Cobalt Blue Is Officially The Biggest Trend of Spring 2026

As I write this, my copy of Lauren Elkin is scaffold It sits face down to my left, its cobalt blue back cover exposed to my chocolate brown desk. It’s emblematic, and even more fitting, that this shade has permeated the zeitgeist and become something of an overnight sensation.

From Phoebe Philo’s obsession with Yves Klein Blue during her time at Celine to the richly pigmented dew-blue hue of French beauty mogul Violette’s U-Paint liquid eyeshadow, this evocative color has always had a place in fashion, but cobalt blue seems to be in the spotlight now that the tone has been spotted on the runway and on the red carpet simultaneously. Indeed, fashion seems to have a new favorite color, and we’re sure to be intrigued.

For the uninitiated, cobalt blue is a deep, vibrant tone that falls somewhere between deep ultramarine and bright capri blue. This has been a hallmark of culturally relevant works for centuries, from Chinese porcelain cast during the Ming dynasty to works by 19th-century French Impressionists such as Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Claude Monet, some say cast during the Ming dynasty.

But for spring 2026, cobalt blue is taking on a new meaning, with the hue marking a shift from winter blues, both literally and figuratively, and bringing with it a wave of fresh energy. Because what could be more symbolic of the languid days ahead than the colors dotting the parasols of the Côte d’Azur or surrounded by cacti in Marrakech’s famous Majorelle Gardens?

So how did cobalt blue usurp the pop red trend and butter yellow become coveted as the latest primary color? Perhaps it’s due to the best publicity and awareness, but all you have to do to see why is spring/summer 2026. The new season collection is dominated by cobalt blue.

There were also signs of cobalt blue’s dominance during Paris Fashion Week in September. At Celine, Michael Ryder brought California cool to the Parisian house with tie-dye long sleeves, color-block rugby shirts, and a standout cobalt blue derby suit. At Loewe, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez presented their debut collection of rubbery coats, neoprene dresses and slouchy separates that evoked the crisp essence of Ibiza’s coastline.

Just this weekend during London Fashion Week, Toga unveiled a collection of molded tailoring, including skirts and rumpled knitwear rendered in a tangy tincture.