This summer, try wearing pistachio with clementine

Last week, I picked up the first delivery of my CSA (community supported agriculture) farm box, a collection of fresh fruits and veggies I’ll be receiving every other week for the next few months. This first one was flush with lettuce, deep-green kale, bright spinach, and pure-white spring-onion bulbs. It got me thinking about colour in the context of what we eat—and how nature offers inspiration beyond the kitchen. Something as simple as a peach or summer salad can inspire the way I put an outfit together—a way to embrace the wide range of hues the season has to offer.

This also reminded me of Werner’s Nomenclature of Colours, a book I recently learned about, which back in 1821 identified the different shades of colour in nature, from saffron yellow to apple green. (The book was even used by Charles Darwin in his research.) So, while Pantone may proclaim that 2025 is the year of “mocha mousse,” our predilection for connecting colours and food goes back much further.

The trend cycle may shift and change over time from quiet luxury to bold expressionism, but a curiosity for colours and how they can be combined and contrasted remains. Ahead, I selected four of the season’s most delicious combinations from the runways to inspire your own style.

Tomato + Grape

High-saturation colour combos are a statement move, whether you’re walking into the office or sitting down on a first date. A ripe-tomato red paired with a rich, deep purple makes for an unexpected duo, which is part of what makes the two so dynamic when worn together. They command attention in a way that’s fun and lighthearted and strong enough to hold their own with piled-on accessories, from jewellery to belts.

Pistachio + Clementine

Pistachio is the word in everyone’s mouth this season, in part thanks to the viral Dubai-chocolate trend, but also because the rich green colour has popped up in several collections, from Gucci and Prada to Chanel and Dries van Noten. While styling it with neutral tones is an easy way to embrace the trend, consider taking things up a notch with a pop of clementine. The result is a fun and playful colour combination (and the ingredients make for a delicious dessert too).

Butter + Sardine

For those whose aesthetic leans toward neutrals, a slight step out of the comfort zone comes by way of soft and buttery yellow styled with a steely grey sardine. Butter yellow is one of the year’s hottest colours, spotted on the runways across fashion month, from Auralee to Marni to Toteme. But while grey may not seem like a typical summer shade, its subtle touch when paired with a soft yellow hue is one that will transition your look easily into autumn.

Raspberry + Biscoff

Sweet raspberry paired with a crunchy Biscoff cookie makes for a delicious treat, but it also creates a delightful colour combo for summer. Instead of bright and vivid Barbie pink, we prefer leaning into a deeper, lush shade of raspberry this season when balanced by a soft shade of cocoa brown.

All images: Getty Images

This article originally appeared on harpersbazaar.com

 

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