
Image generated on AI
As leaves turn, so too do fresh color trends. The PANTONE Color Institute has presented its Fashion Color Trend Report for the Fall/Winter seasons of 2025 and 2026 in conjunction with New York Fashion Week. The latest roundup highlights a balance between the familiar and the forward-thinking in fashion, blending time-honored neutrals with rich, expressive hues that evoke both nostalgia and optimism for the future.
According to the color authority, the forthcoming fall and winter’s tones embody a poetic contrast where casual comfort is stitched into understated elegance. Deep, dramatic hues sit alongside more traditional shades, creating a dynamic dialogue of individuality and self-expression.
Fall/Winter 2025/2026 Palette
The core Fall/Winter 2025/2026 palette consists of ‘Lemongrass’, a lemon-infused green with a slightly floral undertone; ‘Brandied Melon’, a muted orange with a hint of spice; and ‘Lyons Blue’, a deep teal that exudes vintage luxury.
‘Damson’ adds a dramatic, glamorous purple to the mix, while ‘Primrose Pink’ softens the palette with a delicate, illuminating quality.
Further enriching the season’s color story are ‘Winterberry’, a sultry red with an indulgent appearance, and ‘Hot Chocolate’, a rich brown that evokes warmth and decadence. Also featured are ‘Chili Oil’, a robust, earthy red, and ‘Bronze Brown’, a golden brown reminiscent of natural ores. Ending the selection with a bang is ‘Poppy Red’, a vibrant and spirited hue that captures an energetic and celebratory mood.

Images courtesy of PANTONE
Top row (left to right): Lemongrass (PANTONE 12-0626 TCX); Brandied Melon (PANTONE 16-1340 TCX); Lyons Blue (PANTONE 19-4340 TCX)
Second row: Damson (PANTONE 18-1716 TCX); Primrose Pink (PANTONE 12-2904 TCX); Winterberry (PANTONE 17-1640 TCX)
Third row: Hot Chocolate (PANTONE 19-1325 TCX); Chili Oil (PANTONE 18-1440 TCX)
Bottom row: Poppy Red (PANTONE 17-1664 TCX); Bronze Brown (PANTONE 18-0937 TCX)
Seasonless Shades
Alongside those vibrant hues, PANTONE is also introducing a set of five seasonless shades for year-round versatility. These entail ‘Bright White’, a crisp and clean optical white, and ‘French Roast’, a deep brown that conveys warmth and refined simplicity. Adding just a touch of vividity to the neutral set are ‘Vapor Blue’, a hazy, cooling shade; ‘Crown Blue’, a timeless deep navy; and ‘Mauve Wine’, a muted purple that embodies quiet sophistication.

Left to right: Bright White (PANTONE 11-0601 TCX); French Roast (PANTONE 19-1012 TCX); Vapor Blue (PANTONE 14-4203 TCX); Crown Blue (PANTONE 19-3926 TCX); Mauve Wine (PANTONE 19-1716 TCX). Images courtesy of PANTONE
Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the PANTONE Color Institute, notes that this year’s palette focuses not just on the new but on reinterpreting the classic, allowing for playful experimentation with color in ways that feel both fresh and at home.
“Imbued with a feeling of effortless glamour, colors for NYFW Autumn/Winter 2025/2026 are approachable and accessible,“ explains Eiseman. “As fashion looks for new ways forward, originating new silhouettes, materials and textures, familiar colors are being reinvented with a contemporary transformation. True creativity doesn’t always lie in the pursuit of the novel, but includes the art of reimagining, giving lots of room to play and experiment, creating individualized looks that are new and fresh.”
[via PANTONE]