The Hottest Color Trends For Summer 2025 (& 2 That Are Outdated)
Throughout the year, the shades we see around us shift with the changing light and landscape. The sun takes on a warmer tone, and the natural world grows fuller and more verdant. Skies are bluer and the air seems to embrace pigment. Fashion tends to reflect this seasonal metamorphosis. By this point in the year, the impulse towards lightness returns, and with it, a loosening in mood and in material. In summer 2025, color is carrying much of that momentum.
Not all hues have made the journey into summer unscathed. Some colors that once felt necessary have begun to feel stale. Pantone's 2025 color of the year might have been a neutral lover's dream, but in summer, there's an appetite for pigment that doesn't blend into the beige of it all. Knowing 2025's on-trend color to add to summer outfits is one way to keep things moving, as well as avoiding basic color mistakes that make you look older.
Women spoke exclusively to Courtney Fisher, a fashion influencer marketing expert at GRIN, to chart the season's color shifts. The summer weather forecast is heating up, so let Fisher's trend report be its stylish counterpart: a field guide to what's catching fire, and what's cooling off.
Tangerine and coral are brightening everything in sight
Squeezing the most out of summer 2025 is tangerine orange. "This one is still on the rise, but I think it'll end up being the color of the season," Courtney Fisher exclusively tells Women. Vibrant and attention-grabbing, it's a shade that packs a punch.
The brave can wear tangerine orange from head-to-toe, in the form of a matching set or a strappy dress, Fisher suggests. Or you can keep things peeled back: "Use it as an accent through flip-flop sandals, a mini bag, sunglasses, or scarves," Fisher adds. Whether you go all-in with tangerine, or reach for its softer cousin coral, working either into your wardrobe guarantees you'll have the zestiest outfit at any summer shindig.
Barbie pink has left the building and lost its pop
After dominating runways, red carpets, and retail — thanks, in no small part, to the summer 2023 Barbiecore obsession – bright pink is being boxed up. The saturation point has been reached. But in place of hyper-feminine brights, designers and stylists are turning to deeper reds and softer pinks, Courtney Fisher exclusively tells Women. Shades of dusty rose, pale blush, and oxblood (the grown-up version of 2023's cherry cola trend) are what post-Barbie Barbies will be wearing. Even the most glamorous dolls will trade in their hot pink for something a little more sophisticated.
Summer makes way for greener pastures
In the opening stretch of 2025, butter yellow was the undisputed front-runner. Kate Middleton jumped on the butter yellow trend at a garden party, whilst Kamala Harris ditched her signature pantsuit on Easter to nail the trend. But the mood is ever so slightly shifting. "I'm starting to see soft pastel greens emerge as a fresh alternative," Courtney Fisher exclusively tells Women. "It's playful, refreshing, and blends beautifully with summer neutrals."
To wear it well, Fisher suggests reaching for breezy seasonal fabrics like linen, mesh, or poplin. "It works beautifully in relaxed tailoring and mixed in other deeper shades of olive green," she points out. The result is a palette that feels both new and natural.
Bright green takes a breather
Speaking of green, the ultra-bright shade that defined the Brat summer of 2024 is heading for a comedown. Last year's mood was loud, referential, chaotic, deliberately overstimulated — a cultural posture best captured in the acid-toned chartreuse of "Brat," Charli XCX's summer-defining album. But the voltage is dimming, "This ultra-bright green has had a solid run," Courtney Fisher exclusively tells Women. "But with the return of more grounded, pastel tones, we'll likely see less of it this summer."
Summer's sky-high shade is floating back into focus
Just like cloudless skies and sun-washed denim, baby blue will set the tone for a serene summer. This hue is a soft-toned anchor that functions almost like a neutral, Courtney Fisher exclusively tells Women. "It pairs effortlessly with butter yellow, tangerine, and red," she explains, "making it one of the most versatile colors of the season."
Fisher suggests letting baby blue do the work as a base layer. Choose "tank tops, oversized button-downs, or slouchy trousers, to ground a look while letting other color shine," she says. With this formula, it'll be the season's breeziest scene-stealer.
Tomato red is cooking — serve it whole or as an accessory
Summer's color palette is getting decidedly saucier thanks to tomato red. The bold and juicy shade energizes everything it touches, serving up style with a sumptuous twist.
Red is notoriously difficult to style. But this particular iteration is proving more approachable, especially in pattern form. "We'll be seeing this shade a lot in patterns this season," Courtney Fisher exclusively tells Women. "It's showing up in nostalgic prints like gingham and polka dots." Fisher also loves tomato red accessories. Try a scarf tied at the neck, or a flash of color in a shoe. For those wanting to emulate breezy Italian summer dressing, tomato red is a ripe option.