I was a wee tyke of eight when I remember the hilarious antics of Blanche, Rose, Dorothy, and Sophia on the Golden Girls. Looking back on the sitcom reruns of my youth, those women made quite the fashion statement, and reminded us that people in Miami dress like nowhere else in the world. Black, white, brown and grey aren’t regular for the Miami crowd. In many episodes, the color palette for their wardrobe often included coral.

I also have distinct memories of my beloved grandmother in coral jackets and shirts. Coral was very easily the statement color for the senior citizen crowd of the nineties. With the return to maximalism the last few years though and the introduction of color and bold patterns to many collections, coral is not just your grandmother’s choice for a pop of color anymore.

Living coral was named 2019 Pantone Color of the Year, meaning we’ll be seeing it everywhere from the catwalks at Fashion Month to the the bargain basement department stores. Living coral is that happy marriage between pink and orange to offer that perfect color balance to an outfit, and help brighten up your wardrobe. Spring is soon to be upon us, so you might want to keep coral in mind the next time you go shopping. 

In a world where we are in fear of climate change, another economic crisis, and a potential nuclear arms race, coral is that color that’s there to provide warmth, comfort, and brightness in your life. In spring of 2019, fashion designer Brandon Maxwell spiced up his spring/summer 2019 collection with plenty of coral infused into his ensembles. As the spring collections have begun to land in stores, it is unsurprising how much coral has made its way into retail, given how easily the color lends itself to bold and bright summer style.

Florals for spring might not be groundbreaking, but coral for spring, that’s another conversation. The color is no longer just restricted to pretty sun dresses or crop tops either. The color has become popular for knitwear, tailored separates, and evening wear gowns. Prada even showcased an oversized coral jacket at their Milan runway show, that could easily transition from late winter into early spring.