How to wear colour this summer: the new season colour combos to look out for

We’ve rounded up the trending new colour combinations to freshen up your wardrobe for spring. 

(Image credit: Michael Mills)

We’ve rounded up the trending new colour combinations to freshen up your wardrobe for spring. 

From sweet sugary shades to bold and bright hues the SS19 catwalks were awash with colour. But don’t think you have to stick with just one; designers from Roksanda to Tibi clashed and combined various colourways within their collections proving that it’s not only what you wear that’s important, it’s what you pair it with. But with a whole spectrum of different shades to choose from where to start? Experimenting with one of our eight colour combinations below could be a good place...

Rainbow shades (main image)

Earrings, £108, Longshaw Ward Layered top, £375, Rejina Pyo Layered skirt, £475, Rejina Pyo Beaded bag, £440, Shrimps

Tan & Tangerine

(Image credit: Michael Mills)

A zesty injection of orange can help liven up darker sludgy shades such as camel, tan and brown. Adding colour-pop accessories like this belt and bag are an easy way to transform your look without turning your entire wardrobe upside down.

Leather coat, POA, Theory Mini bag, £219, Eudon Choi Belt, £148, Tibi

Ivory & Peach

(Image credit: Michael Mills)

Despite what you think pastel palettes can pack a punch too. These pale hues – especially when paired with delicate silk and lace - inject a fresh sense of femininity, helping to tick off yet another SS19 trend.

Earring, £80, Bimba Y Lola Peach top, £179, Me + Em Lace cami, £595, Victoria Beckham at Flannels.com

(Image credit: Michael Mills)

Forget that old-fashioned phrase; blue and green should be seen this season. Opt for a deep navy as its ‘almost black’ appearance acts as an effective backdrop to bold green tones.

Earrings, £250, Peter Pilotto Navy top, £350, Palmer//Harding Green and white printed dress, £600, Kenzo Green boots, £565, Tibi

Grey & Mint

(Image credit: Michael Mills)

Calling all Colour-phobes… These two tones combined are ideal if you’re seeking a spring alternative to your usual dark and dull go-to colours. Similar to white, mint green is a light and airy shade perfect for the warmer weather whilst the pale pewter grey helps to create a crisp modern look.

Earring, £80, Bimba Y Lola Grey Vest, £390, Longshaw Ward Checked top, £385, Tibi Checked Skirt, £490, Tibi Bag, £583, STÉE

Taupe & Lilac

(Image credit: Michael Mills)

Considering these two shades sit so closely together on the colour wheel it’s not surprising how well they work when worn together. Use the darker of these two tones as your outfit’s core colour whilst adding accents of light lilac into accessories and shoes and you can’t go wrong.

Earrings, £260, Bibi Marini Top, £330, Solace London Trousers, £99, Cos Shoes, £195, Kate Spade New York

Rose & Scarlet

(Image credit: Michael Mills)

Yes, it’s true what they say; pale pink and paint-box red colourways can clash but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be worn together. If you’re not brave enough to colour-clash your outfit head-to-toe then try it via shoes and accessories.

Earrings, £86, Zarvich Top, £160, Cefinn Jacket, £249, Me + Em Trousers, £159, Me + Em

Banana & Fawn

(Image credit: Michael Mills)

Bought heavily into spring’s ‘au naturel’ trend but already bored of seeing 50 shades of beige whenever you open up your wardrobe? Try teaming these neutral colourways with tutti fruity yellow hues for a fresh approach.

Yellow knit, £420, Eudon Choi Knitted skirt, £420, Eudon Choi Bag, £365, Bimba Y Lola

Aqua and Teal

(Image credit: Michael Mills)

These two tones are so closely related that they work best together when the balance is kept equal. So if an outfit’s top half is completely covered with teal then make sure aqua plasters the entire bottom half and vice versa… Just like true siblings, one should not be favoured over the other.

Earrings, £135, Longshaw Ward Jacket, £340, Cefinn Blouse, £749, Chloe at Flannels.com Trousers, £550, Zimmermann Bag, £1620, Longshaw Ward Shoes, £39.99, Zara

Styling & words: Sarah Barlow Photography: Michael Mills Make up by Sophie Higginson using Dermalogica & MAC Cosmetics Hair by Liam James Moore using products by Davines and Kiehl’s Since 1851 Model: Vlada at Linden Staub

Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, covering everything from catwalk trends to royal fashion and the latest high street and Instagram must-haves.

Penny grew up in France and studied languages and law at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris before moving to the UK for her MA in multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University. She moved to the UK permanently and has never looked back (though she does go back regularly to stock up on cheese and wine).

Although she's always loved fashion - she used to create scrapbooks of her favourite trends and looks, including Sienna Miller and Kate Moss' boho phase - her first job was at MoneySavingExpert.com, sourcing the best deals for everything from restaurants to designer sales.

However she quit after two years to follow her true passion, fashion journalism, and after many years of internships and freelance stints at magazines including Red, Cosmopolitan, Stylist and Good Housekeeping, landed her dream job as the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK.

Her favourite part of the job is discovering new brands and meeting designers, and travelling the world to attend events and fashion shows. Seeing her first Chanel runway IRL at Paris Fashion Week was a true pinch-me moment.