The Fashion Pack’s New Ways To Wear Colour

As we find ourselves creeping towards September, now is the time to welcome some bold colour into your wardrobe. After all, there's still a whole month of summer (technically speaking) to go…

With the promise of a few more weeks of sunshine, there's just something about warmer weather that makes brights feel right. As well as being the perfect way to shake up our wardrobes aesthetically, bright colours are a proven mood lifter too. Oh, and they're also a major trend come autumn. Winner winner.

You can sling on anything you own that is bright and bold to feel the effects of a shot of sunshine for your style but if you’re looking for some next level inspiration, we’ve rounded-up the best new ways to wear colour for 2022 from our favourite insta-influencers.

Spoiler: It’s all about the unexpected colour clash to amp up your lewks…

SO, what are the new rules of wearing colour?

1) Mix Neon With Neutral
If you’re a fan of the eternally chic beige aesthetic and have a wardrobe full or cream, oatmeal and caramel shades, update these neutrals with a flash - or two - of neon. Highlighter tones will make any pale colour pop. As seen on @SlipIntoStyle

2) Choose Equally Deep Tones
Shocking pink and emerald green (or baby pink and mint, if you prefer) is a mega mood this season. Keep the shades of a similar depth, rather than mixing a bold tone and a pastel, for optimum impact. As seen on @lornaluxe

3) Be Consistent With Colour
Choose one colour and wear it head to toe, including your shoes and your carrier bag. Extra points for an all-orange ensemble, it was a fave shade on the catwalk. As seen on @pernilleteisbaek

4) Less Is Sometimes More
Don’t panic if bold colour isn’t in your comfort zone. You don’t have to wear lairy shades all over. One statement piece can be just as effective if you choose carefully. Accessories are an ideal baby step into brightness. Try a neat bag in apple green against a chic black ensemble. As seen on @KarenBritchick

5) Try An Unexpected MixLavender and lemon are two sorbet shades making a surprise appearance together this summer. Unlike more classic combos like, say, navy and white or brown and cream, they look so fresh and unexpected. Bonus if you can get a tonal sunset to offset your lewk. As seen on @taramays25

6) Break The Rules
Traditionally a no-no because the shades are next to each other on the colour wheel, a pink and red clash actually looks cool and considered. If you’re wary of wearing two similar shades, break them up with flashes of skin and a pop of lemon yellow. As seen on @courtneysmithstyle

7) Wear Winter Shades In Summer
It might seem like a colour you can only wear in colder months but chocolate has made a move into warmer weather. Mixed with pale citrus sherbet, the contrast between the rich and dark brown shade and a fresh, light tone works like a palette cleanser for your wardrobe. As seen on @oliviaandalice

8) Green Is Summer's Standout Shade
Another unexpected combination coming in hot is spearmint and mustard. You can blame Bottega Veneta for the prevalence of the leafy tone - Creative Director Daniel Lee first put the colour on the catwalk - and this slightly ‘off’ shade of yellow is a fashion insider’s favourite. As seen on @handinfire

9) Choose Several Similar Shades
When it comes to summer colour combos, the rules are, there are no rules. On paper it might sound weird to mix lilac, lime, orange and pink in one outfit but these acid pastels all have a similar intensity so they really do work together. As seen on @marianne_theodorsen

10) Dial It Down 

Temper the heat of a bold, warm colour with a cool shade from the opposite side of the spectrum. This works in reverse if you have a cool toned dress, too. The icy tone of a sweet blue bag really stands out against this hot orange dress. Milky coloured sandals add an extra shot of calm. As seen on @tamumcpherson

Read more from Glamour UK Fashion Director at large Alex Fullerton here or follow her on Instagram @alexandrafullerton