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Hi there! I'm so eager to learn what color has been chosen for 2026. Fill me in on the details!

Prepare yourself, since every year beginning in 1999, Pantone selects a Color of the Year. This pick aims to capture the spirit of the times—informing everything from our emotions and our wardrobe selections to interior styling. The previous year's selection was the darker neutral "Mocha Mousse," which came after the gentle and peachy "Peach Fuzz."

This year's choice, however, is particularly baffling. It is "an airy shade," which Pantone calls a "ethereal and neutral white."

Laurie Pressman, vice-president of the Pantone Color Institute, remarked that it is "a pivotal neutral tone … permitting all colors to be highlighted."

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

Can you even describe the shade of milk? Fresh snow? Even though many view white as a color, every hue is essentially a spectrum of light waves. It appears in a box of crayons, so I'd argue the answer is yes.

Whether Pantone is being provocative is trickier to figure out. They claim, Cloud Dancer mixes well with other colors, provides a calm backdrop, makes a minimalist statement, and projects refined calm.

Feedback online, however, has not been as kind. A number of observers have accused Pantone of being completely "tone-deaf." Fashion and trend forecaster Mandy Lee described it as "disappointing." Some have even compared it with subtle advocacy of problematic concepts seen in popular culture.

Right, one would hope they're blissfully unaware that this isn't the best moment to be overly emphasizing whiteness... Anyway, how should I who doesn't follow a fashion show incorporate this information in everyday routine? I recently coated my kitchen ceiling white, does that qualify?

That definitely qualifies. So would your wireless speakers, sink, or linen sheets.

It's funny you mention runways, because many collections this year have been exceptionally bright, featuring plant-based fabrics on the stage.

The color white featured prominently, as always, in luxury shows—from simple silk T-shirts to sleek suits. Celebrities and public figures have also been seen in pristine white attire at major events.

The good news is: chances are you already own items in this "subtle" designated shade. As Pressman, Cloud Dancer "signifies a greener option for the environmentally aware," which essentially suggests skipping the requirement for new items at all.

AT LAST, a style movement for the truly minimalist. A fresh start, in a manner of speaking. A haven of serene simplicity amid the noise. Alright, I get it. Will you be creating a whiteout for your closet?

Definitely not. Have you ever tried to clean tomato sauce stains from a white fabric? I could do without more laundry disasters in 2026.

I do own a pair of now off-white Birkenstocks, and those remain perpetually fashionable.