For a while, fashion was speaking in hushed tones. Beige, oat, stone, greige - useful, tasteful, and frankly a little over-relied on. But Spring/Summer 2026 signalled a clear shift: colour is back, and not diluted, softened or “elevated” into submission. This season, designers returned to the most fundamental hues of all - red, yellow, and blue - using them with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

On the SS26 runways, they appeared unapologetically saturated and often worn head-to-toe, stripped of excessive embellishment or styling tricks. The message was simple: let colour do the work.

At Loewe, primaries felt almost conceptual - bold blocks of colour used to highlight silhouette, craftsmanship, and proportion rather than distract from it. Reds and blues were clean, graphic, and sculptural, reinforcing Jonathan Anderson’s ongoing interest in clothing as form rather than ornament. Colour here wasn’t playful for the sake of it; it was architectural.

Celine approached primaries with a sharper, more urban sensibility. Think strong blues and reds grounding classic Parisian staples - tailoring, knits, leather - giving familiar pieces a jolt of modern confidence. The effect was less nostalgic, more assertive: a reminder that colour can be powerful without being loud.

Elsewhere across SS26, primary colours appeared repeatedly as a visual through-line. Miu Miu leaned into bold colour contrasts that felt youthful without being juvenile. Prada, Jil Sander, Alaïa and Dries Van Noten also leaned into these bold hues. 

Marni - Fussbett Leather Sandals, Dinosaur Designs - Rock Medium Resin Bangles, Le Kasha - Anong Cashmere Sweater, Proenza Schouler - Mariam Scuba Midi Dress, Loewe - Flamenco Medium Clutch Bag

What makes this return feel different is how undecorated it is. These aren’t whimsical splashes or novelty accents. Designers resisted pattern overload, excessive layering or trend-heavy styling. Instead, they trusted the strength of a single, confident shade. 

There’s also something quietly radical about going back to the basics. In a fashion landscape saturated with micro-trends and algorithm-driven aesthetics, primary colours feel almost grounding. They’re universal, instantly recognisable, and culturally unbound. Everyone understands them. Everyone can wear them.

Bouguessa - Menna Blazer, Proenza Schouler - Trap Square Toe Pumps, Arch4 - Bessi Cashmere Polo Knit, Saint Laurent - Strawberry Clip Earrings, Nour Hammour - Red Leather Gloves, Savette - Symmetry Pochette Leather Bag

For SS26, primary colours aren’t about standing out - they’re about standing firm. A visual reset. A return to fundamentals. And perhaps a subtle rejection of fashion’s recent obsession with blending in.

If neutrals were about safety, primaries are about decision-making. And this season, fashion has clearly made one.

Massimo Dutti - Electric Blue Wool Blend Knit Sweater, Celine - Small New Luggage, Sophie Buhai - Angelika Lapiz Lazuli Earrings, Celine - Silk Square Scarf, The Attico - Mini Devon 85 Croc Effect Mules