Move over, green—there’s a new color taking center stage, and it’s as bold as it is bright. From the fashion runways of Paris to the living rooms of trendsetters worldwide, orange is everywhere this season. But it’s not just a random shift in the color wheel; it’s a movement, one that’s been supercharged by none other than pop superstar Taylor Swift. Her latest album announcement, themed around a dazzling shade she’s dubbed Portofino Orange Glitter, has sent a shockwave through the worlds of music, fashion, and even home decor.
On August 15, 2025, E! Online declared orange the dominant color for the rest of the year, spotlighting it across makeup, home goods, and apparel. Their roundup of 22 orange-themed finds—think fiery orange M.A.C. lipstick, glittery freckle patches, a two-piece sequin set, bejeweled knee-high boots, orange adidas Gazelles, and vintage-inspired coupe glasses—reads like a love letter to the color’s new era. The message is clear: whether you’re dressing up for a night out or just sprucing up your space, orange is the shade to embrace if you want to look, as E! put it, “fierce.”
But what’s behind this sudden orange obsession? According to the Altoona Mirror, the answer is Taylor Swift herself. On August 16, 2025, the publication detailed how Swift’s bombshell album announcement was wrapped in a shade she calls Portofino Orange Glitter. The color, which she wore onstage during the latter part of her 2024 Eras Tour, isn’t just a fashion choice—it’s a statement. During a recent appearance on the “New Heights” podcast, Swift opened up about her new palette. “I’ve just always liked it, Jason,” she told host Jason Kelce, sitting alongside her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce. “It feels like kind of energetically how my life has felt. And this album is about what was going on behind the scenes in my inner life during this tour.”
It’s not hard to see why orange resonates with Swift right now. Color experts, including Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, say orange evokes a spectrum of positive emotions: creativity, enthusiasm, energy, optimism, and friendliness. Pressman explained to the Altoona Mirror that Swift’s embrace of a bright orange hue signals “a new personality coming out.” She added, “And she looks so happy. She’s glowing and she’s basking.” The Pantone shade closest to Swift’s pick is aptly named “Exuberance.”
The emotional punch of orange doesn’t stop at the surface. Pressman described how even the palest peaches in the orange family carry a “deliciousness” and “warmth,” while deeper terra cotta tones bring an “earthiness and authenticity.” She drew a distinction between red, which she says is “bold and dramatic,” and orange, which is “more friendliness, more approachable.” That’s a vibe Swift seems eager to channel, especially after the more dramatic, introspective eras that have defined her past work.
Of course, colors are never just about aesthetics—they’re loaded with cultural meanings, too. The Altoona Mirror’s coverage delved into the complex symbolism of orange, especially in its saffron shade. Dheepa Sundaram, an assistant professor of religion at the University of Denver, explained that in ancient Hinduism and Buddhism, monks wore saffron garments as a sign of renunciation and spiritual piety. “Some people have speculated that it’s because saffron (the spice) was really cheap as a dye and sort of fit with the poverty roles of monks and aesthetes. Kings and royalty preferred more expensive colors like the colors of rubies and emeralds,” Sundaram noted. Ironically, saffron is now among the world’s most expensive spices.
But saffron’s significance doesn’t end with ancient tradition. In modern India, it has become a political symbol, closely associated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party and its Hindu nationalist ideology. “The color saffron has become their color. They have sort of positioned themselves as true Hindus, and this has become part of that schtick,” Sundaram told the Altoona Mirror. The rise of “saffron pop”—incendiary, anti-Muslim songs—shows just how powerful and sometimes divisive a color can be.
Back in the world of pop culture, Swift’s choice of Portofino Orange Glitter has sparked a wave of excitement far beyond music charts. The Italian coastal village of Portofino, famed for its ocher- and terra cotta-colored buildings that glow at sunset, has joined the celebration. The mayor of Portofino and the Portofino Yacht Marina issued an open invitation to Swift and Kelce via Instagram, promising, “We are ready to welcome you, and we are already preparing an official Portofino Yacht Marina T-shirt for you … with a logo in perfect orange!” The post continued, “Between sunsets on the sea, music and the magic of the main square, Portofino awaits you. And it already shines in your color.”
It’s not every day a celebrity inspires a town to roll out the orange carpet, but Swift’s influence is nothing if not far-reaching. Her fans—already known for their devotion—have embraced orange as a symbol of the artist’s current mood: “so exuberant and electric and vibrant,” as she described it on the podcast. The ripple effect is visible everywhere from beauty counters to boutiques, with orange products flying off shelves and influencers touting the color’s transformative power.
Yet, as with any trend, there are naysayers. Some critics, as cited by the Altoona Mirror, argue that the brighter shades of orange can appear “clownish or silly.” Still, the consensus among color experts and Swifties alike is that orange is more often exuberant, inviting, and—perhaps most importantly—fun. As Pressman put it, “There’s just a softness, a tactility. There’s a sweetness to it.”
So whether you’re slipping into a sequined set for a night out, swiping on a popstar-approved lipstick, or simply soaking up a sunset that glows with orange hues, it’s hard not to feel swept up in the energy of this moment. For Taylor Swift, orange isn’t just a color—it’s a mood, a message, and a new chapter in her ever-evolving story. And for the rest of us? Well, maybe it’s time to see the world through orange-tinted glasses.