When it comes to a reliable autumn colour palette, there are a few shades that instantly spring to mind; think camel, chocolate and grey. These also happen to be some of the most versatile colours you can wear, as they go with just about any other shade you can think of. However, when it comes to matching the more nuanced colour trends that emerge for the season, that's where things get a little tricky. What works with pink now, for instance? Other than more lashings of pink, as inspired by the Barbie renaissance, that is. And what of the pale yellow colour we're seeing so much of lately? If this is new wardrobe territory for you, I wouldn't blame you if you felt a little intimidated.
This is why I personally find the new collections so helpful; every autumn/winter 2023 runway showcased perfect examples of chic colour combinations to try this season, many of which are encouraging me to embrace a different hues than I ordinarily would. So, I thought I'd direct your focus to some more exciting autumn colour combinations I saw while looking through the many, many A/W23 shots I have on file. What I love most about the pairings I've assembled is that none of them feel too whacky, nor are they absolutely predictable. Yes, red and pink feature together as they so often do, but by way of rose and burgundy instead of fuchsia and flame. This nuance of tone is applied to many of the autumn colour combinations you'll see, which makes them feel all the more expensive, in my humble opinion.
Below, discover seven inherently chic autumn colour combinations for 2023.
1. BEIGE + SILVER
Style Notes: Let's ease ourselves in, shall we? Beige might not be categorised a "trend", but it's hold on our wardrobes (especially those who subscribe to a minimalist aesthetic) can not and should not be overlooked. It's ability to blend comes in particularly useful when pairing it with bolder hues, but also finishes. Silver is set to be one of the biggest trends across the autumn/winter 2023 fashion realm, including clothing, and I love how Proenza Schouler harmoniously paired them together to sleek effect.
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2. NAVY + GREEN
Style Notes: Green is one of my favourite colours but to wear? I always find styling it so tricky. Worn with black it looks a little witchy. White? It feels somewhat clinical and, for some reason, toothpaste-y. So, let's look at the shades in between. You could turn to beige like the above but I'd argue that navy tones, the sort seen at Tory Burch, make grass-green tones look hella' premium.
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3. PINK + BURGUNDY
Style Notes: Fashion people have been styling pink and red together since, well, fashion people came into existence. However, this season, designers have knocked back the saturation to give us elevated combinations of rose and burgundy. A pairing that looks great on all complexions and set against all hair colours. I also enjoy the addition of a sharp white shoe, as seen at Jil Sander.
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4. RUST + OLIVE
Style Notes: Regardless of the season or what's happening acriss the rest of the designer collections, rust and khaki are two of autumn's most predominant colours. However, rarely are they seen worn together. Miu Miu rectified that situation by sending countless models down the runway clad in the stuff. This will be my most-worn autumn colour combination for sure.
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5. HUSHED LILAC + WHITE
Style Notes: Lilac tones have proven they have enduring appeal, having made the leap from spring/summer to autumn/winter with ease. In fact, I noticed so many collections styling muted lilac tones with white that it made me wonder, could lilac be the new black? Move over, orange...
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6. TEAL + YELLOW
Style Notes: In Lanvin I trust to deliver expensive-looking ensembles and the designer certainly lived up to my expectations this season in terms of colour. Experimenting with rich tones such as the teal you see before you, what made the collection as a whole truly stand out was the shades these deeper colours were paired with. This is where light yellow enters the mix. Usually tethered to summer, buttermilk has become a colour synonymous with the quiet-luxury movement, so I'm glad we're being presented with ways to continue wearing it when temperatures dip.
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7. RED + BLACK
Style Notes: You need only cast your eye over the thousands of images we've collated from fashion month to see that red is the most influential colour of the season. We're talking the brightest of bright red hues, which can be difficult to integrate with other shades. This is likely why so many designers decided to keep focus on their fiery pieces by styling them with black. Add interest with patent or leather finishes, but I'd recommend keeping your ration of red to black at least 2:1 for impact.
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