Prince, the pope, and autumn 2026: purple is hot this season

Purple has emerged as a prominent colour for autumn 2026, appearing in designer collections, celebrity outfits and high-street shops. Its popularity marks a shift from recent neutral palettes towards brighter, more expressive fashion, with red and purple often paired as a bold colour combination.

The season’s vivid “royal purple” differs from muted lilac and dark plum. Trend forecaster WGSN anticipated the colour’s return in 2024, while fashion commentators connect its appeal to autumn shades and digital aesthetics. Purple’s association with power dates back to costly ancient dyes; it became more widely available after chemist William Henry Perkin created the first chemical dye in 1856.