Knowing what colors go well with blue is a skill you’ll want to have this summer. Among butter yellow, cherry red, mint green, and all the other colors that have been vying for the position as the favorite shade of 2026, there is another that’s quietly slipped into the top spot: light blue. What’s more, if the spring-summer 2026 collections are any indication, styling this shade has a lot less to do with playing it safe and a lot more about daring, unexpected mixes.
We’ve seen light blue appear in elegant dresses by Dior and Victoria Beckham, in relaxed and casual styles by Dolce & Gabbana, in the preppy touch of Kent & Curwen, and in the structured silhouettes of Lanvin. But for all those perfectly styled runway looks, it’s street style star Julia Kammerer who has really been inspiring us to mix light blue with intense shades and other unexpected combos we might have dismissed before seeing them.
The best part about wearing light blue this summer is that it is so versatile. With the right color combinations, the delicate shade can look cool, çağdaş, and even a little chaotic (in a good way). So, here’s how to style light blue for summer 2026.
5 Colors That Go Well With Blue
For years, we were convinced that pastel blues and pinks only worked together if you wanted to look like a cupcake or were planning a baby shower. Thankfully, Kammerer decided to ignore that narrative. In the look above, baby blues and pinks are mixed in a sporty, carefree way: baggy T-shirts, baseball caps, loose button-down shirts, jeans, and other pieces that don’t try to look pretty in an obvious way. It works because blue cools the sweetness of pink, while wearing them with more casual pieces helps avoid the outfit looking too childish.
Treasure & Bond Embroidered Baseballl Cap
Nordstrom
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H&M Oxford Shirt
Nordstrom
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Moritz Scholz/Getty Images
If there’s one thing fashion pros understood this year, it’s that green matches with light blue a hell of a lot better than white. And evvel you see it, there’s no turning back. From lime to pistachio, green adds a depth that makes pastel blue look less delicate and precious. It works because both colors share a cool base, but green adds enough contrast that it keeps a look from falling into the typical “clean girl” uniform.
J.Crew Cashmere Button-Up Short-Sleeve Cardigan
J.Crew
Aritzia Agency Pant
Aritzia
The romance between butter yellow and light blue feels inevitable. Come on, we all should have known the two favorite colors of spring and summer 2026 would end up meeting sooner or later. The mix feels relaxed, luminous, and slightly retro—especially when done with sportswear and/or oversized shirts. It works because yellow brings warmth, while blue keeps everything visually clean.
Aritzia Track Pant
Aritzia
Everlane Silky Cropped Shirt
Everlane
I still remember when combining bright red and light blue seemed like something reserved for Fourth of July or nautical references. Now, it’s unexpectedly chic. Cherry red, or a lightly washed-out red, completely transforms pastel blue to give it more personality. It works because the blue softens the intensity of the red for a çağdaş look.
ZJGZF Woven Ballet Flats
Amazon
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J.Crew Soleil Linen Pants
J.Crew
This is probably the most unexpected combination on the whole list—and the coolest. Bordeaux turns light blue into something much more sophisticated, especially when it appears in accessories or retro prints like polka dots. It works because the depth of the red wine color breaks up the innocence of the pastel without completely muffling it.
Zara Striped Knit Polo Shirt
Zara
Adidas Gazelle Sneaker
Nordstrom
Maybe that’s why light blue has felt so relevant again this year. Not because it’s delicate or especially romantic, but because it has finally expanded its universe outside of the classic button-down shirts we’ve worn for decades (though we still love those too). However, it’s found a much more interesting way to exist. Light blue makes any combination look a little fresher, a little more relaxed, and a hell of a lot less obvious. After so many years of perfectly beige formulas, a little chromatic chaos feels pretty good, doesn’t it?
A version of this story was previously published in Glamour Spain.
