🔗 Share this article

Hi there! I'm so eager to find out what color is set to be 2026. What's the scoop?

Brace yourself, because every year since 1999, Pantone announces a Color of the Year. This selection aims to capture the current cultural mood—informing everything from how we feel and our wardrobe selections to how we design our living spaces. 2025's color was the deep beige "a creamy brown," following the gentle and peachy "a fuzzy pastel."

This year's selection, however, is particularly baffling. 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 "an essential foundational hue … enabling all colors to shine."

Well, Cloud Dancer sounds… hold on, just white? Is this a prank? Is white even a real color?

What is the best way to define the color of clouds? A blank page? Even though people often think of white as a color, the entire spectrum is at its core a range of visible light. It appears in a child's crayon box, so for practical purposes the answer is yes.

Whether Pantone is being provocative is harder to determine. The company states, Cloud Dancer mixes well with other colors, isn't overstimulating, embodies understated style, and projects subtle elegance.

Feedback online, in contrast, has been less complimentary. Some commentators have suggested Pantone of being completely "out of touch." Trend analyst Mandy Lee called it "disappointing." Some have even drawn parallels to implied endorsement of controversial ideas seen in other media.

I see, hopefully they're cheerfully oblivious that this isn't the best moment to be overly emphasizing the color white... Anyway, how should I who doesn't follow a runway incorporate this trend in daily life? I just painted my ceiling with white, does that count?

Yes, that certainly counts. The same goes for your earbuds, tiles, or favorite mug.

It's interesting you mention catwalks, as many recent shows have been vibrantly colorful, featuring naturally dyed feathers on the runway.

White ensembles featured prominently, as per usual, in designer collections—from elegant blouses to collared dresses. High-profile figures have also been seen in monochromatic white outfits at prestigious shows.

The good news is: you likely already have pieces in this "discreet" color of the year. In the words of Pressman, Cloud Dancer "represents a more sustainable choice for the eco-conscious," which might translate to not having to buy new items at all.

AT LAST, a style movement for the inherently lazy. A blank page, in a manner of speaking. A haven of serene simplicity amid the clutter. Alright, I get it. Do you intend a all-white theme for your closet?

Not a chance. Attempting to remove grass stains from a white shirt? I'm not seeking additional cleaning headaches in 2026.

I do own a pair of once-white Birkenstocks, and those never go out of style.