How to Work Fall's Best Colors

Teal

A rich, grown-up relative of aqua, this dark greenish-blue color looks best when paired with warm neutrals. For the office, consider accenting a teal skirt or blouse with brown, crimson or gold. Feeling bolder? Slip into an iridescent sheath with black platform heels. As for finding the best hue for your skin tone, that's simple: Teals that are brighter complement light complexions; those with a deeper tone work on dark skin.

Rebecca Taylor

Silk dress with beads and sequins, $250; call 212-966-0406.

Twinkle by Wenlan

Silk-spandex top, $249; call 212-625-8710.

Porter Grey

Wool-blend skirt, $315; call 877-746-7267.

Nine West

Satin heels, $79; call 800-999-1877.

Janis by Janis Savitt

Gold-plated cuff with Swarovski crystals, $1,625; call 888-774-2424.

Rebecca Minkoff

Leather bag, $595; at saksfifthavenue.com.

What to Wear it With...

A lip stain in a bluebased red shade like berry won't clash with the teal in your ensemble and still provides a nice pop of color. For nails, try a polish in the season's new neutral: dove gray

Lorac Breakthrough Performance lipstick in Icon, $22; at

sephora.com.

Yves Saint Laurent Long-Lasting nail lacquer in Tuxedo Gray, $20; at

yslbeautyus.com.

Papaya

Warm orange can be as bold-or conservative-as you make it. For a strong statement, wear a tangerine sheath with sleek heels and a clutch, both in beige patent leather. Slightly milder, a tank or skirt pops with tan trousers or a khaki jacket. For minimalists, a single vibrant mandarin item can brilliantly punctuate an otherwise all-black ensemble. And though the shade is ideal against olive and dark skin, light complexions can still get in on the trend with a single accessory.

Lauren Moffatt

Silk dress, $354; visit laurenmoffatt.net for stores.

Obakki

Wool-blend scarf, $80; visit obakki.com.

Galliano

Silk blouse, $395; visit nordstrom.com for stores.

Diane von Furstenberg

Cotton-wool blazer, $298; call 646-486-4800.

Liz Claiborne New York

Pebbled leather bag with metal hardware, $138; at lizclaiborne.com.

Guillaume Hinfray

Suede and leather heel, $690; visit guillaumehinfray.com for stores.

What to Wear it With...

Universally flattering earthy shades (think mushroom, khaki and driftwood) are mistake-proof skin enhancers. And they won't compete with your clothing's bold tropical hue.

MAC Art Eye Shadow x 4 in Notoriety, $36; visit

maccosmetics.com for stores.

OPI nail lacquer in You Don't Know Jacques!$9; at

drugstore.com.

Amethyst

This regal jewel tone is easy to carry off-even in large doses, as demonstrated on recent red carpets and runways. A violet shift needs only ebony tights and booties to achieve a dramatic effect. Or go for the match: Wear accessories such as a belt, a scarf or a tote in a single coordinating shade of plum. The best part? This universally flattering purple suits fair and dark skin tones alike.

Malo

Silk dress, $625; call 212-396-4721.

Foley + Corinna Bag

Leather, $600; call 212-529-2338.

Forever 21 Scarf

Cotton, $13; visit forever21.com for stores.

London Sole

Embossed patent leather flats, $245; at londonsole.com.

Lauren by Ralph Lauren

Polyester faille coat, $199; visit macys.com for stores.

Wendy Mink Jewelry

Gold vermeil, resin, amethyst and agate necklace, $320; call 212-260-5298.

What to Wear it With...

Heavily lined, rocker-chick smoky eyes are the perfect mate for this dramatic color. To achieve even more edge, add a deep aubergine enamel to nails on fingers and toes.

Nars nail polish in Tokaido Express, $16; at

narscosmetics.com.

Maybelline New York Expert Wear eye shadow in Night Sky$4; at

walgreens.com.