Each Fall season we look forward to seasonal activities like apple picking and leaf peeping, but we also look forward to seasonal dressing like opting for layers and reaching for a cozy sweater. For many, you may associate neutrals as the Fall dress code; a camel coat, beige sweater, brown boots, etc. While yes, this will forever be a timeless classic look, I’m here to remind you that the beauty of fashion and personal style is that you get to dabble with current trends and use the act of getting dressed in the morning as a ritual in self-expression. I was really excited to see bright, bold colors dominate the runway this past season. 

According to fashion’s top designers, this season is full of bold monochromatic looks. Just look at the current color palette! Rich royal purple, jewel-tone teal, and Barbie-bright fascia are all trending hues that were incorporated on the Fall/Winter 2022 runways. The barbiecore trend as many jokingly refer to it is largely due to Valentino and its fall 2022 collection (where 40 out of the 81 looks that walked the runway consisted of monochromatic hot pink.) Today on the blog I want to show you how I would rock the Fall 2022 bright-color fashion trend with affordable pieces from Zara. To help me, I’ve also enlisted my two friends Ashlee and Maggie to show how I would style three different ways to wear a monochromatic colored look.

Think Pink: 2022 Fashion Trends for Women

Barbiecore is all about confidence! Wearing a full hot pink outfit is a great way to show the world that you’re bold, fashionable and just as hot as the color you’re wearing. At once, feminine, strong, and sultry, you can wear the power color piecemeal or announce your arrival with a monochrome look. What’s more powerful than a power suit? Here I’m wearing a feather blazer and high-waisted trousers to match.

Royal Purple: 2022 Fashion Trends for Women

Royal purple was appropriately the main color scheme behind the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this year and we saw the shade a mainstay on their runways with designers like Bottega Veneta, Tory Burch, and Carolina Herrera. Studies also suggest that purple can lower blood pressure and heart rates, making it the perfect color to wear when practicing mindfulness. Often associated with royalty, luxury, and power, once reserved only for the aristocracy due to the scarce supply of purple dye, the color can also help you embrace feelings of comfort, security, and peace. Here Maggie is showcasing the trend with a statement top (a tied taffeta shirt) and matching straight-cut pants.

Seeing Green: 2022 Fashion Trends for Women

We continue to see many shades of green dominate the runway. Some may argue an extension of Spring/Summer 22, the color green may have just as much pull as the barbiecore trend this year. Kelly green hues have been trending for some time and this Fall we see her sister hue—jewel tone—continue its popularity. Vibrant, lush, and rejuvenating it’s the perfect color to add to your wardrobe this season. Here Ashlee not only demonstrates how to rock the luxe-looking hue but also how to wear the daytime pajama look. The key is to dress up the two-piece set with a pair of heels to instantly elevate the look. As well as you can add some sex appeal to the outfit by unbuttoning the top buttons and letting a bit of lingerie show.

When thinking about where to shoot these monochromatic colored looks I wanted to show them in context rather than just in a studio or on the street. Portland’s hottest new cocktail bar and restaurant Paper Tiger was the perfect backdrop to showcase these outfits and also a place I’ve been meaning to tell you all about! Inspired by oyster bars, and late-night Chinese restaurants, Paper Tiger is the perfect date night spot or setting for your next girls’ night. 

Their food is absolutely to die for! I highly recommend the tuna crudo, roast oyster, Japanese eggplant, and chicken wings! We ended our night with a large format cocktail (“Our Lawyer Mare Us Change The Name Of This Cocktail So We Wouldn’t Get Sued”) – sparklers and all. If this isn’t a sign to dress up and go out with your ladies I don’t know what it is.

Photography by CJ Campbell

Special thank you to Paper Tiger for hosting us!