I monitor trends for a living, and I can say with confidence that this spring’s colour story is shaping up to be a particularly chic one. While butter yellow and baby blue are still firmly in the mix, there’s a fresher, peppier shade stepping up this spring. Building on the red trend that’s been gaining momentum over the past few years, this season introduces a sunnier, more spirited take—a vibrant, slightly orange-leaning tomato red.

I spotted the shade in action this week on Alexa Chung, who styled a single-breasted, knee-skimming jacket with a sleek, figure-skimming cut. Paired simply with jeans and ballet flats, the look felt polished and effortless, without veering on boring.

Already making its way into some of the chicest spring ensembles, this punchy pop of colour is fast becoming the fashion set’s go-to for outfit impact. It’s bold, certainly, but not unfamiliar, making it surprisingly easy to wear. Whilst it looks perennially elegant styled with black and white, it truly comes into its own when paired with more unexpected tones—think rich browns, soft blues, or even buttery yellows.

Unlike deeper reds with cool, blue undertones, this iteration leans warm and luminous, bringing a lightness and vitality that feels perfectly attuned to the season ahead.

Personally, I’ll be taking cues from Alexa Chung and weaving it in as a statement accent. That said, I’ve also come across a host of beautifully cut tomato-red dresses that prove the shade is just as compelling worn head-to-toe.