Fall Forward: The 5 Colour Stories Defining Fall/Winter 2025 Fashion

As the leaves begin to turn and the air grows crisp, fashion follows nature's lead with a stunning palette of rich, sophisticated hues. This fall, designers are moving away from the bright, playful colours of summer toward a more grounded, luxurious colour story that speaks to our desire for comfort, warmth, and timeless elegance.

From the runways of Paris to the streets of New York, five distinct colour trends are emerging as the season's must-haves. These aren't just fleeting fashion moments, but the foundation of a new approach to autumn dressing that prioritizes depth, sophistication, and versatility. Below, the top colours of the season with links to help you get the look into your own closet.

1. Burgundy: The New Black

1. Fred Perry Made in England Twin Tip in Oxblood 2. Fred Perry Brushed Argyle Scarf 3. Caddis Dogleg Readers in Boxwine 4. Noto Botanics Multi-Bene Stick in Genet 5. MKT Studio Kiry Wool Sweater in Burgandy 6. Rains A-Line Longer Jacket in Depth 7. Fred Perry Classic Barrel Bag in Oxblood 8. Milkjar Dandy Candle 9. Indi & Cold Split Leather Tote in Garnet

Move over, little black dress, burgundy is claiming the throne as autumn's most essential neutral. This rich, wine-inspired hue has evolved from a seasonal accent colour to a sophisticated staple that fashion insiders are calling "the new black."

What makes burgundy so compelling this season is its incredible versatility. Unlike traditional statement colours that demand attention, burgundy functions as a luxurious neutral that can anchor an entire wardrobe. Whether you're reaching for a burgundy blazer for the office, a flowing midi dress for weekend brunch, or even burgundy boots to ground a casual look, this colour elevates everything it touches.

The beauty of burgundy lies in its ability to complement virtually every skin tone while maintaining an air of understated elegance. It pairs effortlessly with other fall favourites like cream, camel, and navy, but it's equally stunning when worn as a monochromatic statement from head to toe.

2. Mustard Yellow: Warmth Meets Boldness

1. East Van Bees Neighbourhood Honey 2. Esiva Plaid Cotton Shirt 3. Agapée Elaia Necklace 4. House of Hecate Essence de Parfum 5. Beauty from Bees Vanilla Sunshine Body Wash 6. Saluda Alpaca Cardigan in Ochre 7. Caddis Miklos Readers in Terrapin  8. Mafa Ribbed Knit Pullover 9. Rains W3 Jacket in Rust

While summer's butter yellow was sweet and soft, fall demands something with more substance — enter mustard yellow. This complex, nuanced shade brings warmth and optimism to the cooler months without sacrificing sophistication.

Mustard yellow represents a perfect balance between making a statement and maintaining wearability. It's bold enough to energize neutral outfits but grounded enough to feel appropriate in professional settings. Think of it as confidence in colour form, a hue that says you're not afraid to stand out while still respecting the season's more subdued sensibility.

This shade works beautifully in both structured pieces like tailored coats and blazers, and flowing fabrics like silk scarves and cashmere sweaters. The key to wearing mustard yellow is treating it as you would any other rich neutral — let it be the star of your outfit, then build around it with complementary earth tones.

3. Rich Browns & Chocolates: The Ultimate Earth Tone Story

1. Lucy Paris Ello Faux Leather Skirt 2. Happy Rudy Nail Polish in Tell Dem We Reach 3. Sole Wide Cotton Trousers in Camel 4. Loosends Dusk Shoulder Bag in Chocolate 5. La Petite Française Alpaca Sweater in Chocolate 6. Paper Label Toni Top in Chocolate Torte 7. Wool Blend Triangle Tip Scarf 8. Brula Textured Cardigan in Coffee Bean 9. Nina Teapot Set in Powder Brown 10. Quiana Sunglasses in Brown 11. Lexi Slim Trousers in Coffee Bean  12. Nat+Nin Lune Handbag in Noisette 13. MKT Studio Madina Jacket

Perhaps no colour family captures fall 2025's essence better than the spectrum of browns dominating this season. From rich dark chocolate to warm caramel and everything in between, brown is having its most fashionable moment in decades.

This isn't the brown of previous eras that felt heavy or dull. Today's brown palette is sophisticated, luxurious, and surprisingly versatile. Dark chocolate brown offers the grounding presence of black with more warmth, while lighter caramel tones bring a touch of sweetness to any ensemble.

What's particularly exciting about this trend is how these various brown tones work together. A chocolate brown coat over a caramel sweater with cognac accessories creates depth and interest while maintaining perfect harmony. It's a masterclass in tonal dressing that feels both modern and timeless.

The appeal of rich browns extends beyond their aesthetic value—they're incredibly practical for fall wardrobes. These shades hide wear better than lighter colours, complement the season's natural landscape, and provide a sophisticated alternative to the black-heavy wardrobes many of us default to in cooler months.

4. Bold Reds & Blues: Statement Colours That Deliver

1. Jannet Belted Overcoat in Fiery Red 2. Yaya Textured Knitted Sweater in Inkwell 3. Yaya Ribbed Singlet Tank Top in Inkwell 4. Mafa Highneck Pullover in Eclipse 5. Seas by Merewif Nail Polish in Porto Covo 6. Yaya Woven Wide Leg Pants in Inkwell 7. Ganilo Oilskin Windbreaker in Dark Navy 8. Ela Micro Belt Bag in Red Pebble 9. Rains Bold Longest Jacket in Spill 10. Mafa Ribbed Knit Pullover in Eclipse 11. Fred Perry Twin-tipped Polo Shirt in Burnt Red 12. Warp + Weft KPB Denim Jacket in Bambino

While earth tones dominate fall 2025's colour story, the season also makes room for more dramatic moments through bold reds and blues. These saturated hues serve as the exclamation points in an otherwise muted palette, offering opportunities for confident self-expression.

The reds we're seeing range from classic crimson to deeper wine tones, while the blues span from rich navy to vibrant cobalt. What unites these colours is their intensity—these aren't wishy-washy pastels but full-strength hues that demand attention and respect.

The key to incorporating these bold colours into your fall wardrobe is treating them as investment pieces. A stunning red coat, a cobalt blue silk blouse, or navy wide-leg trousers can serve as the foundation for multiple outfits while ensuring you always make an impression.

These statement colours work beautifully when paired with the season's neutral earth tones, creating dynamic contrasts that feel both intentional and effortless. A burgundy sweater with bold red accessories, or olive green pants with a navy blazer, demonstrates how to weave these stronger hues into your everyday styling.

5. Olive Green: The Sophisticated Neutral

1. Helmut PU Leather Pant in Khaki 2. French Pinstripe socks in Olive 3. MKT Studio Long Coat in Khaki 4. Savannah Long-sleeved Blouse in Olive 5. Tretorn Ahus Hybrid Rain Boot 6. Lula Scarf in Mulled Basil Stripe 7. Cypress Tennis Bracelet in Pink & Olive 8. Rains Banja Bomber Jacket in Drift 9. Seas by Merewif Nail Polish in Sayulita 10. Rains Long Jacket in Marsh

Completing fall 2025's colour story is olive green, a shade that perfectly bridges the gap between earth tone and statement colour. This complex green brings military-inspired sophistication to autumn wardrobes while offering endless styling possibilities.

Olive green has a unique ability to complement both warm and cool tones in your existing wardrobe. It plays beautifully with the season's browns and burgundy, creating rich, layered looks that feel very now. But it's equally stunning with cream, navy, or even pops of mustard yellow for those who want to embrace multiple trends in one outfit.

What makes olive green particularly appealing this season is its versatility across different style aesthetics. It can feel sporty and casual in a utility jacket, sophisticated and polished in tailored trousers, or romantic and flowing in a silk midi dress. This adaptability makes it an excellent investment colour for building a cohesive fall wardrobe.

Bringing It All Together

The beauty of fall 2025's colour palette lies not just in these individual hues, but in how they work together to create a cohesive, sophisticated wardrobe story. These colours share an earthy, grounded quality that makes mixing and matching feel effortless rather than calculated.

Consider building your autumn wardrobe around two or three of these trending colours, then use the others as accent pieces. A foundation of burgundy and rich brown, accented with mustard yellow accessories, creates a wardrobe that feels both current and timeless. Or start with olive green as your neutral, then add bold red pieces for impact and chocolate brown for depth. And going with a one-colour outfit is always a good choice, like a complete look in chocolate or head-to-toe navy.

The overarching theme for fall 2025 is sophistication without stuffiness, richness without ostentation. These five colour stories offer the perfect palette for a season that celebrates both comfort and style, proving that the most beautiful fashion moments often come from embracing the natural elegance of autumn itself.

As you begin transitioning your wardrobe for the cooler months ahead, consider these colours not as trends to chase, but as tools for building a more intentional, sophisticated approach to getting dressed. After all, the best colour story is the one that makes you feel confident, comfortable, and authentically yourself.