Colormaxxing: Fall Gets Loud

Colormaxxing: Fall Gets Loud

After a long run of beige, fall is going bright. Burgundy, mustard, green and purple are being worn all at once. This edit is the case for loud color in the cool months.

The beige era is over

Neutrals have dominated the wardrobe for so long that color now feels radical. The new approach is to commit: pick a strong shade and wear it on more than one part of the body.

More tops

Deep reds and plums are the autumn anchors, but they are being worn more boldly than before. Tops do the quiet work in an edit like this, changing an outfit more than they seem to.

Trousers and shorts

Mustard and olive come as a pair and look better together than apart. The bottom half decides the proportion, so these are worth choosing carefully.

Skirts

Printed pieces let you experiment with color without a full commitment. Skirts are the easiest way to change the mood of a plain top.

Mini dresses

The trick is to keep everything else simple so the color is the only thing talking. Dresses are the fastest way into the trend, since one piece is the whole outfit.

Shoes

Deep reds and plums are the autumn anchors, but they are being worn more boldly than before. Shoes decide whether the outfit reads dressy or casual.

Jackets

Mustard and olive come as a pair and look better together than apart. A good layer is what turns a simple outfit into a complete one.

Dresses

Printed pieces let you experiment with color without a full commitment. Here the dresses come in every length and cut, so the look is easy to match to an occasion.

Accessories

The trick is to keep everything else simple so the color is the only thing talking. Accessories are the quickest, lightest way to join the trend.

Bags

Deep reds and plums are the autumn anchors, but they are being worn more boldly than before. A bag is the accent, and it is where the outfit gets a bit of personality.

Jewelry

Mustard and olive come as a pair and look better together than apart. Jewelry is the small detail that makes an outfit feel considered.

Denim

Printed pieces let you experiment with color without a full commitment. Denim anchors the rest of the outfit, and the cut matters more than the wash.

Knitwear

The trick is to keep everything else simple so the color is the only thing talking. Knits bring the cold-weather texture that the season needs.

More from the edit

Deep reds and plums are the autumn anchors, but they are being worn more boldly than before. A few more pieces from the edit that did not fit the other groups.

Also in the edit

Mustard and olive come as a pair and look better together than apart. The rest of the edit, mixed together.

How to wear color without a plan

Start with one saturated piece and keep the rest in a quiet shade. Once that feels normal, add a second.