I’m fully aware that summer is far from over, but pre-fall fashion finds have been trickling in on my favorite sites, catching my eye and getting me eager about dressing for the season ahead. While I browsed the new arrivals, one thing stood out above all else: color. Designers aren’t leaving bold hues behind with summer. One shade in particular that is poised to define fall and maybe even dethrone burgundy is purple.

If you pay close attention to the runway trends, this probably doesn’t come as a surprise. Loud, rich shades of purple like violet and royal purple popped up all over the spring/summer 2026 runways and then seamlessly continued into the fall/winter 2026 collections. The color was everywhere, from trench coats at Celine and sheer skirts and blouses at Ferragamo to textured minidresses at Loewe and asymmetrical maxi dresses at Tory Burch.