Being neighbors on the color wheel makes red and purple one of fashion's most unexpectedly foolproof combinations. VIPs like Victoria Beckham, Meghan Markle, and Kacey Musgraves realized the pair's styling potential years ago. Fast-forward to 2026, and an entire Fashion Week calendar's worth of designers reunited the sister hues on spring/summer runways.
Most recently, red apple and lilac found their most ethereal form on Pierpaolo Piccioli's first Haute Couture runway as Balenciaga's creative director. For the much-anticipated show, the designer outfitted a model in low-rise, ultra-wide tomato-red trousers. In place of a shirt, the model wore a bust-length, lilac blusher with a delicate 3-D floral tulle trim. The designer completed the look with a pair of electric purple leather opera-length gloves (a Piccioli signature).
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