Recent infatuation with 1990s minimalism and the subtle implications of the “quiet luxury” aesthetic have significantly narrowed our fashion palette, leaving behind a subdued sea of black, white, navy, and grey. Yet, there are bold creators ready to challenge industry trends with their sincere, generous, and uncompromising embrace of bright, saturated, and vibrant colors. From dazzling to poetic, from energetic to dreamy—here are four brands and their designers who inspire us to love color in our wardrobes.
Lii spring-summer 2026. Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com
Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers exploded onto the fashion scene a decade ago, earning acclaim for his striking feminine silhouettes and his passionate love for luxurious colors in all possible shades. The designer is equally at ease creating statement monochrome looks saturated with vibrant tones from head to toe—fuchsia, lime, orange—as he is playing with his signature stripes in dizzying combinations. All this has earned him two CFDA awards, recognition from top retailers, and collaborations with them. Most importantly, he has earned a reputation as an artist unafraid of the boundless potential of energetic color.
Filippo Fior / Gorunway.com
Filippo Fior / Gorunway.com
Filippo Fior / Gorunway.com
Julien Dossena for Dries Van Noten
Following in the footsteps of a House’s founder is no easy task, and when it comes to a globally beloved designer like Dries Van Noten, it’s even more challenging. However, this is precisely what Julien Dossena achieved after the legendary Belgian announced his departure from his eponymous brand in 2024, after nearly 40 years at the helm. As a long-time company employee, Dossena has confidently and masterfully proven himself a worthy successor, presenting collections in the spirit of his predecessor’s refined eclecticism. Moreover, he has demonstrated a masterful sense of color—from rich jewel tones to soft desert hues and everything in between.
Paolo Lanzi / Gorunway.com
Paolo Lanzi / Gorunway.com
Dossena’s handwriting is picturesque: whether it’s the blurred sunset hues in his latest menswear line, the rich wallpaper textures in the fall-winter 2026/2027 womenswear show, or the joyful palette of oversized stripes, circles, and tropical motifs in the spring-summer 2026 collection. All of this adds up to a broad, flexible approach that serves as a solid foundation for his creativity and leaves fans anticipating how he will conquer the color wheel next.
Paolo Lanzi / Gorunway.com
Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com
Henry Zankov
Founded during the pandemic, the designer Henry Zankov’s eponymous brand is known for two things: knitwear and color. Zankov masterfully wields the art of unexpected juxtapositions. The designer elevates his sense of vibrant hues to a new dimension through texture play, working with textiles and highlighting them with unconventional details like shimmering sequins or weightless netting. The understated, practical silhouette and playful interpretations of classics provide his poetic palette with a convincing contemporary foundation.
Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com
Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com
Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com
Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com
Lii
First-time participant Zayn Li turns to childlike directness, infusing his sportswear-inspired designs with color. The designer, whose young brand Lii is nominated for this year’s CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, has quickly made color-blocking a key brand philosophy. This is evident through the clean American tailoring—polo shirts, dynamic trousers, bomber jackets, T-shirts, and skirts layered in classic shades of red, yellow, and blue.
Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com
Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com
Recently, Li has delicately expanded his range of shades with powder blue, soft pink, and mint tones, further confirming his precise sense of color harmony. And this transforms his refined sporty aesthetic into a dynamic and ultra-modern wardrobe.
Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com
Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com
Based on vogue.com