This Winter's Color Trends Are Filled With Feel-Good Optimism

Every day, you wake up and get dressed. On the dark days—and in the wake of the 2024 Presidential Election—it’s tempting to shroud yourself in colors that match that mood—mourning blacks and browns or sooty grays that reflect the unknown.

Even though the winter 2025 color trends were decided many months ago in the Resort and Pre-Spring 2025 collections, they present a counterproposal: in the coming months, dare to dress in color even though you may not want to.

Something as simple as a cobalt blue blazer or sunny turtleneck can be a form of feel-good resistance. Bright butter yellow is a profound—and psychologically proven—mood-booster that appeared as sunshine suiting in intrecciato leather at Bottega Veneta and party dresses at Versace and Alexander McQueen. Winter also welcomes opulent and optimistic jewel tones; some of the season’s most vital include emerald green gowns and sapphire slip dresses that would be instant head-turners at upcoming holiday parties.

In terms of color, the winter 2025 trends are less about dressing for how you feel and more about how you want to feel. You can keep some of the dark at bay by deliberately, perhaps even counterintuitively, choosing joy.

Sunny Days Ahead

No color better lifts your spirits and serotonin than yellow, the shade of sunshine. For winter 2025, the cheery color pops up in everything from party dresses to pussy-bow blouses and luxe leather suits, showing yellow's well-rounded wardrobing potential.

Heartbeat Red

Red has been a key color trend in the 2020s, coming in shades of cherry and burgundy, and now, for winter 2025, bright red. Bottega Veneta, Givenchy, and Gucci's showings were flooded with tomato-colored leather goods like shoulderbags and maxi skirts, while Versace nodded to the English countryside trend with cherry red riding jackets.

See-Everywhere Sapphire

Whether you focus on Ferragamo's leather totes, Louis Vuiton's bubble skirts, or the maxi dresses at Coperni and Balenciaga, you can't ignore the sea of sapphire brewing for winter 2025. Dive deep into the color trend with a cozy cashmere sweater or a smart, conversation-starting coat.

Emerald City

With chunky cable-knit sweaters and boho chiffon gowns that would blend in on the Wicked movie set, fashion is undeniably going green this winter. As for trying the color trend yourself, any silhouette will do you, like Chanel's tweed lady jacket in grassy green or Bottega Veneta's marbled emerald driving loafers.

No Shrinking Violet

Unlike previous purples that have been popular on fashion's runways—namely, the digital lavender trend of 2023—winter 2025 wants you to wear sharp, saturated, and can't-miss-it violet. Dark purple tights are a playful pop underneath pants or a midi skirt à la creative director Alessandro Michele's styling at Valentino. Alternatively, Lanvin and Victoria Beckham encourage you to steal the scene at an upcoming festive get-together in a sharp iris-colored gown.

Powder Pink

Winter 2025's embrace of soft blush is a sharp pivot away from the hot Barbie pinks that have circulated for several seasons now. This season's take on the feminine shade is more powdery and delicate, both in terms of the color itself and garment design. Khaite translated the subtle shade into frothy, foam-whipped dresses, while Burberry introduced button-down blouses trimmed with cascading ruffles. This pink is a soothing one that feels more like a salve for the soul.