Runway to Swatch: CELINE Spring 2026 Ready-to-Wear & Primary Colours

Photographs via Vogue Runway

Scrolling through Celine's newest ready-to-wear collection, and first collection by Michael Rider, on Vogue Runway reignited an old flame: my fascination with the way high fashion plays with colour.

There's something singular about how certain designers approach palettes - the unexpected combinations, the almost imperceptible shift in hue that suddenly makes a colour feel entirely new. A red that isn't quite primary red. A blue that teeters on the edge of purple or grey. This kind of visual tension is what draws me in.

Prada, Miu Miu and Gucci have always been my go-to references for colour done right. I still think about the Gucci Fall 2023 ready-to-wear show, which lives in my mind rent-free. Every single look harmonised with that chartreuse runway in a way that felt instinctive yet deliberate. It was a masterclass in chromatic storytelling.

But this time, it's Celine that made me look twice.

MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH PRIMARY COLOURS

Beyond unconventional palettes, I have a deep-rooted love for primary colours, or more accurately, their extended families. Red, blue, yellow, green. Yes, green too. While traditional colour theory places it outside the primary trio, in digital colour theory (think screens, not pigments), red, green and blue are the primaries. That's how I tend to see it: not strictly, but emotionally. Green feels foundational to me.

I’m endlessly inspired by how these colours can shift: darkened, brightened, softened, saturated. Each variation feels like a new language. In this latest collection, Rider uses shades that echo the primaries, but each comes with a twist. A deviation from the expected that makes the familiar feel fresh.

And that's what I love most: when a colour feels like it's been seen before, but not quite like that.

Let's look at a few examples from the collection where I got that exact feeling.

STACKED PRIMARIES

Photograph via Vogue Runway

There's nothing basic about the way the primary colours are approached here. Look 31 stacks accessories in a bright red, a sky-leaning blue and a softened yellow. Almost like a painter's swatch arm turned luxury accessory styling. These classic hues are made modern through unexpected shades and clever saturation shifts, anchored by deep navy and a warm, oaty beige that balances the whole palette. It's playful, graphic and oddly refined. Like if Bauhaus went to Paris Fashion Week and gave in to a bit of maximalism.

PREPPY, BUT NOT

Photographs via Vogue Runway

This combination has me in a chokehold, in the best way. It's preppy, but offbeat. Colour-blocked, but not obvious. The saturated green blazer over that clear hit of red feels like a jolt of confidence. Then you get the soft blue/periwinkle shirt cuff peeking through, and suddenly it's got that high-low tension I love so much. The real magic, though? The buttery, muted yellow boots. It's unexpected but somehow pulls everything together, along with the break the ashy grey pants create between all the coloured elements.

The palette plays with contrast in a way that's more grown-up than playful, more intentional than ironic. It's the kind of outfit that reminds me how good colour can feel when it's worn like a statement, not a theme.

BLUE, AND SHE'S COMPLICATED

Photograph via Vogue Runway

If there's one thing that takes real confidence, it's layering the same colour in five wildly different shades. This look feels like a love letter to blue: deep navy, icy periwinkle, sporty teal, faded denim and that electric, almost plasticky Celine boot cobalt blue. None of these tones should work together, but they do. And not in a safe, tonal way. This is bold and intentionally layered, making it beautifully complicated.

What I love most is how it sidesteps the expected. Instead of soft neutrals or grounding blacks, the look holds together purely through variations of the same hue, each adding its own energy. The tailored blazer gives structure, the voluminous pants soften the mood and the scarf throws in a jolt of contrast, reminding us that red can still steal a scene.

This is what happens when colour theory meets instinct. And honestly? I'm taking notes.

MODERN HERITAGE

Photograph via Vogue Runway

There's something deeply satisfying about a look that nails balance without trying too hard. This one hits that sweet spot — built around a warm tan base that instantly feels grounded, with just the right amount of structure. Then come the accents: a sharp navy, a confident red and a pale yellow to brighten it up. There's something timeless here, but not nostalgic. It's refined and grown-up without feeling flat. The deep, warm brown bags finish it all off with weight and richness.

This isn't just good styling, it’s good colour thinking. Familiar hues used just differently enough to feel fresh again.

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What I love most about pulling colour inspiration from the runway is how unexpectedly versatile it can be. Each of these palettes, (whether it's the bold reworking of primaries, the quiet tension of layered blues, or the warmth-meets-structure of a heritage-inspired mix) could be the foundation of a truly distinctive brand identity.

Imagine that punchy red, cobalt and oat beige anchoring a boutique fitness studio that's equal parts strength and style. Or the layered blue story brought into a skincare line that leans into clarity, calm, and cool luxury. Even the tan, navy and soft yellow palette could ground a heritage-inspired coffee brand, or a high-end interior studio that blends tradition with fresh perspective.

These runway-inspired combinations, to me, aren't just trends waiting to trickle down into department stores and casual corners (IYKYK), they're mood boards in motion. Inspiration ready to be translated into visual languages and brand identities that feel fresh, intentional and entirely your own.