As I showed in my clothing color combination guide and in many of my daily outfits, I’m clearly a maximalist color lover. One of my favorite parts of every changing season is deciding which hues I want to add or expand in my wardrobe – and lately, I’ve got fall fashion on my mind. If you’ve been wondering about the best colors to wear this fall, you’re in the right place.
For this season, I always reach for the classics – deep browns, pretty tans, timeless navy, autumnal olive, and, of course, black. But I also like to have some fun by adding a “pop” color (or two!). Nothing excites me more than thinking about the new (or new-to-me) shades I want to experiment with. Today, I’m sharing the hues I’m most excited about, tips for mixing and matching, and simple ways to bring fresh color into your fall wardrobe.
Top 5 Colors to Wear This Fall
Let’s jump right in and chat about my top five colors to wear this fall! These shades are in addition to the classics. While I love adding a bold pop of color—or even trying a full monochromatic look—the timeless autumnal hues and neutrals will always have a place in my fall color palette. They create the perfect backdrop, and the right unique color can be the finishing touch that makes any outfit feel fresh and current.
Robust Oranges & Bright Rust
While I probably have every color of the rainbow in my wardrobe, orange and purple are the shades I own the least. That said, I’ve noticed orange trending for fall 2025 – and I’m loving it. It’s the perfect transitional color: it gives off a cozy fall vibe while still feeling bright and cheerful, before the deeper, darker winter palette arrives.
This season, I’m especially drawn to orange paired with robin’s egg blue. I also love more tonal combinations, like red with orange or mustard with orange. It’s a bold yet wearable choice that instantly adds personality to your fall wardrobe colors.
Teal & Light Blues
When it comes to cool tones, I’m all about a deep, beautiful teal or a brighter, happier light blue. These shades pair perfectly with many of the colors to wear this fall. Light blue with red makes a stunning combo, while teal with maroon creates such a lovely match.
Over the years, I’ve collected quite a bit of teal jewelry – many pieces you can spot in my Dorsey jewelry post. I’m especially excited to experiment with adding those accents to my fall wardrobe.
Chartreuse
Pops of chartreuse have been trending for a while, as I showed in my green outfit ideas post. And its popularity only continues to grow for fall 2025. The shade feels vibrant yet moody, which makes it the perfect autumnal hue.
One of the reasons I love chartreuse is how versatile it looks across different fabrics. From an elegant silk to a fluffy, cozy mohair, this hue adapts beautifully. I’ve recently styled it in a dress-and-jacket look, as well as a playful printed outfit. And I can’t wait to keep incorporating this shade into upcoming looks.
Maroon
Maroon, oxblood, burgundy (call it what you want) this color is always a must-have for fall dressing. I’m especially excited to incorporate the darker, deeper reds that are trending for 2025 into my wardrobe. This shade is magical when paired with a timeless tan or mocha brown, but it also looks amazing alongside red or even chartreuse.
Honorable Mention: Mustard Yellow
Yellow can be a tricky shade to pull off, but when styled correctly, it’s such a fun hue to wear. The deeper, richer tones of yellow are especially great colors to wear this fall. These shades feel more sophisticated, and the darker tone allows them to pair effortlessly with brown, tan, and navy. Mustard yellow can even add a collegiate vibe to a preppy look—which, as you know, I’m loving this season!
My Favorite Combinations of Colors to Wear This Fall
Now that we’ve explored some of my favorite autumnal hues, let’s talk about pairing these shades together. While a monochromatic look can give off a classic old-money style vibe, most of us don’t stick to just one color or only neutrals for every outfit. With so many gorgeous fall shades, it’s fun to add a pop of color or mix a few complementary hues. Here are three color combinations I’m most excited to experiment with this season.
Orange + Tan
The combination of orange and tan feels like a fall dream. This warm, inviting pairing makes orange much easier to pull off. I especially love when two warmer hues play off each other, creating a smooth transition between colors. Because the shades aren’t as contrasting, don’t be afraid to mix materials and textures with this duo to add extra interest to your look!
If you’re not into the monochromatic approach and want to take more of a risk, try a deep orange with light blue. Or, if you love a tone-on-tone look but want a bit more zing, pair orange with red for a fun, unexpected twist.
Maroon + Teal
Next up is a vibrant combo with some zest: maroon and teal! Compared to orange and tan, this pairing is bolder, yet it still feels elevated. Both tones are inherently sophisticated, so even though it’s a pop color on a pop color, the look still feels elegant.
Want something a bit more feminine to pair with maroon? Try a soft, dusty pink for a subtle, chic twist!
Mustard Yellow + Navy
As I mentioned, I’m currently loving everything that gives off preppy, collegiate vibes. Mustard yellow and navy are the perfect colors to wear this fall to capture that trend. When styling this pairing, I love adding classic touches of gold—like gold buttons—to give the outfit a little extra dimension.
Not into the preppy look? Try pairing mustard yellow with olive green instead. This is another very autumnal, yet wearable, combination.
4 Easy Ways to Incorporate Fall Colors Into Your Outfits
Combining shades or adding a bold color pop can sometimes feel intimidating, but there are so many fun ways to do it! You could add a pop of color to your favorite animal-print outfit, give an old-money style look a unique twist with an unexpectedly bold lipstick, or simply add a colorful pair of loafers to your favorite jeans and tee.
If you’re looking for a few quick, easy, and specific ways to bring color into your fall wardrobe, I’m sharing four ideas below. While they’re all simple finishing touches, sometimes these small additions can make a big difference!
1. Add a Colorful Accessory
There’s no easier way to add a pop to an outfit than with a colorful accessory. My go-to is a vibrant bag, but it could also be a statement necklace, bold earrings, or even a wide belt. For fall specifically, don’t forget scarves, baseball hats, or gloves. One of my current favorite ways to add color with accessories? Chunky bangles—they instantly make an outfit feel fun and there are so many colorful options!
2. Add Colorful Tights or Socks
One of the most inexpensive—but powerful—ways to add an extra hue to your outfit is with colorful tights or visible socks. If you really want to make a statement, you could even layer colorful tights with socks or knee highs in a contrasting shade. I’m also loving the loafers-and-socks combo this fall—a sweet, ruffled sock in a fun color paired with a classic loafer is such an easy and playful way to experiment with fall wardrobe colors.
3. Play with Layers
The more pieces you wear, the more opportunities you have to try out new colors for fall, right? Some easy layering options include draping a coat over your shoulders, tying a sweater around your neck, or even experimenting with the trend of layering two cardigans together! Back when I was living in San Francisco, I became a layering expert out of necessity—and to this day, experimenting with layers is still one of my favorite ways to explore fall styling.
4. Don’t Forget Beauty Products
While this option isn’t always the most obvious, colorful pops from beauty products can make a big impact on your outfit. These touches pack a lot of punch with very little investment. For example, you could paint your nails in a fun fall hue or try a bold new lipstick. Personally, I’m loving orange lipstick right now—it feels like the perfect way to add color to my pre-fall and fall outfits!
Final Thoughts on Colors to Wear This Fall
Autumn is the perfect season to have fun with your wardrobe and experiment with new hues. From rich maroons and teals to bright oranges and mustard yellows, there are so many beautiful colors to wear this fall. Experiment with mixing shades, layering textures, or adding colorful accessories to create a seasonal look that truly feels like “you”!
For more fall fashion inspiration, be sure to check out these posts:
