Though it’s a unlikely duo (only because there should be more of it), we’re happy to see a recurring color combo of orange and gray in this season’s resort collections.

This is great for three reasons:

1. orange is perfect for basically every season—it’s one of those colors that can really be worn year round;

2. orange looks awesome with a nice bronze (a.k.a. your beach tan); and

3. it’s a nice alternative to the neon and neutral color-blocking trend we’ve been seeing a lot of.

Moreover, the orange-and-gray combo is the perfect look for a more subtle approach to wearing brightly-hued colors. If you tend to steer clear of bold colors (like myself) and stick to mostly basics and neutrals (black, white, beige, etc.), adding a bit of orange is a really easy (and less-obvious) way to stand out if you don’t want to wear neons. Plus, since it’s paired with gray, you can still stick to your basic neutral color palette. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to wear a bright orange hue this summer, try something along the lines of this DVF resort 2012 look. Paired with gray or beige, it’s understated boldness at its best.

Photo: Courtesy of DVF

If you’re not feeling quite gutsy enough to wear as bright of an orange color, try out a darker shade of orange, like this look from 3.1 Phillip Lim resort. The duller shade of orange that borders on tan, is absolutely perfect for fall.

Photo: Courtesy of 3.1 Phillip Lim

Another more subtle version of this trend is this look by Acne, which is totally work-appropriate as well.

Photo: Courtesy of ACNE

Add a hint of black to this trend and you’ve got yourself a sophisticated, yet seriously fun ensemble for a night on the town.
Sportmax & Bottega Veneta,
Photo Courtesy of the designers