Autumn is traditionally a season where the colour palette is cosy and in line with the landscape, with a blend of pumpkin, conker and slate shades. However the autumn/winter 2026 collections invited a more playful approach to colour with electric blue, royal purple and yellow tempting us away from the usual sensible neutrals. If you look through any street-style gallery from this fashion month there is one shade pairing that has translated beyond the runways – deep purple and cherry red.

Mugler AW26.

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Balenciaga AW26.

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It’s a colour story that was endorsed by Balenciaga, Mugler and Celine for autumn, while Miu Miu, as ever, was an early adopter – one of the key looks in its spring/summer 2025 collection was a purple vinyl skirt and red swimsuit. It’s a bold double act that has an ’80s energy to it – Princess Diana wore a red blazer and purple pencil skirt by Catherine Walker to sit in front of the Taj Mahal in an image that came to symbolise her crumbling marriage. Catherine Walker also designed her a red and purple gown for a dinner during a royal tour in Thailand in 1998.

Michael Rider offered a modern interpretation in the Celine men’s spring/summer 2027 collection, with two singular flashes of red and purple, instead of a full Princess Diana shoulder to toe colour drench. The Celine approach involves sticking to tailored silhouettes and an otherwise neutral colour palette of brown, black and white. Take the pair of red trousers, which were styled with a white coat, caramel knit, black boots and a pair of lavender leather gloves.

Celine SS27.

Courtesy of Celine

Celine SS27.

Courtesy of Celine

Purple might not typically be the most commercial colour, however the street-style images from outside the shows this September prove the trend has real-life appeal. Even Cos, the brand that makes us all want to live in navy knitwear and grey tailoring, has added royal purple to its (limited) colour palette for autumn. Although many show-goers embraced the boldness of this look, others showed you can have a more subtle approach too with either a purple handbag, pair of trainers or a colour blocked knit. Keep scrolling for how to wear 2026’s trending colour pairing.

“A pop of red” sweater

This colour combination lends itself to preppy styling, so opt for Sloaney classics in postbox red and royal purple – think pointed pumps, cashmere looped around the shoulders, button-down shirts and pencil skirts. Those who want to go full Parsons Green might brave red trousers, but we draw the line at a gilet.

Lunan Classic Red Cashmere Crew Jumper

Rosalind Leather Flat Ballet Pumps

Add a purple bag

Purple and red often tips into ’80s formalwear, however Lucy Williams offers a more laidback interpretation, with a ’90s grunge checked shirt in blue and red and with a bold purple handbag by Mulberry.

Aubergine with flashes of purple

’s fashion market director Naomi Elizée Blue had a softer take with a silk printed wrap skirt that blends deep plum, royal purple and blue porcelain shades, with an aubergine striped T-shirt.

Jill Baby Organic Cotton-Jersey T-Shirt

Lilac trainers

’s Laura Hawkins also had a purple and red moment this fashion month, pairing lilac Hoka trainers with a red Stefan Cooke bomber, proving you only need one burst of each colour, rather than a head-to-toe colour commitment.

Technical Bomber Jacket With Side Button

Red trousers 2.0

Red jeans, boat shoes and a padded gilet might be the uniform of Salcombe retirees, however tomato denim also had a presence on the front row this season. Not one for minimalists, pair it with an amethyst knit for added impact.

Tone it down with tan

Fuchsia wide-leg trousers and a red shirt is certainly a bold double act, however Tamu McPherson gave a colour styling masterclass, as she used a caramel-hued leather jacket to dial down the intensity, with just the cuffs and collar of the shirt visible.

Trap Snake-Effect Leather Ankle Boots

Add more brights

Royal purple and postbox red might sound like a bold combination as it is, but this street styler took the meaning of paintbox brights quite literally, with her apple green jumper and aqua top thrown into the mix.

A colour block moment

Lifted straight from Mugler’s autumn/winter 2026 collection, an ’80s power jumper (translation: colour blocked, shoulder-padded and triangular in shape) was paired with high-waisted neutral trousers cinched with a belt.