TREND GUIDE

Hot Pink Is Officially the New Millennial Pink, Thanks to Rihanna and Gigi Hadid

The pair boldly showcased the color throughout this New York Fashion Week, with Tom Ford leading the neon way.


Celebrity Sightings in New York City - September 10, 2017
Robert Kamau/Getty Images

It took only about a minute into the first real show of New York Fashion Week for Tom Ford to establish that the fact that it was his first time showing in the city in a year didn’t mean that he knew what was hot in the city any less: He kicked things off on the runway by sending out two pairs of fuchsia heels, followed by a fuchsia blazer worn by Joan Smalls, and then by the same blazer on Mica Arganaraz who was also decked out in head-to-toe pink.

As it turned out, those were the colors that would end up dominating the runways at the rest of New York’s shows over the course of the next week, from the hot pink windbreakers and tulle gowns at Oscar de la Renta to the fuchsia sports bras, swimsuits, and boots at Rihanna’s motocross extravaganza for Fenty, where models even made their way around giant piles of pink sand.

Fenty Puma By Rihanna at New York Fashion Week spring 2018.

Peter White/Getty Images

All that goes to say that yes, at long, long last, it seems like we are finally starting to emerge out of pastel womb that is “millennial pink,” aka the hue that’s dominated advertising and street style and even been at the core of brands like Mansur Gavriel for the past two years. The change, clearly, has been building, as millennial pink’s much bolder cousin appeared out on the streets during Fashion Week, too, with this season’s street style stars finally outfitted in looks that have been out for months now, just waiting to be acknowledged, like a Rejina Pyo that seemed omnipresent.

Street style at NYFW SS18. Photo by Adam Katz Sinding for W Magazine.

2017 Adam Katz Sinding

Street style at NYFW SS18. Photo by Adam Katz Sinding for W Magazine.

2017 Adam Katz Sinding

Of course, no one solidifies a trend like Rihanna and Gigi Hadid, and rest assured that this is one both are getting behind: Though both have been endlessly booked over the last week, they also managed to be photographed in pieces like a track suit, in the case of the former, and a silky fuchsia one-piece, followed up on by a chunky turtleneck and even a pair of sparkly, fuzzy mules in the case of the latter.

Bright, Notice-Me Pink Was New York Fashion Week’s Biggest Street Style Trend

Gigi Hadid seen on the streets of Manhattan on September 11, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by James Devaney/GC Images)

James Devaney

Rihanna attends the after party for the Fenty x Puma Spring 2018 on September 10, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Robert Kamau/GC Images)

Robert Kamau/Getty Images

A guest in the streets of Manhattan during the New York Fashion Week on September 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Timur Emek/Getty Images)

Timur Emek

A show-goer is seen attending Linder during New York Fashion Week wearing Melissa Lane vintage on September 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Matthew Sperzel/Getty Images)

Matthew Sperzel

Soo Joo Park seen in the streets of Manhattan before the Jeremy Scott Fashion Show during the New York Fashion Week on September 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Timur Emek/Getty Images)

Timur Emek

Veronika Heilbrunner seen in the streets of Manhattan during the New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Timur Emek/Getty Images)

Timur Emek

Erica Pelosini Leeman is seen attending Jonathan Simkhai during New York Fashion Week wearing YSL, Jonathan Simkhai on September 9, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Matthew Sperzel/Getty Images)

Matthew Sperzel

Jan-Michael Quammie wearing a pink dress seen in the streets of Manhattan outside Tibi during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

Christian Vierig

A guest is seen wearing a white shirt and pink pants outside the 3.1 Phillip Lim show show during New York Fashion Week: Women’s S/S 2018 on September 11, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)

Daniel Zuchnik

A show-goer seen in the streets of Manhattan outside Zimmermann during New York Fashion Week on September 11, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

Christian Vierig

A guest is seen attending Banana Republic x Olivia Palermo during New York Fashion Week wearing a hot pink dress with pink and white shoes on September 9, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Matthew Sperzel/Getty Images)

Matthew Sperzel

A show-goer outside Derek Lam during New York Fashion Week on September 11, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

Christian Vierig

A guest is seen wearing a pink sweater and black skirt outside the 3.1 Phillip Lim show show during New York Fashion Week: Women’s S/S 2018 on September 11, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)

Daniel Zuchnik

Guests seen outside the 3.1 Phillip Lim show show during New York Fashion Week: Women’s S/S 2018 on September 11, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)

Daniel Zuchnik

A guest seen in the streets of Manhattan during New York Fashion Week on September 11, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Timur Emek/Getty Images)

Timur Emek

A guest is seen wearing pink boots outside the Coach show during New York Fashion Week: Women’s S/S 2018 on September 12, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)

Daniel Zuchnik

A guest wearing pink flared pants seen in the streets of Manhattan outside Coach during New York Fashion Week on September 12, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

Christian Vierig

A guest is seen attending NaeeM Khan and Chiara Boni La petite Rose during New York Fashion Week wearing Anarias Atelier on September 12, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Matthew Sperzel/Getty Images)

Matthew Sperzel

Sita Abellan seen in the streets of Manhattan outside Marc Jacobs during New York Fashion Week on September 13, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

Christian Vierig
1/19

And, of course, no one closes out New York Fashion Week like Marc Jacobs, who, for its grand finale, filled the cavernous Park Avenue Armory with all manner of hot pink, from baggy cardigans to boas to turbans to strapless gowns. The opening look, though, said it all: Even though she was wearing a neon, hazmat orange pantsuit, the most eye-catching part about the model was definitely her hot pink fanny pack.

Achok Majak opening Marc Jacobs during New York Fashion Week spring 2018.

Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

Related: For Alexander Wang, One Model Got a Pink Hair Transformation Dubbed “Rose Quartz”

Paris Hilton Breaks Down Her 13 Favorite 2000s Trends, and Why They’re Still Hot: