Everybody’s Wearing Tangerine
Juicy orange is a defining color of this season’s effervescent palette. KARA KIA reveals how fashion’s finest are styling their tangerine-hued pieces right now
Wearing a bright, statement color is an effortless way to spark joy. Whether it’s during the warmer months or the cooler season, orange elicits memories of tropical vacations and balmy sunsets. To style it like an expert, find inspiration where the color naturally occurs. Pair bright tangerine with pinks and yellows for a color-blocked outfit that’s as saturated as it is sleek. Leafy green is an instinctive match that complements tangerine beautifully. And for an autumnal approach, try tempering orange with toasty shades of brown. Here, three style insiders share their top tips for embracing the color of the season…
Michelle Li, stylist and writer
“I’m a spontaneous dresser. I mostly get dressed based on my mood, but I love pulling styling references from runways and editorials to try. My philosophy is to always find the colors that resonate most with you, and to explore the different ways that you can play with your favorites. I love trying out a new color and doing a deep dive into all the ways it can work or not work.
“Tangerine is a bright, tropical color, so let it have its moment. I typically avoid pairing orange with prints, and mainly love wearing it with a light pink. My tip is to focus on the tone of your color when mixing and matching, or wearing multiple colors at once. [Model] Lindsay Vrckovnik wears orange really well. She knows how to simultaneously wear texture and color, which is a tough skill to master.
“Playing with different color combinations helps you see specific colors in a new light because of how they reflect off each other – and that’s really exciting. I’m also very into a bright but sophisticated blue, Kelly green, red, and orange. Rave Review is one of my go-to brands for color.”
Emili Sindlev, stylist
“Orange makes me feel energetic – it’s like a sartorial vitamin C boost. I have always loved the color and I have a lot of orange vintage pieces. I’m also really into Kelly green, so I often wear it with tangerine.
“Fuchsia and violet are also big for me at the moment, and I’ve been getting into muted tones, such as beige, khaki green and navy blues. I always look at runway shows to discover my new color obsession – and for my everyday outfits I love Frankie Shop,because I can match the color of my shirt or blazer to my mood; it does it all.
“It’s easier to wear bright colors if you go for solids. Either match your whole look or mix different colors against a more neutral base, like denim. I love prints, but I will typically wear only one print or pattern at a time because I’m more confident when mixing solid colors.”
Marjon Carlos, journalist
“Over the past few years, wearing color has been a very intentional decision for me. It’s a mood-elevator and the serotonin boost that helped me get through some difficult days of quarantine – and the political climate. Now that we’re outside, color feels like a wonderful release.
“The color orange makes me feel juicy! I recently bought some orange Bottega Veneta sandals that are super-fun and remind me of the tropical locales that I will be traveling to this summer. I also like to give orange a context to really shine, so it’s great for a red-carpet moment or a big trip. I wore a melon-colored Christopher John Rogers dress recently and paired it with silver accessories that were equally maximalist – together with a huge platform heel and oversized earrings.
“Since I’m an Aries, red is my power color, but I also love yellows, blues, pinks and browns. I wear a lot of Christopher John Rogers, who names his color palette every season – ‘habanero sauce’, ‘wasabi’, ‘tomatillo’, and so on… I love it. I also love Marni’s whimsy and Dries Van Noten’s artistic approach to patterns, so they are both big in my closet. JW Anderson’s bright green ‘The Bumper’ bag goes everywhere with me these days!
“For an easy styling trick, ground anything colorful with a neutral. You can still be bold, but maybe the hair and makeup are more subtle – and never underestimate tailoring. I recently saw my friend, fashion publicist Chloe King, artfully layer neon on neon with a structured, tailored blazer in an equally bright color. It was visually stimulating but not over the top, because of the way the tailoring pulled it all together.”
HOW TO STYLE TANGERINE
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