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Greetings! I'm incredibly excited to find out what color will define 2026. Tell me everything!

Get ready, because every year beginning in 1999, Pantone chooses a Color of the Year. This selection aims to capture the zeitgeist—shaping everything from our collective sentiment and fashion choices to how we design our living spaces. Last year's hue was the deep beige "a coffee-inspired shade," following the subtly inviting "a fuzzy pastel."

This year's announcement, in contrast, is somewhat unexpected. It is "a billowy white," which Pantone calls a "ethereal and neutral white."

Laurie Pressman, the vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, stated that it is "a key structural color … allowing all colors to shine."

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

What is the best way to characterize the hue of a cloud? A blank page? Although many view white as a color, the entire spectrum is fundamentally a range of visible light. You can find it in a child's crayon box, so for practical purposes the answer is yes.

If Pantone is pulling our leg is more difficult to ascertain. They claim, Cloud Dancer combines easily with other colors, provides a calm backdrop, embodies understated style, and radiates subtle elegance.

Feedback online, on the other hand, has been less complimentary. Some commentators have declared Pantone of being completely "Pantonedeaf." Style expert Mandy Lee labeled it "disappointing." Some have even drawn parallels to subtle advocacy of problematic concepts seen in recent advertising.

Right, it's to be hoped they're blissfully unaware that this isn't the best moment to be explicitly championing the color white... Therefore, how can a regular person who doesn't follow a fashion show incorporate this information in my world? I recently coated my kitchen ceiling white, is that enough?

It absolutely counts. The same goes for your white headphones, bathtub, or ceramic plate.

It's interesting you mention runways, because many collections this year have been exceptionally bright, featuring naturally dyed fabrics on the catwalk.

All-white outfits were present, as per usual, in high-fashion looks—from structured tops to sleek suits. Well-known individuals have also been spotted in pristine white ensembles at major events.

The good news is: you likely already possess items in this "subtle" chosen hue. As Pressman, Cloud Dancer "represents a more sustainable choice for the sustainability-minded," which could mean avoiding the need to purchase new items at all.

FINALLY, a design directive for the truly minimalist. An empty canvas, if you will. A sanctuary of calming neutrality amid the clutter. Alright, I'm sold. Will you be creating a all-white theme for your closet?

Definitely not. Have you ever tried to remove tomato sauce stains from a white fabric? I could do without additional cleaning headaches in 2026.

I do have a pair of now off-white Birkenstocks, and this classic footwear remain perpetually fashionable.