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

Get ready, because every year for over two decades, Pantone chooses a defining hue. This selection aims to capture the current cultural mood—shaping everything from our emotions and what we wear to how we design our living spaces. Last year's color was the darker neutral "a coffee-inspired shade," following the subtly inviting "a fuzzy pastel."

This year's choice, though, is particularly baffling. It is "a billowy white," described by a "soft and structural white."

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

Interesting, Cloud Dancer… wait, white? Is this a prank? Is white even a proper color?

Can you even characterize the color of clouds? A blank page? While many view white as a color, all color is essentially a spectrum of light waves. It appears in a set of colored pencils, so for practical purposes the answer is yes.

Whether Pantone is pulling our leg is harder to determine. According to their release, Cloud Dancer mixes well with other colors, provides a calm backdrop, embodies understated style, and projects refined calm.

Responses from critics, in contrast, has been less complimentary. A number of observers have suggested Pantone of being completely "out of touch." Style expert Mandy Lee described it as "underwhelming." Critics have likened it to subtle advocacy of controversial ideas seen in recent advertising.

Okay, one would hope they're blissfully unaware that the timing is awkward to be overly emphasizing whiteness... So, how might someone not exactly adjacent to a runway use this information in daily life? I recently coated my ceiling in white paint, does that qualify?

That definitely qualifies. The same goes for your earbuds, bathtub, or favorite mug.

It's interesting you mention runways, since many this season's presentations have been vibrantly colorful, featuring naturally dyed materials on the catwalk.

The color white featured prominently, as per usual, in designer collections—from structured tops to sleek suits. Celebrities and public figures have also been photographed in crisp all-white ensembles at prestigious shows.

On the bright side is: you likely already possess items in this "subtle" color of the year. According to Pressman, Cloud Dancer "signifies a eco-friendlier decision for the sustainability-minded," which could mean skipping the requirement for anything new at all.

AT LAST, a design directive for the deeply unmotivated. A fresh start, in a manner of speaking. A sanctuary of monochromatic zen within the noise. Okay, I'm on board. Are you planning a monochrome palette for your wardrobe?

Not a chance. Do you know how hard it is to get out red wine stains from a white shirt? I could do without additional cleaning headaches in 2026.

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