In the fashion colour wheel, green has a reputation as ‘tricky’; a colour that clashes with other shades, and with different skin tones. But this year, a particular apple shade has been growing in popularity. It’s been seen on the catwalk and even the red carpet – despite the old adage that red and green should never be seen.
Arriving at Berlin film festival, Pamela Anderson wore a Carolina Herrera apple green wrap with a dress underneath in shades of pink and green. Amal Clooney wore a green Versace dress to a Golden Globes afterparty and Rose Byrne was in green Chanel for the award ceremony. There’s speculation it could be a big colour on the red carpet at the Baftas this Sunday.
The fashion writer Natalie Hammond says: “[It could be] the new tomato, a colour that’s great for a ‘pop’ like a green scarf or a green jumper knotted around the waist,” she says. “I saw both of those coming out of New York fashion week.”
Hammond believes green on the red carpet works, despite the two colours traditionally being seen to clash. She says: “It’s different from what you usually see, namely a lot of black, white, red and metallic gowns. Green is traditionally a colour that’s soothing, but on the red carpet it can be something else entirely – sophisticated [and] intentional.”
The green trend goes beyond high-end designers and celebrities. John Lewis have picked up on the colour for spring, and Depop reported searches for green were up 47% in January. John Lewis’s design director, Queralt Ferrer, echoes Hammond’s idea of the shade replacing red. “Spring 2026 will introduce fresh pops of colour, with green taking centre stage as the season’s hero hue,” she says.
“If you’re new to colour, try adding an accessory like ballet flats, or make more of a statement by layering in a jumper or cardigan.”