Get excited! I’ve got four fun fall color palettes to share with you today that are going to spark your imagination as you begin building your fall wardrobe. This is the place to begin ladies. I’m always so tempted to just starting snatching up the pretty fall pieces as they hit the stores. But I set myself up for disaster if I don’t first consider the colors I want to be able to mix and match into outfits I’ll love wearing. So today I’d like to help you start your fall wardrobe with a color palette you love.
How to Shop Here: To shop the items I feature, just click on the words in the captions of photos, the highlighted words in my text or the images in the shopping widgets I sometimes include. When you shop through my links I potentially earn a commission on your purchases, but at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting my work here by shopping my links. Items that have been gifted to me by the associated brand are indicated with “c/o”.
I know my readers are as varied as the colorful leaves we’ll begin seeing on the autumn landscape in the weeks to come. So I’ve put together four very different color palettes for you to consider today. I have no illusions that everyone will settle on one of these four color palettes; they’re just starting points. You may want to tweak one of my four to your liking, or you may see just one color that sets you on a whole new trail of discovery.
I haven’t even decided which color palette I’ll be focusing on as I build my closet for fall. But as I spent an entire day putting these together I began to get a feel for what is available in stores and how I can incorporate the items I already own to create something truly special and enjoyable to wear this fall. That’s my hope for you, too.
For each of my four fall color palettes I’ve got a style board and then I’m sharing a shopping boutique filled with items in those colors. They’re in a wide range of prices and styles, and I don’t intend that you should need all of these items to create a closet for fall. Again, these are for inspiration. Yes, you can click on the items to shop them. And I’ll be shopping some of them for sure! But really today is mainly about starting your fall wardrobe with a color palette you love.
Remember, colors never really go out of style. You can wear any colors you enjoy and that you feel look the best on you, and you can be confident as you put your wardrobe together with those. However, each year there are trending colors that we see the most of in the stores. So these are the colors that will be the easiest to add to your wardrobe in current styles and silhouettes. I’ve built our color palettes with those colors because they’re accessible in the stores you and I shop. Plus, I thought this would be a fun new way to see the color trends instead of my usual fall color trend report. But don’t forget to take into consideration the colors you already have in your closet and enjoy wearing.
Port Wine and Navy Fall Color Palette
This year we’re seeing several shades of red trending, including dark cherry and port wine. We’ll also see ample shades of blue to choose from. So I built our first color palette with those deep blues and reds. You can add neutrals in ivory, grey and/or camel to these to fill out your personal color palette for the season. NOTE: Use the toggle on the right to make sure you see ALL of the items in the shopping boutiques below.
Will you be wearing any of the colors in this first fall color palette in the upcoming seasons? These are definitely some of the ones I’ll be leaning into. In fact, I’ve already ordered and am watching anxiously for these navy corduroy pants, as well as these blue donegal pants. And I’ve got this cardigan and this mac coat coming, too.
August Peridot with Brown and Grey Fall Color Palette
While the fall color palette above looked fairly traditional for this season, the palette I’ve put together here features some surprises. I’m seeing this bright August Peridot in several stores already and had no trouble filling a shopping boutique with examples. What a fun color for fall! But how do you wear it, right?
I’m seeing it styled beautifully with light blue and turquoise, as well as with neutrals like brown and grey. Of course you can wear it with black, too, but I think that looks a little flat in contrast to these more unexpected combinations.
A fall wardrobe built with green August Peridot, splashes of turquoise, ample denim in any shade and deep hues of brown and/or grey will be so fresh. If you like to stand out in the crowd, this may be the fall color palette for you. But you don’t have to look bright every day. Brown and grey combine beautifully to create a moody, rich pairing. I’ve gathered up so many beautiful, modern options in these colors in the shopping boutique below.
What do you think of August Peridot? I think it’s fun! I’m not sure I’ll fill my closet with it because it’s a color I might tire of quickly with repeated wear. But since I do plan to lean into grey and espresso brown, I may add the bold green shade in measured doses.
Vivid Red and Vivid Azure Fall Color Palette
Here’s another color palette that may be a little unexpected for fall. But if you’re a non-traditionalist (or you just want to go a different route this fall) this may be the color palette for you.
Whether you go with a cherry red, like I’ve shown above, or an orange-red with warm undertones, it will pair beautifully with the trending dark browns and warm camel. Add in splashes of bold azure blue and you’ll have a vibrant combination that looks cheerful, but also surprisingly seasonal.
I recently picked up these pants in truffle brown to wear with this jacket in cornflower blue. That combination initially inspired this third color palette. But everywhere I looked I noticed stylists were throwing in this bold red, too. I think this is such a fun palette for fall, especially in athleisure wear and casual outfits.
Will you be wearing leopard print this fall? Of all the color palettes I put together here, I think this one works the best with leopard print, which is also on trend and so fun to wear.
Olive Green and Blush Rose with Black and White
When I started this color palette with olive green, I intended to create a warm palette for those who prefer those shades. Alas, after wearing mostly cool tones all of my life, I’m just not very good at reaching for those warmer colors. So the palette turned out rather cool.
Honestly, the styling I found on retail sites largely influenced the direction I took with each palette. And over and over I’m seeing shades of olive green paired with varying intensities of blush pink or rose. And the neutrals that seem to play best with it are denim blue, navy, black and white. For this palette I stuck close to black and white for crisp modern outcomes.
I threw in a little bit of plum or berry in order to add some depth and variety. Remember, when building your wardrobe, you may want to select many of your items in a few colors (such as olive green, blush rose, black and white), but it’s a good idea to add a few other shades that will allow you to do something a little different with your pieces. So a purple blouse, a plum vest or a warm red silk blouse could be a welcomed addition to this palette.
Is this a color palette you would wear? Or maybe you like the olive green but you need warmer colors to surround it. Let me know how you would create a warm palette with this trending neutral. I’d love to hear from you in the comments. Are you ready to start your fall wardrobe with a color palette you love?
Don’t Miss a Post:
If you like what you’re seeing here at Dressed for My Day, I invite you to subscribe to my email list. You can receive an email each time I post (about 6 times weekly) or just on Saturdays. You choose! But you’ll also receive the password to open up all the subscriber freebies I offer. You can subscribe HERE.
Blessed for My Day
Does it really matter what we do in the privacy of our homes? If no one else sees or notices or hears what we watch, say, listen to or read, does it really matter if we take the brakes off a little? A slip of the tongue, a juicy bit of gossip, a snide remark whispered alone in our car, do these really hurt anything…or anyone?
The Bible reminds us over and over that God is with us. We are never really alone. And as a follower of Christ we desire to walk in a manner pleasing to Him. We recognize that we are not are own, but we have been bought with a price. Yes, God is gracious and He knows we are not perfect. But perhaps the one we hurt the most when we sneak in a little bad behavior or renegade speech is ourselves. Walking in integrity helps us to become women who are confident in our relationship with God and who are ready for whatever assignment He calls us to.
I will walk with integrity of heart
within my house;
I will not set before my eyes
anything that is worthless. ~ Psalm 101:2b-3a
Love BFMD message. Since I let my hair go natural which is white gray I look better in the Wine and navy. I’m still wearing my other neutrals like black, camel and ivory. I’m hoping to find dark brown pants too. When I colored my hair I couldn’t find dark brown and now that it’s white, it’s trending. I’m glad burgundy is still trending because now it’s one of my best colors. My beloved olive green no longer looks that good on me. However forest green does. Thanks for all the tips.
I just love the palette with navy and port …the grey and the sky blue…gorgeous. This is jsut perfect for my skin and hair color. Very excited!
Thank you, Kay!
Great stuff! I was already going to lean into navy and true burgundy that actually looks more brown than berry this fall. Also rose and burgundy. And keep wearing ecru and oatmeal. My grey/white hair has turned more blond so no more black or white for me.
Very beautifully explained. It is helping me not buy more than what I already have. Thank you!
Thank you Kay for this comprehensive post on fall color pallets. Perfet timing as we are experiencing an unseasonably cool week and I am thinking about my fall shopping. Much appreciated.
Your BFMD spoke to me today. Thank you.
Very helpful post Kay. One of the most helpful things I learned from you when I started following about 4 years ago was to narrow my color palette and to have the basic wardrobe items in those colors to build outfits. I was that person with individual pieces and “nothing to wear”. Not anymore! I have all the things in navy and ivory and can sprinkle in other pops of color. Keep up the good work!
This was a great post to get me thinking about what I already have in my closet for fall. I was reminded that the wine and blue are what I usually enjoy wearing. I also like shades of green in the mix too – olive, sage, forest green I think would work in this palette. The denim mac coat looks like a very nice piece to add to my wardrobe.
Beautiful palettes! Thanks for the work you did putting them together!
I have warm coloring but I don’t totally limit myself. My fall palette will focus on black/olive green/camel/brown. I love chocolate brown and I’m delighted to see it coming back. I’ll add pops of color in warm rust/burnt orange, and with blues mostly in Breton stripes, denim, and aegean or French blue.
I love olive and pink. I think that’s a good transition into fall combo. For now, I just put together an outfit for my birthday on Thursday of a column of taupe with chambray, shirt, denim and beige slides and my denim bag. I love putting together never-before combos from my own closet.
Although I am still working on my Fall color palette, I am gravitating toward olive green, navy and port wine. These are colors I enjoy. I liked a post you put together during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sales that paired a navy striped sweater with olive green pants and want to try this out. Navy is always a color that lasts from year to year. Port wine and its related burgundy color is something I keep looking at. Thanks for the inspiration! Plus, your devotional, as usual, is spot on. Thank you!
Love the Chloe silk shirt from Sezane. Not a bad price for silk. Thank you for all your hard work setting up these color boards. They are very well done. Love the port wine color.you always comes up with the best combinations.
Love the wine and blue this fall—deep red was around last fall, too, so I have some nice pieces to wear again this year.I love the way you did style boards with the colors this season. So pretty and fun!
On a separate issue—Kay, have you ever done a post about how you care for your garments? Things like cleaning products and tips for steaming, handwashing, etc.? And how about out-of season storage? I honestly would love a lady’s maid to deal with it all😉.
My favorite: the August Peridot palette!!! I LOVE peridot green!!! I have turquoise, chocolate brown, and warm gray clothing, but because peridot is a bit bright for me, I tend to keep that green in my jewelry (though LOL, I’d almost consider the striped sweater, just because it shares my name). I could also do the Vivid Red palette with a brick red, chocolate brown, camel, but swapping teal for the azure blue. And yes, I’d put leopard in that mix. 🙂 The Olive Green palette also appeals to me, but I’d have to warm it up quite a bit from your choices. Rosewood instead of the blush rose, cream and chocolate instead of white and black. I just can’t wear cool tones. They are unflattering against my skin. Hence why the Port Wine & Navy palette just won’t work for me. Those are both very strong cool toned colors.
I love this post! I can easily pick one to two colors from each palette to freshen up my wardrobe. Have to make sure that they go with the rest of my clothes.
I did miss you yesterday, but this post was worth the wait. Thanks so much for all of your hard work!
For various reasons I had determined to forego new clothing purchases this fall and winter. Of course that’s no fun – but its life sometimes. However, you have helped me look at what is in my closet differently, and put together some color combinations I had not previously considered. All of a sudden what I have feels fresher. Thanks again. Truly appreciate you!
Yes, I missed you yesterday. I kept checking to see if you would post something, but today’s post was worth waiting for. I like the port wine ad navy and will be wearing that combo. I have plenty of navy. Red is my Favorite color and since I am a Winter (cool) I like the bright red or cherry red. Will definitely wearing those shades. I have always liked olive green with pink and wear the combo so will adding a couple more pieces in these colors. Do not care for the color August peridot, so will be skipping that sha. . I do like turquoise and might add an item in that color. Might have to put it with gray or black, or denim? The BFMD hit home for me today.
I forgot to mention, I like brown with turquoise. That together or turquoise and gray maybe over the black as it will be a little softer.
Kay,
I like your new hairstyle! It is very becoming.
Blessings,
Stephanie
Thank you, Stephanie.