The season changes, and so does the color palette. On the runways, soft tones sit beside deeper ones, and new combinations emerge that translate that renewal feeling springtime brings into our clothes.
At the heart of this chromatic narrative appear five tones with very different personalities. Mint green brings a sense of freshness and harmony; yellow becomes more powdery, almost vanilla; plum deepens; Cloud Dancer, chosen by Pantone as the color of the year 2026, confirms the prominence of white; and Maya blue arrives to take the place that in recent seasons was baby blue.
The key is to observe how designers mix them and what possibilities they offer beyond a monochrome look.
Mint Green: the powdery tone that remains in vogue
Among the soft colors, mint green continues to be among the favorites of those who know fashion best, and also among designers. Its best version often appears in monochrome styling, though its versatility allows it to be worn both during the day and in evening looks.
Balenciaga presented it with feathers, Valentino leaned into draping, and Victoria Beckham steered it toward asymmetries and floral fabrics. The result is a delicate shade that links natural references with an urban, sophisticated aesthetic.
During the day, it works especially well when paired with neutrals and chocolate brown. For the night, instead, it can contrast with metallics or deep blacks.
Powdery Yellow: From Butter to Vanilla
If butter-yellow was one of last summer’s standout colors, the upcoming season keeps yellow in the spotlight, now in a more powdery version, closer to vanilla.
Chanel sent it into a knit dress with white flowers at the hip and hem. Valentino went for a blazer suit, while Balenciaga showcased a party-ready look with 3D flowers on the Pierpaolo Piccioli runway.
White remains one of the easiest combinations, just as the monocolor look does. Yet the runways also showcased less predictable alternatives.
In Valentino and Loewe, yellow met red and black in two very different proposals. Balenciaga opted for a more restrained pairing with taupe-colored shoes. Romeo Gigli and Grace Wales Bonner for Hermès, meanwhile, agreed on mixing it with Klein blue.
On the street, it also appeared paired with white, dark green, and gray.
Plum: the new deep tone for the night
Plum shifts its shade. If in winter 2025 it appeared as an intense purple, for summer 2026 it presents as a more mature tone that, depending on the proposal, can approach burgundy, blackberry, or even chocolate brown.
Its versatility is precisely one of its greatest strengths. It can function as an alternative to black and adopt different personalities depending on texture and silhouette.
Anthony Vaccarello took it toward opulence in a Saint Laurent dress, while Simorra and Alaïa showed its more elegant side. Céline, for its part, turned it into a festive option in a sequined mini dress paired with flat shoes.
To pair it, black appears as a safe bet. But it also works with red, as demonstrated by Céline and Alaïa through accessories like bags and sandals. Another option that fashion experts propose is mixing different plum tones within the same look.
Cloud Dancer: the cloud-white Pantone chose
For the new season, the shade also appears in numerous collections. Its clear advantage is that white, or “no color,” depending on how you interpret it, pairs with almost everything. But this season it also presents itself through different textures and aesthetic codes.
Chloé and Zimmermann steered it toward boho dresses of embroidered cottons and lace trims, updating a fresh Ibiza-inspired vibe. Yamamoto opted for flowing silhouettes, while Chanel and Victoria Beckham incorporated feathers.
A classic combination also returns: white and cream, as seen in Céline’s jacket.
The key to wearing Cloud Dancer is precisely to play with textures. It can be satin, ethereal, or appear in embroidered cottons with a vintage vibe. For a more polished look, black reclaims its place as a counterpoint, in that timeless bicolor associated with Chanel.
And if an all-white look from head to toe feels a bit too uniform, accessories can add color. Another option is to turn to multicolored embroidery, as seen in some denim proposals.
Maya Blue: the new blue with character
Baby blue had its moment, and while it remains a classic, this spring gives way to Maya blue. The shade takes its name from a natural pigment that can be seen in the murals of Chichén Itzá, in Mexico, and appears among proposals from Dior, Prada and Miu Miu.
The difference with baby blue lies in its intensity: it preserves the versatility of light blues, but adds a bit more character. That is why it can function as a kind of new neutral, adaptable to different styles and times of day.
Whites, ivories, and sand tones are natural companions. However, on the runways it appears especially paired with two colors that provide contrast and depth: black and chocolate brown.
Thus, the new spring palette offers options that are very different from one another: powdery tones for those seeking softness, deep colors for the night, and two standout protagonists — Cloud Dancer and Maya — that function as bases to build looks with personality.
