The Case for a Colorful Coat, According to the Woman Who Dresses Beyoncé

And, even Zara has an oxblood suede tailcoat that can pair well with sleek leather boots. Everywhere you look, the message is clear: color isn't a risk anymore. It’s a wardrobe essential.

Still, the idea of stepping out in a chartreuse coat can feel intimidating, especially at school dropoff. So how do you wear color when you’ve spent years defaulting to tried-and-true black wool and beige dusters? Celebrity stylist Zerina Akers, who’s dressed everyone from Beyoncé to Chloe x Halle and serves as a member of the Marshalls Good Stuff Style Collective, believes great style starts with small shifts. “Mixing a neutral with color or color-blocking a neutral with another neutral is a great way to start,” she says. “It’s less about chasing trends and more about using clothing as self-expression.”

A plum wool coat thrown over your favorite jeans is an easy entry point. Or, opt for a jade-green overcoat with ivory trousers to look pulled-together but not overthought. Even a sapphire trench tossed over a gray sweater dress can turn an ordinary day into something brighter. Color has that effect.

Akers also believes texture matters just as much as color. The right fabric can completely change how a shade feels. Satin catches the light and makes jewel tones like garnet, emerald and amethyst appear brighter, while soft wool or mohair gives deeper hues a lived-in quality. That mix of texture and tone keeps bright colors from feeling like a costume and makes them look…intentional.

For those still unsure, Akers recommends sticking with shapes you already love. “People are often afraid of color,” she says. “But you don’t have to reinvent your wardrobe. Start with the silhouettes that work for your body and try them in something bolder.”

Her own favorite pairings this season are unexpected: purple and red, a duo that’s striking. She also loves hunter green with deep violet, and orange with plum. “Purple in general is one of those colors that pairs well with a lot of other things,” she says. “It just works.”

Sadly, color won’t stop winter from being cold, but it can make it less blasé. Afterall, style doesn’t have to hibernate until spring.