe tonal outfits, and then shop the looks.

Orange

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Style Notes: Lisa Aiken balances her silhouettes so well with this statement knit and thigh-slit leather midi.

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White 

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(Image credit: @_marisamartins_ )

Style Notes: When it comes to wearing head-to-toe white in the autumn, it's all about sticking to sleek, '70s-inspired silhouettes, as seen on Marisa Martins.

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Blue

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Style Notes: Camille Charrière is the epitome of low-maintenance cool in this denim-and-blue-jumper ensemble. A good example of how the tonal trend can elevate even the simplest of looks.

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Black

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(Image credit: @guriheli)

Style Notes: This head-to-toe black outfit is achingly chic (well, it is known as the fashion editor's uniform for a reason). COS is definitely the place to go for block-coloured, sculptural pieces.

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Related: I Tried on All the Autumn Essentials in Mango, and This Is What I'd Recommend

Red

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(Image credit: @hannastefansson)

Style Notes: A traffic-stopping look if we ever saw one. Hanna Stefansson uses two contrasting textures to provide balance to this bold outfit.

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Beige

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(Image credit: @pernilleteisbaek)

Style Notes: Okay, we know we said beige was the colour of the summer, but Pernille Teisbaek demonstrates that it can still feel relevant for autumn. We love the combination of a silky skirt, a chunky knit and a classic trench.

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Purple

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(Image credit: @lisafolawiyo)

Style Notes: Purple is probably one of the trickiest colours to pull off, so just be mindful of what shade you reach for. This lilac hue looks is so flattering on Lisa Folawiyo and is perfectly complemented by a pair of white lace-up trainers.

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Related: I've Just Found the Most Expensive-Looking Dresses on the High Street

Brown

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(Image credit: Hannah Almassi)

Style Notes: We spotted Maxim Magnus at London Fashion Week in this brown getup. If you find the idea of patent a little intimidating, worry not—there are plenty of brown leather offerings around that offer the same luxe finish.

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Pink

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(Image credit: @handinfire)

Style Notes: Forget any sickly sweet associations because pink is so chic this season. Take your cues from Tiffany Hsu and throw together dusty-pink bootcut trousers with a statement blouse.

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Up Next: The Autumn Dress Style That's Probably Missing From Your Wardrobe.