AW25 Colour Guide
Setting the Tone for the Season: Discover the Key Colours Defining AW25
AW25 arrives with a palette that’s anything but muted. This season, colour is doing more than decorating: it’s defining the mood. Deep purples bring a sense of luxury, acid yellows add unexpected brightness, and classic reds continue to lead with unapologetic confidence. Balanced with the softness of pale pinks and the strength of blues, the spectrum feels both grounded and energised.
Think of this as your colour map for the season ahead, a guide to the shades worth investing in and the simple ways to wear them. Inspired by what we’ve seen across autumn/winter collections, each colour has been reimagined here as part of your everyday styling toolkit.
Written By: Melisa Rustemova - Published: 00.09.25
Mocha Mousse Moments
If there’s one shade that truly anchors AW25, it’s chocolate brown, rich, roasted, and ready to feel like home. From deep cocoa to Pantone’s Mocha Mousse, crowned the Colour of the Year, these earthy tones bring classic autumnal warmth that still feels contemporary.
On the runways, designers leaned into brown (cocoa, espresso, tan) as more than a backdrop, using it in sculpted outerwear, wide tailoring, and layered textures softened with lilac or mauve. If you want contrast, introduce a pastel accent like blush pink or lilac to soften the effect, or let neon green accessories bring a sharp, directional edge.
Mocha Mousse, in particular, has emerged as the season’s modern neutral, grounding yet indulgent. A chocolate coat instantly elevates everyday outfits, while wide-leg trousers in cocoa are a refined alternative to black. Accessories, from leather bags to knee-high boots, round out the palette with timeless appeal.
High Voltage Hues
Neon storms into AW25 with unapologetic energy. Lime green, neon yellow, and electric cobalt light up the season, cutting through winter’s usual tones with a fearless edge. Bold and optimistic, these shades bring a sense of play to cold-weather dressing and make even the simplest outfit feel inspired.
Across collections, neon wasn’t treated as a fleeting accent, it was built into full looks. Vivid greens and yellows appeared in skirts, blazers, and even dresses, showing that these shades can be daring yet wearable. What stood out most was the confidence: neon sat alongside muted palettes, creating a high/low balance that felt fresh and subversive for autumn.
For everyday wear, neon is all about placement. A lime-green knit layered under a neutral coat delivers impact without overwhelm, while cobalt heels or a neon-yellow clutch bring a jolt of energy to eveningwear. Smaller touches work just as hard: a belt, a scarf, or statement earrings can amplify an outfit and give it that spark without tipping into excess. When used thoughtfully, neon transforms a look from understated to unforgettable.
The Power of Red
If there’s one shade guaranteed to turn heads, it’s red, bold, fiery, and full of confidence. From juicy tomato to rich chilli and oxblood, this colour brings vibrancy to AW25 and refuses to blend into the background.
Red was more than an accent this season. Designers leaned into its drama, layering it across sharp tailoring, statement outerwear, and sleek accessories. Lighter tomato tones added freshness, while oxblood and burgundy refine eveningwear for a daring look. Worn head-to-toe, red carried a sense of power; in contrast, a single flash of scarlet brought instant lift to an otherwise pared-back outfit.
In everyday styling, red is about placement. A tomato-red blazer or mini dress delivers high impact in the daytime, while burgundy coats and oxblood knits round out. Accessories also make a strong case: crimson bags brighten neutral palettes, scarlet heels give tailoring a playful kick, and even a bold red lip or clutch can complete the look, showing that this colour works at every level.
Pink State of Mind
If neon is the season’s boldest statement, pale pink is its softest whisper; delicate, romantic, and endlessly versatile. From blush to dusty rose and baby pink, these powdery tones bring a gentle contrast to AW25’s darker shades, offering a lighter way to embrace winter dressing.
On the catwalk, pink appeared in unexpected places, pastel coats cut with clean lines, tailored suiting softened by blush tones, and layered textures that balanced stronger shades. In eveningwear, velvet and satin in muted pinks created a sense of quiet luxury. The result? Pink was no longer confined to spring; it emerged as a cold-weather staple, perfect for balancing depth with delicacy.
In everyday styling, pale pink works as both a neutral and a highlight. A blush coat refreshes denim and knitwear, while a baby-pink blouse with tailored trousers brings a touch of romance to office dressing. Accessories do just as much heavy lifting: a dusty-pink handbag against navy, velvet heels paired with burgundy, or a pastel scarf tucked into chocolate brown outerwear bring a dash of charm to endless autumnal colourings.
Blue Horizons
Blue takes a confident step forward this season, shaking off its role as a safe classic to become one of AW25’s most commanding colours. From deep navy to vibrant cobalt and powder shades, the palette feels reimagined, taking on fresh energy that feels commanding and contemporary.
Designers explored its full range, sharp navy suiting for polish, cobalt outerwear that demanded attention, and powder tones layered into tailoring for softness. These different interpretations proved that blue isn’t limited to one mood; it can be refined, daring, or quietly romantic depending on how it’s styled.
In everyday dressing, navy coats and trouser suits remain timeless investments, while cobalt knits or bags inject modern energy into neutral looks. Powder blue brings contrast, softening heavier layers and lifting darker palettes, especially when the season makes us reach for the black and brown apparel of our wardrobes. Accessories, from crossbody bags to belts, also play their part, adding depth and freshness
Purple Reign
Few colours capture attention quite like purple. From the richness of plum to the intensity of violet, these shades bring both depth and vibrancy to AW25.
Rather than being kept for eveningwear, purple broke into daytime looks with confidence. Tailored jackets in deep plum, layered knits in violet, and skirts in lilac showed how the shade can flex between polished and playful. When it did appear in gowns and evening pieces, the effect was unapologetically bold, proving purple’s ability to dominate a room.
For everyday styling, plum outerwear brings sophistication to even the simplest outfit, while a structured dress in violet delivers a sophisticated spin to eveningwear. For a lighter touch, lilac scarves, blouses, or heels introduce just enough colour without overwhelming. Pair purple with brown for tonal depth, or clash with cobalt for a statement that feels fresh and directional.
Final Notes: The AW25 Palette
AW25’s story is told in colour, from grounding neutrals to fearless brights, soft romance to unapologetic drama. From the comfort of chocolate brown and Pantone’s Mocha Mousse, to the confidence of tomato red, these shades remind us that colour sets the tone long before the silhouette does.
The beauty of AW25’s shades lies in their flexibility. Each one makes an impact on its own, but they’re most exciting when styled together, brown with neon for balance, plum with burgundy for depth, cobalt with pink for contrast. It’s about experimenting, layering, and letting colour take the lead.