Move over, winter neutrals. From the streets of Manhattan to Paris, these are the three shades the fashion crowd is wearing right now.
Let’s be real: fashion doesn’t sleep, and our obsession with street style certainly didn’t pause for the winter. Even through February, we were spotting top-tier looks across the major capitals. But as the city finally warms up, the collective color palette on the streets is much more vibrant.
The coolest fashion people I know aren’t dressing around curated TikTok aesthetics anymore. Instead, they're leaning into a look that is playful, a little chaotic, and what a lot of people not from the city would say: a big risk. New Yorkers love risks (we wouldn’t be where we are right now without them!) In a time where personal style may feel like it’s dying, these girls bring a bit of fun and individuality back. The neutral uniforms of winter are officially taking a backseat to high-visibility hues. Colors I used to only spot on a beach getaway have suddenly migrated straight to the best neighborhoods of Manhattan, London, and Paris.
The coolest girls on your feed have been using color to make a serious statement. After hyper-analyzing the streets this season, these are the three exact color trends dominating my FYP and my mental mood board.
Ava is a Creative Editor at OOTD. She graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology and now covers your favorite fashion figures, events, and trends.
I used to categorize turquoise blue strictly as a tropical-vacation shade—the kind of color reserved for linen cover-ups and seaside markets. But this season, the IT-girl crowd has completely flipped the script, styling this vibrant blue into the ultimate urban streetwear looks. Once I noticed the shift, I couldn't unsee it, it is literally everywhere.
The city is clearly craving bold, unapologetic color right now, especially a rich blue. It brings a fresh, electric energy to the pavement of New York and pairs perfectly with a summer tan. Naturally, my Pinterest board is completely filled with turquoise outfits that I can’t wait to recreate in my own way.
If you're ready to bring the shade into your own rotation, these girls are already providing the ultimate blueprint. That iconic, slouchy Balenciaga City Bag in turquoise is absolutely to die for as a high-contrast accessory. For a summer night out, I am personally obsessed with this backless midi dress from Revolve. And if you're looking for an easy wardrobe refresh, Zara has the trend completely down with a variety of turquoise tops—ranging from a delicate lace strappy tank to an adorable, trend-forward turquoise and yellow color-block knit top.
Mustard yellow is easily the most unexpected trend to emerge this season. While it hasn’t historically been a staple crowding my own drawers, I have been spotting it constantly on the streets from the LES to Bushwick.
The trick with mustard this summer is all in the execution. It definitely borrows a bit of that raw, early-2010s indie edge, but the current trend is elevating it into a highly sophisticated accent. Girls are pairing a pop of it with a sleek grey mini dress, a black carpenter work belt, or letting it ground the look as a focal-point shoulder bag. If you're looking to test the waters, I am currently adoring these pointed toe flats from Margaux and this 100% silk skirt from Quince.
For summer, the shade is shifting from deep, moody winter burgundy to vibrant cherry and tomato reds. Red has officially shifted from December to June, injecting a necessary spark into basic warm-weather outfits.
What makes red so good right now is how versatile the color is. You don’t have to commit to a full monochromatic look to participate (though this red linen set from Free People is to die for!) The fashion crowd is treating red like a neutral—adding a playful cherry charm to a mini purse, hopping on the red ballet flat trend, or opting for a bold red lip against an all-white outfit. Either way, it’s a shortcut to looking effortlessly styled. Some of my personal favorite red pieces right now are these Mary Jane Jelly Flats from Sam Edelman and this statement belt from Free People.
If this season has proven anything, it’s that we are officially done playing it safe. We’ve spent too much time hiding behind safe neutrals and predictable "clean-girl" aesthetics. Color is back and it’s a reminder that personal style hasn’t vanished. Take the risk, buy the bold piece, and let's leave the neutral colors in February.
