Between the iPhone 17’s lavender colourway and runways across Resort 26, SS26, and AW26 integrating shades of purple in their looks, it’s time to watch the hue dominate the year. After sage green and butter yellow made their mark, it seemed like people were craving something more indulgent. Then came chocolate brown, a softer replacement for black. So now, purple? Purple is being seen here not just as a colourway but as a palette. And no one is sporting this harder than the current runways.
In the Resort 26 collection, Chanel introduced a soft lilac tweed suit. Whereas Gucci went the opulent route with their Cruise 26 collection, showcasing an outfit ripe with purple florals and fur, a true-toned purple Horsebit Clutch trailing behind. The shade was even stronger this Autumn-Winter season, with +45% of looks entering the runway. We saw draped dresses at Balenciaga, trenches at Celine, and head-to-toe looks at Mugler, Giorgio Armani, Jil Sander, and more.
Beauty is right there with the colour too. Just last year, Huda Beauty released the Ube collection, inspired by the yams native to the Philippines. The soft lilac colour complements a range of skin tones, and has made purple slowly enter the zeitgeist.
Whereas within pop culture, K-Pop group BTS officially coming back on stage means their fandom colour purple will also make a comeback. And with the hit HBO series Euphoria set to release its latest season this year, purple tones resembling the show’s lighting will also make an impression on the mainstream.
Really, the colour is everywhere! And while it can be a polarising one, it is fairly simple to style. You can go the regal route with jewel-toned abayas and kaftans, or keep things soft and demure with lilac and lavender tops and dresses. When it comes to colour combos, purple sits flush against white, feels creative with mustard yellow, and looks cosy and rich with browns and reds. For a pop, a bag or sneaker will do. For an accent, accessories like belts and sunglasses will do the job. And if you’re looking for the skin to match the clothes, then a bit of purple blush wouldn’t hurt!
Strap in the purple wave and if you’re looking to join in, check out our purple edit below.
