2026 Is the Year of Berry Tones in Fashion

Everything is coming up berry-toned in fashion suddenly. Juicy shades of grape, bright raspberry, and deep cranberry have defined the fall/winter 2026 season and continue to punctuate the spring/summer 2027 collections. At Eckhaus Latta, simple ’90s-inspired skirt and dress silhouettes popped with purply red hues accented by luminous layers, intentional wrinkles, and luminous sheen. Tory Burch gave us deep grape-colored suits and brocade statement coats. Likewise, Kiko Kostadinov gave us neon pinks spliced with bright cherry reds and the most royal shades of purplish blueberry blue.

It’s easy to see why these darker shades of red, purple, and blue are trending now. As we shift into winter fashion, the color palette naturally gets darker. Bright berry tones are a fashionable alternative to neutral black or dark gray. “Dark hues are gaining importance across apparel, accessories, interiors, and digital experiences, reflecting a broader cultural shift towards depth, resilience, escapism, and emotional grounding in uncertain times,” says Sara Maggioni, head of womenswear at WGSN. “This is closely linked to WGSN’s Embracing Darkness trend. In fashion, the definition of a dark color is expanding beyond black to include richer, tinted shades of brown, red, purple, blue, and green, with berry tones at the centre of this shift. We expect the direction to continue and evolve.” The forecasting agency named bloodstone, a deep, multidimensional red, a key color for the fall 2028 forecast.

The easiest way to wear the trend is by replacing your normal go-to black staples with a bright berry hue instead. Trade your classic black puffer for a statement coat, your everyday work bag for a cool, colorful clutch, or, alternatively, try purple and red accessories like a silk scarf or pendant necklace. “The appeal of berry tones is that they bring color into the wardrobe while retaining the versatility and investment value of black,” adds Maggioni. “Shades such as dark red and burgundy are sophisticated, seasonless, and easy to wear, making them particularly relevant for high-ticket pieces traditionally designed in black, including outerwear, tailoring, leather accessories, and footwear.”

If you’re looking for more ways to integrate the berry trend into your wardrobe, look no further than the runways for ample inspiration.

Try a little purple jacket + skirt.

Choose a biker jacket, longer coat, or blazer in a deep purple tone instead of your typical neutral. A skirt, especially in a dark shade of black or gray, helps balance the color and keep the proportions experimental but still wearable.

Opt for a textural maxi dress.

Try a maxi dress in knitted material or crochet in cherry red or deep blueberry for instant impact. Extra little details like fringe give it great movement.

Layer up on purples.

Purple is at the center of the berry tone trend, and it has never looked better in all different shades. Choose various saturations (lilac, lavender, royal purple) and combine them for an opulent look.

Color-block and combine.

When in doubt, combine all the shades of the berry rainbow (purple, blue, red, and pink) for a striking look that is somehow harmonious. Geometric prints and lines keep it streamlined.

Try color theory.

Bright colors are easy to wear when you think in terms of complementary colors. It’s okay to get a little technical, as in the case of the above Zankov look: yellow is the complementary color of purple, which acts as a brilliant pop of personality.