The powerful color combination that was popular in the 1970s is coming back

The red-and-purple combination is pretty tricky. Its effect, however, is unmistakable.

Red and purple each have a strong presence on their own. Red gives a bold, passionate impression; purple creates a slightly more mysterious and distinctive vibe. People who dress well are already pretty familiar with the two colors. They even combine red and purple.

2000, Grace Jones.

Actress Zoey Deutch, whom Justin Bieber follows, paired a purple cardigan with red pants. It's an 'all-in' approach, placing red and purple prominently on top and bottom. In cases like this, it's good to keep the rest of the items to a minimum or arrange them simply.

Dua Lipa approached it a bit more safely and smartly. She matched a purple dress with a red bag and shoes. Instead of splitting the body into two colors, she laid down purple extensively and used red as accessory accents. As a result, the intensity of the color combination is preserved while the gaze naturally disperses to the face, shoes, and bag.

Red and purple are a solidly structured combination. They complemented the flamboyant, free-spirited 1970s style well. They were used not only in clothing but actively in makeup too. The purple eyeshadow and bold red lip—Cher's signature makeup as an American pop-culture icon—are a prime example.

1975, Cher.

We can't omit Olivia Newton-John's combination of a red bomber jacket with purple spandex leggings. The people who defined that era all enjoyed the two colors.

1978, Olivia Newton-John.

Red and purple. It's like watching a proud couple who refuse to give an inch. That intense presence has once again captured the fashion world. For its 2026 spring/summer season, Prada paired a ruby-red shirt with lilac shorts.

Prada 2026 S/S RTW

Valentino shows the red-and-purple combination in a more varied way in its 2026 fall/winter collection. They matched purple tights with red pumps, and created a skirt with a red outer fabric and a purple lining. Now, let’s revisit a fashion rule that can’t be said enough: 'Variation is directly proportional to popularity!'

Valentino 2026 F/W RTW

Valentino 2026 F/W RTW

Celine, in particular, is a gold mine. They boldly clash large blocks together—like a purple coat with a red neck sweater—or weave red and purple alternately into a very thin strap belt. It's not just that their variations are diverse; the spectrum of approaches itself is wide.

Celine 2026 F/W RTW

Celine 2027 S/S Menswear

It doesn't end there. The most interesting combination is like this. The silhouette plays it very composed while the color provokes. A red long sleeve is matched with a purple cummerbund. Even the fit of the narrowly falling brown tailored pants beneath is fantastic.

Celine 2027 S/S Menswear

Then look at the red tailored pants that fall short and sprightly paired with purple gloves. Placing color on an unexpected part delivers a thrilling visual jolt. With a mustard top and a white outer, the change-ups bend freely!

Celine 2027 S/S Menswear

You don't have to think of red and purple as only difficult. Start small at first—a purple knit with red shoes—and once you get used to it, try boldly separating top and bottom. Familiar colors like brown, black, and white can serve as quite good buffers.

Celine 2027 S/S Menswear

Celine 2027 S/S RTW Menswear

Published: August 20, 2026

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