🔗 Share this article

Greetings! I'm incredibly excited to learn what color is set to be 2026. Fill me in on the details!

Brace yourself, since every year for over two decades, Pantone chooses a Color of the Year. This pick aims to capture the zeitgeist—shaping everything from how we feel and what we wear to how we design our living spaces. The previous year's selection was the darker neutral "a creamy brown," following the gentle and peachy "a fuzzy pastel."

This year's announcement, however, is even more puzzling. It is "Cloud Dancer," which Pantone calls a "ethereal and neutral white."

Laurie Pressman, the vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, commented that it is "a key structural color … enabling all colors to stand out."

Hmm, Cloud Dancer… seriously, white? Could they be trolling us? Does white qualify as a real color?

Can you even describe the hue of a cloud? Milk? Although some consider white as a color, every hue is fundamentally a spectrum of light waves. It appears in a child's crayon box, so I'd argue the answer is yes.

The question of whether Pantone is being provocative is trickier to figure out. According to their release, Cloud Dancer combines easily with other colors, isn't overstimulating, declares simplicity, and projects refined calm.

The public reaction, on the other hand, has not been as kind. Several voices have declared Pantone of being completely "tone-deaf." Style expert Mandy Lee labeled it "underwhelming." Critics have compared it with coded promotion of problematic concepts seen in popular culture.

Right, it's to be hoped they're blissfully unaware that now is a sensitive time to be pointedly celebrating the color white... So, how should I not exactly adjacent to a fashion show use this news in my world? I just painted my ceiling in white paint, is that enough?

It absolutely counts. The same goes for your wireless speakers, sink, or ceramic plate.

It's funny you mention runways, since many collections this year have been exceptionally bright, featuring naturally dyed feathers on the stage.

All-white outfits were present, as always, in high-fashion looks—from simple silk T-shirts to tailored gowns. Well-known individuals have also been spotted in monochromatic white attire at prestigious shows.

The positive takeaway is: chances are you already own items in this "discreet" chosen hue. In the words of Pressman, Cloud Dancer "embodies a more sustainable choice for the sustainability-minded," which essentially suggests skipping the requirement for anything new at all.

SO, a fashion trend for the inherently lazy. A fresh start, so to speak. A sanctuary of calming neutrality amid the noise. Alright, I'm on board. Will you be creating a all-white theme for your wardrobe?

Definitely not. Attempting to get out grass stains from a white shirt? I don't need more laundry disasters in 2026.

I do possess a pair of formerly pristine Birkenstocks, and such staples never go out of style.