Move over aqua blue, royal purple is taking over

There’s no doubt that aqua blue dominated this summer. Whether you call it turquoise, teal, or aquamarine, the color was seen everywhere and styled by It girls alike. 

This notorious color was inescapable from runway looks, featured in Emporio Armani or Burberry’s Spring/Summer 2026, to international retailers such as Brandy Melville with tops and bottoms in the same shade, which they call seafoam teal. Local brands also had their take on the color trend, such as GVN’s Slip Wedge in Satin Aqua and FHILAR Apparel’s Tiffany Blue tops. 

However, as summer collection gives way to fall and winter collections, a new color has emerged in high fashion and is anticipated to make its way from runway to retail to, finally, people’s wardrobes, and that is: royal purple. 

Numerous Fall/Winter 2026 runway collections have already featured this rich, deep, and vibrant shade of purple, including a variety of dresses, tops, bottoms, and coats that experiment with fun shapes and textures.

1. Chloé

For its Winter 2026 Collection, French luxury fashion house Chloé showcased a voluminous royal purple look that included a flowy, ruffled blouse and matching balloon-fit pants with a subtle polka-dot texture that cinches at the ankles.

Photo Source: Chloé

2. Ferragamo

Luxury Italian brand Ferragamo’s Fall 2026 Collection also had its own take on the deep purple, featuring a sheer top and skirt with a lace detail that runs seamlessly from top to bottom. To tie the look together, it’s paired with urple pumps and leather purse. 

Photo Source: Ferragamo

3. Balenciaga

In its Haute Couture Fall 2026, high-end fashion and streetwear brand Balenciaga, showed a number of violet ensembles, but one of the main standout was a long, sheer royal purple top with a dramatic feather skirt in a similar grape-like color.

Photo Source: SHOWstudio

4. Loewe

Spanish luxury fashion house Loewe released its Fall/Winter 2026 Collection, sending out multiple royal purple looks. Some of the best ones were a dramatic mini dress with textured fringe that looped around the body, creating an asymmetrical detail at the end, and a men’s hooded utility jacket with multiple pockets—both in the same vibrant purple.

Photo Source: Loewe

5. Celine 

Celine showed off its French craftsmanship in itsWinter 2026 Collection, including a structured leather trench coat in the same striking purple and a matching clutch. The coat was paired with a burgundy turtleneck, which makes for a stunning color combination.

Photo Source: Celine

6. Tory Burch 

Premium American brand Tory Burch added its spin on royal purple for its Fall/Winter 2026 show, unveiling an elegant purple halter dress that flows beautifully on the body and has an asymmetrical hem.

Photo Source: Tory Burch

7. Cult Gaia

Earlier this year, Cult Gaia, a contemporary American designer brand, went on the runway for the first time for Fall/Winter 2026/27, and one of the brand’s looks was pure purple silk perfection. A corset bodice with a vertical lining that guides the spectators’ eyes down through its delicate pleats to the gorgeous, sweeping skirt.

Photo Source: YT Fashion Feed

Royal purple to go mainstream

Fashion trend cycles dictate that when a trend is established, it will slowly trickle down to everyday fashion. Beyond the runway, we already notice this as the rich, saturated purple has been appearing in retail brands like Zara, Mango, Brandy Melville, and H&M, in tops and dresses. 

The color is adaptable to style because, like previous color trends such as aqua blue, it can be worn as a pop of color, whether as top or a pair of heels, or as full-on bold monochromatic look. Either way, this shade of purple is so chic and truly fit for fashion royalty! 

 Will you take on this color trend for the upcoming ber months? Or do you think royal purple is looking not so ‘grape’?