Colour-Inspired Fashion for Your European Getaway
When packing for a trip to Europe, consider choosing a colour palette as thoughtfully as you’d select the destinations. Vibrant colours and patterns that evoke the history, art, and culture of each city or region will make you feel connected, creative, and confident as you explore.
Rich Reds in Italy
In spirited Italy, go for bold reds and deep wine shades that conjure visions of vine-covered villas and tomatoes drying in the afternoon sun. Pack a scarlet sheath dress and matching red flats to stroll along the narrow streets of Florence or Sicily. Top with a crimson cardi for chillier evenings sipping Chianti at a trattoria. For men, look for shirts in geometric patterns like harlequin diamonds or retro swirls in tomato-red and cinnamon to capture Italian vivacity.
Sun-Soaked Shades of Spain
Embrace the warmth, passion and vibrant spirit of Spain through a sunny palette of searing oranges and ambers. Kick up your style with a bold mandarin orange dress in a lightweight, gauzy fabric to stage the perfect flamenco performance in the streets of Seville. Or take to Madrid in a burnt sienna blouse with ruffled sleeves, skinny white jeans and classic espadrilles for that laid-back yet chic SoHo vibe. For a modernist twist evoking Gaudí, opt for asymmetrical sandals in tangerine and mustard with a crisp white button-down and tailored shorts.
Sunny Yellows in France
Capture French joie de vivre with sunny yellows reminiscent of Van Gogh’s floral fields, butter melting into crusty bread, and the glow of Parisian café lights at night. A simple yellow sundress with a matching ankle-tie espadrille wedge perfectly suits Provençal lavender fields or meandering walks along the Seine. For a Riviera influence, try an off-the-shoulder yellow peasant top with white denim and red flats. And for men, men’s designer polo shirts in jewel shades of lemon and ochre will fit right in.
Oceanic Blues in Greece
Surrounded by endless blue seas and island skies, Greece’s aqua and azure hues will lift your mood and move your mind. Pack vibrant cobalt, cerulean, or teal tunics or maxi dresses made from breezy, lightweight material that flows in the island winds. The loose, comfortable silhouettes complement whitewashed villages perched above rocky cliffs. Layer several long necklaces featuring evil eye symbols or etched Greek coins over the tunics. Then slip on flat Grecian-inspired sandals in tan leather. The entire outfit mirrors the laid-back, wanderlust spirit of the isles.
Rich Greens in Ireland
Connect to the Emerald Isle’s patchwork hills and mossy glens through luscious greens, sophisticated tweeds, and Celtic cables. A hunter green pea coat, chunky Aran sweater, or clever convertible dress allows you to adjust layers depending on the intermittent rain. Water-resistant wellies pull the outfit together. Intarsia and Fair Isle knits in olive, sage, forest, and mint capture Ireland’s misty landscape. For a twist, play with variations like pine, basil, or chartreuse paired with denim or fawn-coloured jeans. Celebrate the luck o’ the Irish with a four-leaf clover charm bracelet or necklace to finish your looks with Irish flair.
No matter where your European travels take you, use colour to infuse your style with the essence of place. Vibrant hues that encapsulate the history, terrain, and spirit of each country or city will make your experience vivid, memorable , and deeply personal.
