'Living Coral' as seen on the catwalk

Pantone's ‘Color of the Year 2019' was unveiled this week and it is official; ‘living coral' is the hue we will be seeing everywhere next year. But, as usual, the catwalk is one step ahead of the game.

Coral was a major trend on the Spring/Summer 2019 runways – perhaps unsurprisingly, given that this is a shade that lends itself so easily to breezy, effortless, summer style.

The color has a playful aspect, but, as Brandon Maxwell proved with his latest New York show, it can also be seriously glamorous. The designer offered up a fiery coral hue that was worked into tailored separates including knitwear, flared trousers and dramatic split blouses with floor-length trains, demonstrating how to sport coral with attitude.

Elsewhere, Elisabetta Franchi put a softer spin on the look by incorporating the shade into tulle skirts and coats with dipped hemlines, while Peter Pilotto modernized the trouser suit with a peachy, orange fabric that featured silver piping and a silk scarf as a blouse. Roksanda combined the shade with a peach pink and a mustard yellow for an arresting panelled dress, while Prada debuted a bulky, oversized coral jacket in Milan.

Where the catwalk leads, the fashion industry follows – so we can expect to see a lot more of this peachy shade around over the next few months. Move over, millennial pink: 2019 belongs to coral.