Here's how to wear the Pantone Color of the Year 2023

Next year's hottest hue, here's how to wear the Pantone Color of the Year 2023

5 women wearing Pantone Color of the Year 2023 color, magenta of various shades
(Image credit: Ted Baker, Karen Millen, M&S, Free People, Lavish Alice)

The Pantone Color of the Year 2023 has been revealed as '18-1750 Viva Magenta', ensuring next year is already off to a bold start. This vivid hue feels like a grown-up development of the burst of brightness we have seen bubbling away on the runways for some time now, meaning this is a shade you can embrace in all aspects of your life - including your closet.

A shade rooted in nature, while it has pinky elements to it, it's very much part of the red family, signifying and exuding strength and bravery. A joyous and optimistic color, Viva Magenta, embraces life and living, something very much apparent by the name. 

Over the past couple of years, the selected Pantone Color of the Year has definitely had more of a calming feel, with Very Peri, Ultimate Grey, and Classic Blue all hues that have been celebrated, but Viva Magenta feels like a mark in the sand. There's no denying that the last couple of years have been a bit of a rollercoaster, but Pantone's decision to choose a color so vivacious, so embracing of life and with an almost rebellious feel, is a signifier of a fresh start and when it comes to the Pantone Color of the Year 2023, this mood-boosting hue is one you can inject into your wardrobe with ease. 

How to wear the Pantone Color of the year 2023 right now

Pantone Color of the Year 2023 - Getty Images: Gucci and Loewe

(Image credit: Getty Image)

With the Pantone Color of the Year 2023 now revealed, there is no time like the present to inject it into your wardrobe. A hit on the runway, we saw flashes of magenta at the likes of Loewe, Gucci and Christopher John Rogers, and coupled with Pantone's announcement, we expect this hue to be a major hit with straight-to-market retailers too. 

While we closed out the year discovering what is Barbiecore, embracing fuschia in all its forms, the fashion trends 2023 will help to embrace what Pantone is referring to as the Magentaverse, so it's time to get on board. 

A bold color, Magenta is part of the red family but sits between the primary colors red and blue on the color wheel, as it is a mix of the two, giving a wonderful pinky-purple finish. A rich and warming color, it is an ideal fashion color trend to kick start the new year, as it projects boldness, an ideal way to march into a new season. Incredibly wearable, magenta mixes well with plenty of other colors, pairing with everything from classic neutrals, to brighter pops of pinks and blues, offering plenty of opportunities for dopamine dressing.

One thing that is key to remember when looking to inject magenta into your closet in 2023 is that while Pantone Color of the Year 2023 - Viva Magenta is a very specific hue, in terms of clothing and trends, we expect the tone of magenta to vary between perfect matches and those with either more pink or more purple undertones. This also means you can really think about 'what color suits me?', and which shade of magenta is just right for you as opposed to sticking rigidly to Viva Magenta. These are the pieces to add to your winter outfit ideas to nail Pantone Color of the Year 2023 and embrace the Magentaverse. 

1. Outerwear

When it comes to the latest coat trends, bright outerwear is in, meaning the Pantone Color of the Year 2023 is highly welcomed in this clothing category. Following hot on the heels of last season's hot pink obsession, you feel often find, when it comes to the best winter coats, that magenta hues available will lean slightly more towards pink than purple, although there are plenty of options that can tick that magenta box. Look for cozy fabrications such as wool-blends and cashmeres for coat choice that will feel and look decadent all winter long.

2. Sweaters

The best sweaters in the Pantone Color of the Year will easily brighten up your wardrobe, but as with outerwear, be less rigid about whether it's Viva Magenta exactly, embracing the entire Magentaverse instead. From more pinky iterations to more purple-leaning iterations, a cozy knit will help to bring any look up to date. Team them tucked into skirts, or slouched over your jean waistband for a more comfy finish. 

3. Dresses

Magenta in all its guises makes for a great dress choice, rich, warm and with a hint of jewel toning, it's ideal for the best cocktail dresses, as the color itself is vibrant and decadent. Pairing effortlessly with black and metallic hues, it's ideal for parties and this is reflected in satin and silk fabrications, that catch the light beautifully for an even fuller experience. 

As a top to toe dress color, magenta can be quite a lot so it's best to keep accessories neutral and paired back. Keep heels as sleek as possible, with barely there sandals a great choice. While a clutch bag won't interrupt the line of your dress.

4. Pants and Skirts

Slightly trickier to wear, if you've already begun to master bright color clothes, then integrating the Pantone Color of the Year 2023 into your wardrobe via skirts and pants will be a breeze. The real trick is, as with most things - balance. This means, if you've gone bright and bold on your bottom half, keep your top half simple and neutral. While you might be able to pair a pattered skirt with a Viva Magenta top, when it comes to bolder bottoms, opting for a simple, toned-down top, will help you maximize your style credentials.

Don't forget to also consider the shape of your trousers or skirts. For the most flattering fit, remember to highlight your waist, this is particularly important with A-line skirts or wide leg pants that can, when not considered, overwhelm your shape. 

5. Accessories

Injecting new colors or trends into your closet can be daunting, especially if it's a hue you've never worn before, so the easiest and quickest way to add a trending shade is via accessories. The handbag trends for the year get dictated by the runway shows, and as we head into the new year, embracing the Pantone Color of the Year via one of the best designer bags will help to update your looking in minutes. Alternatively, look to magenta colored jewelry or a pair of Viva Magenta hued shoes, taking a leaf out of the Loewe runway, for feet that are stepping into 2023 in style.  

Rivkie Baum
Fashion channel editor

Rivkie is a fashion editor, writer and stylist with twenty years' experience in the industry. Rivkie studied design and pattern cutting at the London College of Fashion, and fell in love with styling and journalism, and has covered fashion weeks in London, Paris and New York, as well as shooting editorial all over the world.


Specialising in plus size fashion, Rivkie has long championed that style is for everyBODY and has appeared on a host of radio stations and television shows, pushing for greater representation for plus size women and fashion throughout her career.