Wow — I came across a wonderful article while deciding what to write for today’s ‘Style Trend Tuesday’ post, & it immediately resonated with me. (Yes, I write all my own content & simply use ChatGPT to refine sentence structure and flow)
It’s quite a detailed piece, so I’ll be sharing the second half next Tuesday 
What really stood out to me is how closely it aligns with what I teach my clients during their colour analysis sessions. While colour theory and science are important, they’re only part of the picture. True personal style is about the individual — what they want to communicate, how they want to feel, and what they wish to embody through their true colour palette!
”This year, fashion isn’t just about aesthetics — it’s about a sensory experience rooted in science and emotion. As the Spring 2026 runways made abundantly clear, color, texture, and intentionality are no longer afterthoughts; they’re the foundation of how we dress and how we feel. Designers from Paris to Milan are embracing boldness, mood, and emotional clarity, reminding us that style is not just visual – it’s visceral.
Fact: Fashion today is shifting rapidly. We’ve officially stepped out of the muted uniformity of quiet luxury and into a vibrant new era of self-expression. Spring 2026’s runways were a masterclass in this energy shift: Loewe saturated its collection with painterly jewel tones, (the Elegant colour palette) Prada explored unconventional greens, (monochromatic colour schemes) and Valentino used texture and translucency to rewrite long-standing style rules. (unique individuality) The message was unmistakable: Color is not only allowed, it is encouraged — and it is powerful.
To understand the power of these choices, it’s worth revisiting what color theory actually is. At its core, color theory is the intersection of art and science. It’s the language of hue, (colour contrast & signature colours) saturation, (brightness & softness) and value (light, medium & deep) — the tools that shape how colors interact to create harmony, tension, or drama. When these elements meet on the color wheel, the results are dynamic relationships: hues that oppose each other (complimentary colours) create electric contrast; shades of the same color (monochromatic) build visual depth; neighboring tones (analogous colours) blend in soothing progression; and evenly spaced trios (triadic colours) form bold but balanced statements. It’s an intuitive system that helps the eye — and the mood — find coherence.
Color As Emotion
But color theory isn’t just design mechanics. It’s neuroscience. Color can elevate energy, calm the nervous system, evoke desire, and spark memory. This is where stylists like Belén Hormaeche have seen the emotional impact firsthand. Hormaeche explains that brands entered the Spring 2026 season “more laser-focused on color than ever,” noting that monochromatic looks — especially in burgundy or chocolate brown — have become emotional anchors. According to her, “there is something about a full monochrome look that feels chic, sophisticated, stylish, and timeless, yet still incredibly modern.” Her philosophy centers on how clothes make a client feel, not just how they appear.
“Color this season has been more powerful than texture or silhouette,” she says. “When a client feels chic, elegant, and seasonally relevant purely because of a color story, it instills confidence. That’s emotional impact you can see immediately.”
Looking ahead to Spring 2026 dressing, she notes the dominance of bold, joyful palettes across Balenciaga, Valentino, and Chanel. “The mood was unmistakable — joy, happiness, newness,” she says. “People will reach for these pieces because they emotionally react to the color. Color adds drama. Color changes energy.”
*Story by Brooke Ely Danielson*
