Shades of Purple - Spring/Summer 2026

Today I’m looking at one of my favourite colours - and at Easter it feels especially right - all the beautiful shades of purple.

There’s something about purple at Easter that just feels right. Without getting too deeply into tradition, it has long been linked with the season and brings with it a sense of richness, renewal and quiet elegance. It's also one of the standout colours for Spring/Summer 2026, so this is the perfect moment to enjoy it.

If you’ve ever thought purple was tricky to wear, this may be the season to think again. The right shade can look elegant, modern and surprisingly flattering, especially for women over 50 who want to look polished, stylish and just a little more youthful without trying too hard.

Warm and Cool shades of Purple

We often think of purple as a simple mix of red and blue, but in colour terms violet (one of the rainbow colors) is actually the truer blend. Purple sits beautifully between violet and blue, and the good news is that there is no shortage of wonderful shades to choose from.

Some purples are warm and lean more towards red or pink. Others are cool and have more blue in them. That’s really all you need to remember when choosing the most flattering version for you.

Shades of Purple for you...

Purple has a lovely way of making an outfit feel more interesting. Softer tones like lilac, lavender and heather can brighten the complexion and feel light, feminine and fresh. Deeper shades such as plum, mulberry and aubergine bring richness and sophistication.

It’s a colour family with real range, so whether your style is classic, relaxed or a little creative, there is always a version of purple that can work beautifully with your natural colouring.

I’m sharing the wonderful array of shades available from Kettlewell Colours. You certainly don’t have to stick rigidly to a particular colour family to enjoy purple, but warmer skin tones often glow in red-based purples, which are usually found in Spring and Autumn palettes. Cooler skin tones are often flattered by blue-based purples, which sit more naturally in Summer and Winter palettes.

That said, there are no hard rules. If a shade makes your skin look fresher, your eyes brighter and your whole face more alive, it is probably doing something right.

or make it easy with just WARM or COOL

If the seasonal palettes feel a little too detailed, just make it easy and think Warm or Cool. 

The warm swatch includes a mix of purples from both the Spring and Autumn palettes, while the cool swatch includes purples from both the Summer and Winter palettes.

Use your colour swatch as a blending tool against fabric or a garment and see whether the colours sit happily together. This is often the quickest way to tell whether a shade is likely to suit you.

If you’re not sure about your natural colouring, you can check to discover whether you are warm or cool. Or, if you’d prefer personal guidance, you could try an Online Colour Analysis consultation.

How to wear shades of Purple beautifully

One of the nicest things about purple is that it can feel stylish without being loud. For women over 50, it can often be softer than black, more interesting than navy and more flattering than some of the sharper fashion brights.

If you are new to wearing purple, try starting near the face with a scarf, knitwear or a blouse in a soft flattering shade. Lilac and lavender can be lovely choices for spring, while plum or aubergine can look wonderfully elegant in a jacket, skirt or handbag.

Purple, lavender also works beautifully with neutrals. Try pairing it with cream, soft white, grey, taupe, navy or denim for an easy, modern look. Cooler purples often look lovely with silver jewellery, while warmer purples can glow next to gold.

If a solid block of purple feels a little too much, a print or pattern with can be a very easy and flattering way in - like this gorgeous dress from Phase Eight.

From left: Amazon scarf; Amazon bag; Shein top; Amazon crossbody bag

The meaning and symbolism of Purple

Purple is a colour that has long carried a sense of mystery and significance. It appears less often in nature than many other colours, which may be one reason it has always felt a little special.

The purple lotus flower is considered sacred in Buddhism, and the sweet little violet was favoured by the ancient Greeks as a symbol of Athens and the goddess Aphrodite.

For many centuries, purple was associated with royalty and ceremony. The dye was once extremely expensive, so it was worn only by kings, queens and those of very high status. Over time, purple came to suggest luxury, dignity and quiet confidence.

Perhaps that is still part of its appeal today. Purple can be soft or dramatic, romantic or regal, but at its best it always seems to bring a little depth and elegance to what we wear.

And this spring, that feels just right!