🔗 Share this article

Hi there! I'm incredibly excited to discover what color has been chosen for 2026. Fill me in on the details!

Prepare yourself, since every year beginning in 1999, Pantone chooses a Color of the Year. This pick is a reflection of the zeitgeist—influencing everything from how we feel and our wardrobe selections to how we design our living spaces. The previous year's selection was the darker neutral "a creamy brown," which came after the soft and warm "a fuzzy pastel."

The new selection, however, is even more puzzling. It is "a billowy white," labeled as a "ethereal and neutral white."

Laurie Pressman, VP of the Pantone Color Institute, remarked that it is "an essential foundational hue … allowing all colors to be highlighted."

Well, Cloud Dancer sounds… wait, white? Is this a prank? Can white truly be considered a distinct hue?

Can you even define the color of clouds? A blank page? Although some consider white as a color, every hue is at its core a perception of light wavelengths. It's present in a box of crayons, so for practical purposes the answer is yes.

If Pantone is pulling our leg is trickier to figure out. They claim, Cloud Dancer pairs effortlessly with other colors, avoids sensory overload, makes a minimalist statement, and exudes refined calm.

Responses from critics, in contrast, has proven more critical. A number of observers have declared Pantone of being completely "out of touch." Fashion and trend forecaster Mandy Lee described it as "underwhelming." Critics have compared it with subtle advocacy of certain ideologies seen in other media.

Okay, one would hope they're happily ignorant that the timing is awkward to be pointedly celebrating pure white... Therefore, how might someone not exactly adjacent to a fashion show incorporate this trend in daily life? My kitchen ceiling is my kitchen ceiling white, does that qualify?

That definitely qualifies. The same goes for your earbuds, tiles, or linen sheets.

It's funny you mention runways, because many this season's presentations have been bold and fuzzy, featuring eco-friendly fabrics on the catwalk.

All-white outfits made appearances, as always, in designer collections—from elegant blouses to sleek suits. Celebrities and public figures have also been spotted in monochromatic white outfits at public appearances.

The positive takeaway is: you probably already possess something in this "discreet" color of the year. As Pressman, Cloud Dancer "embodies a more sustainable choice for the sustainability-minded," which could mean avoiding the need to purchase fresh products at all.

FINALLY, a fashion trend for the truly minimalist. An empty canvas, in a manner of speaking. A cocoon of calming neutrality amid the noise. I'm convinced, I get it. Are you planning a all-white theme for your wardrobe?

Definitely not. Have you ever tried to clean red wine stains from a light garment? I could do without additional cleaning headaches in 2026.

I do own a pair of formerly pristine comfort shoes, and those are always in vogue.