Our style director Louise Hilsz reports on the fashion colours trending for your home and wardrobe this year.
Yellow, Orange and Green
The colours that give instant positivity are sunny and grounded and are on trend for 2023. The brightest star in this lineup has to be yellow. This summery shade evokes instant happiness, is upbeat and cheerful, and represents wisdom and courage in many cultures. Ideal for the hub of your home, the kitchen and living room, where there's plenty of action and socialising, shades of golden yellow like Resene I Dare You to canary like Resene Happy add energy and vitality. It’s a brilliant pop of colour as an accessory. For complementary colour blocking or lifting a neutral outfit, this will brighten any fashion look, especially once winter arrives.
Its close cousin, orange, sends out the same optimistic excitement. Dubbed the new pink, orange is known as the 'forever young' colour. It's also an attention grabber. From pumpkin like Resene Grenadier to tangerine like Resene Adrenalin, a shade of orange suits everyone; it's also the perfect colour to theme a party or gathering. But unlike its close friend, red, you are never in danger of overdoing this colour; it also offers a certain calmness in times of stress.
Finally, the most grounding colour in this lineup is green. This colour of nature reflects freshness, safety, health, and growth. It has always been among the most popular colours in interior design, with a new pallet to choose from every season. Expect to see green in all its glory in both fashion and interior trends. Green in shades of lime like Resene Wild Side and jade green like Resene Boundless will dominate.
So for that feeling of renewal, precisely what we all need after years of disruption - bring on these happy hues, we say.
Background painted in Resene Boundless paint and Resene Adrenalin paint. Paint pots from top to bottom: Resene Light Fantastic paint, Resene Adrenalin paint, Resene Wild Side paint and Resene Good To Go paint available from Resene ColorShops. Moschino colour-block panelled tote bag. Loewe 40097 sunglasses. Novo Ulima heels. Four Corners earrings.
Wall painted in Resene I Dare You paint, side table table in Resene Happy and Resene Grenadier available from Resene ColorShops. Hilsz wears Curate dress and Kathryn Wilson Slides. Matthew Hall glass pendant light. Kate Mitchell vase and tumbler. Lego flowers and succulents. Moschino fragrance. Designers Rugs Lara Scolari Shepherds Delights rug. Sofa and ottoman stylist own.
Wall painted in Resene Drop Dead Gorgeous and cabinet painted in Resene Coconut Ice available from Resene ColorShops. Dogwood Lifestyle Staffordshire dog. Gorman planter. Sunglasses, stylist own. Narciso Rodriguez fragrance. Hailwood bracelet.
Pretty Pink
The Barbiecore trend got us super-excited, with pink at the centre of this fabulous 2022 fashion trend. For 2023, pink is going nowhere, but it's a softer version of the bold fuchsia we saw last year. For the season ahead, blush rose like Resene Coconut Ice, and pops of dusky pink like Resene Valentine will dominate. New Zealand fashion designer Trelise Cooper has a sea of pink in her new collection. At the same time, internationally, Prada and Gucci wave the pink flag with accessories, namely their well-coveted shoe collections.
With interior trends, the go-to shades trending are deep rose like Resene Drop Dead Gorgeous and earthy pink-red like Resene Very Berry. Perfect colours to highlight a panelled wall, door, frame or even a shelving unit, a brilliant way to add a pop of colour in what could be a neutral room.
For the new year ahead, pink signal strength and optimism in all its glorious calming variations.
Purple and Blue
In all its royal form, purple is the most mysterious and spiritual shade across the colour spectrum. Experts believe purple motivates us to delve deep into our innermost desires and thoughts. It’s also the colour of imagination. Although Pantone's Colour of the Year for 2023 is Viva Magenta we are seeing more purple hues trending in fashion and interiors. Expect to see jewel-toned plush velvets with statement walls.
Descending from the red family, it's also on the violet spectrum, and for the new year ahead, it's a colour that signals strength. From recent runway beauty, violet like Resene Showstopper and lilac like Resene Twice As Nice make a chic comeback; when paired with gold, purple in all its hues lives up to its royal reputation.
A close relation, sea blue is also on our radar. In pastel shades of azure like Resene Island Time and cornflower blue like Resene Sail Away, these colours will add a tranquil vibe to any room in your home. Experts often describe blue as a calm and serene colour, ideal for a workspace. Our style director agrees, Hilsz below, in her styling studio. She says as a colour, yes, it’s peaceful, but it also reflects business order and reliability.
Right: Background painted in Resene Twice As Nice paint. Resene paints from top to bottom: Resene Twice As Nice paint, Resene Temptation paint, Resene Petal and Resene Showstopper available from Resene ColorShops. Meadowlark Arizona ring, Rose cocktail ring, Amulet Pearl Drop earrings and Paperclip heavy necklace. Nude By Nature blush brush. MAC Snob lipstick. blush. Clinique Moisture Surge™ 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator. Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh Paradise fragrance.
Wall painted in Resene Island Time, wardrobe rack painted in Resene Sail Away, stool painted in Resene Freewheeling painted and side table painted in Resene Sugar Plum Fairy paint available from Resene ColorShops. Hilsz wears Coop shirt and Cooper skirt. Aladdin Rugs BlueBellGray Amal rug.
Photography Mike Rooke