Just a few hours ago, I landed in Belgrade from Nice, and my holiday flew by faster than the flight there. While packing my suitcases, since one was not enough for ten days of travel, I found myself thinking about the fashion trend that had followed me almost everywhere I went: neon hues. Against the beige sun loungers, warm sand and turquoise sea characteristic of the French Riviera, neon clothing was almost impossible to miss. Whether I was strolling through Antibes or sitting on the rooftop of my favourite restaurant in Cannes, I spotted women and men adding neon details to their outfits on almost every corner and at every other table. Of course, none of this would have surprised me had I been in Miami or Los Angeles, but on the French Riviera, where classic style and the Max Mara colour palette practically constitute an unwritten dress code, the observation was somewhat unexpected. Still, I soon realised that earlier that same week Hailey Bieber had worn a lace top in a neon yellow shade, and it immediately became clear why Gen Z had so quickly embraced the trend we adored in the early 2000s.
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I remember that around a decade ago, I could not imagine an outfit without neon green sneakers or neon pink sunglasses, thanks to the many fashion brands that placed these vibrant shades at the very heart of the fashion scene (read: Versace). When I delved a little deeper into the neon trend, as someone who almost exclusively sticks to black, white and red, I realised that Hailey was not the only influential fashion girl who had decided to refresh her style rotation with these striking colours. From Zara Larsson to Pierpaolo Piccioli’s fall couture collection for Balenciaga, it seems that the leading trend closing out the summer season is more prevalent than we initially thought.
Neon hues dominate the new collections
Neon hues have been present in the fashion industry since the 1980s, when the famous Miami Vice aesthetic and aerobics shaped fashion in much the same way that wellness and the fitness revolution do today. One of the first designers to recognise the potential of these vibrant tones was Stephen Sprouse, who presented creations in neon shades in the late 1980s. His designs later inspired Gianni Versace, Christian Lacroix and Nina Ricci. By the early 2000s, the neon palette had become an essential part of the Y2K aesthetic. T-shirts with bold slogans came in vivid colours, while fans of Juicy tracksuits often chose their favourite pieces in neon hues.
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The blend of enthusiasm and nostalgia evoked by neon hues can also be seen in the latest collections from leading fashion houses. The neon palette is nothing new for Balenciaga, whose former creative director Demna Gvasalia explored the potential of long dresses, heeled boots and striking accessories in these shades across numerous collections. Pierpaolo Piccioli has also returned to this palette, having frequently incorporated it into his haute couture collections during his tenure at Valentino, before moving to the Spanish fashion house. The Fall 2026 Couture show opened with feathered creations in neon orange, while looks 18, 22 and 45 continued to explore the rest of the vibrant palette.
Neon hues also occupied a prominent place in Marc Jacobs’s collection, which based his vision for Spring 2027 on vivid colours and latex. Jacobs also incorporated neon colours into the well-known Louis Vuitton collaboration with Stephen Sprouse, whose Speedy iterations are now among the most coveted vintage bags on the market. This season, he once again presented accessories in vibrant colours, including tights in neon orange.
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Miuccia Prada, meanwhile, has been incorporating neon hues into her Miu Miu collections as a recurring part of the palette for years. For Fall 2024, the beloved label presented a series of monochromatic neon ensembles, with neon green taking particular prominence. In the Spring collection that same year, neon hues appeared more subtly through details that made the outfits more vibrant.
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How are our favourite fashion girls styling neon hues?
Ever since the period when she had neon yellow hair, Kylie Jenner has cultivated a fondness for vibrant palettes. Neon and other striking colours were part of the aesthetic of her famous King Kylie era, which she has revisited several times in recent years. While on holiday with her partner Timothée Chalamet, Kylie chose a grey bikini with neon yellow lace details. Hailey Bieber also wore neon yellow, opting for a monochromatic bikini. Musician Zara Larsson often chooses outfits in these tones for her performances, while musician Tyla also features on the rather lengthy list of stars who favour neon hues.
Considering these style references, it is clear that the end of summer is sending a concise message: neon hues are back and have no intention of retreating from the spotlight.
