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Elegance has long been defined by restraint. We’ve been taught that to be tasteful is to be minimal. That soft beige, crisp white and deep black are the holy trinity of class. That color should be used sparingly, like a garnish. That boldness belongs to trends, not timelessness. 

But this summer? I’m calling their bluff. 

From Valentino’s new color riddled Alessandro Michele era to Christopher John Rogers’ unapologetic rainbow runway, the industry is embracing a new vision of elegance—one rooted in vibrancy, personality and cultural pride. And for me, it’s personal. Growing up Latina—in Nicaragua, to be exact, color wasn’t optional, it was the wallpaper of life. Think hot pink piñatas, mango-colored dresses and my mom’s obsession with turquoise eyeshadow (bless her heart, it was the early 2000s). My childhood looked like a Crayola factory exploded—and I loved it. Color wasn’t just style. It was joy, emotion and connection.

But when I entered fashion spaces shaped by Western minimalism, I noticed something: color was something to “edit out.” Elegance, I was told—sometimes subtly, sometimes not—meant toning it down. Matching. Neutralizing. Staying in the lines. So, I tried. I bought a beige trench. I mastered the capsule wardrobe thing. I even learned the “three-color rule” and the infamous “sandwich outfit” formula (yes, that’s a real thing: your top and shoes should match while the middle stays neutral…who made this up?). And while I looked polished, I felt muted. 

Eventually, I unlearned all of it.

This summer, I’m wearing my joy in full color. Lavender with lime and gold hoops. Burnt orange with soft pinks and turquoise sneakers. Butter yellow dancing with hot pink. These combos might sound chaotic, but they don’t feel expressive. Curated. Honest. There’s softness, yes, but also confidence. And the beauty is that both can exist in the same outfit, just like they can in the same woman. 

Color isn’t random, it carries emotional weight. Psychologists note that blue can calm, red can empower (or make you hungry), yellow can uplift. For me, getting dressed is an  emotional check-in. Am I craving calm? Am I reaching for power? Do I want to blend in or lead the room? My palette answers that before I speak. 

Bringing color back into my wardrobe felt like resurrecting myself. Elegance, at least for me, doesn’t depend upon disappearing into some toned down, ultra-refined mold anymore; it’s about showing up, unapologetically. When women—especially women of color—wear color unapologetically, it’s a quiet revolution. We’re redefining “classy” to include joy, loudness, and heritage.

Because authentic elegance doesn’t erase individuality; it celebrates it, in full color.

Curated pieces designed to immerse you in a palette of vibrancy:

PUMA Palermo Vintage Sneakers

Mejuri Tube Oversized Hoops

Christopher John Rogers Striped Bias Button-Down Shirt