In the seasonal trends, you can see a color that is difficult to describe but impossible to ignore: something between green and yellow, which has already flooded the catwalks and street style. Its name is chartreuse, and although not everyone knows about it, it is rapidly becoming the main shade of the spring-summer 2026 season. Moreover, the Prada collection hints: this story is just beginning – and it will not disappear in the fall.
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Chanel Haute Couture
Between green and yellow, chartreuse is constantly changing. Sometimes it approaches lime green (as at Prada, Maitrepierre or Coperni), sometimes it approaches apple green, as at Chanel. At Balenciaga you can see the most “pure” version – green, which gives off yellow under light. Similar shades also appear at Burberry, Zimmermann, Alaïa and Dior. The popularity of the color is growing rapidly: according to Google Trends, “neon green” and “chartreuse” have become the most popular shades of green in the last month, and searches for dresses in this color have increased by 250%.
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Dior Couture
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Copernicus
In street style, chartreuse is most often seen in dresses. Because of its brightness, it works best paired with basic neutrals: black boots and an oversized jacket or nude slingbacks and a matching bag. A total look is a more complex option (due to the different shades of the color), but at the same time a perfect canvas for experimenting with accessories.
The real breakthrough of this color came at the 1997 Oscars. Then Nicole Kidman appeared in a chartreuse dress from the Haute Couture Spring-Summer 1997 collection by Dior, created by John Galliano. At that time, the choice seemed bold and even controversial – TV presenter Joan Rivers even called it “the ugliest green.” But over time, this look became a turning point for the red carpet, turning it into a full-fledged fashion arena.
Nicole Kidman at the 1997 Academy Awards in a Dior gown designed by John Galliano
The Spring-Summer 1997 collection marked John Galliano's Haute Couture debut for the French fashion house.
From Kidman, we can move on to the look that model Elle Macpherson chose for the Met Gala in 2005. It was another chartreuse dress, this time by Calvin Klein, which she paired with sheer flip-flops. A bold choice that remains one of her favorite styles to this day, as she revealed in an interview with People.
Elle Macpherson at the 2005 Met Gala in a Calvin Klein dress
In fact, this shade has been mentioned relatively often in the pages of Vogue since the 1920s. The Kahlo sisters mixed several tones for some of their dresses, while Coco Chanel used it to create tweed coats. Crepe, satin and chiffon are fabrics in which you could also find this color in the offers of brands such as Jean Patou or Mainbocher.
Chartreuse crepe dress by Dorian 1947
Givenchy Haute Couture, fall-winter 1997/1998
In the 1980s, chartreuse was actively reinterpreted by Yves Saint Laurent, combining it with black and orange. Karl Lagerfeld also integrated this shade into his collections for Chanel, creating spectacular total look images. Today, this complex, acidic and at the same time sophisticated shade is back at its peak – and, it seems, for a long time.
Joana Pacula in Chanel (1985)
Versace, spring-summer 2000
Nardos, fall-winter 2024/2025
Dries Van Noten, spring-summer 2025
Based on materials from Vogue.es.