🔗 Share this article

Hi there! I can't wait to find out what color has been chosen for 2026. Tell me everything!

Prepare yourself, since every year since 1999, Pantone chooses a signature color. This selection aims to capture the spirit of the times—influencing everything from our emotions and fashion choices to how we design our living spaces. 2025's color was the rich tan "a coffee-inspired shade," which came after the gentle and peachy "Peach Fuzz."

The latest selection, in contrast, is somewhat unexpected. It is "Cloud Dancer," labeled as a "billowy, balanced white."

Laurie Pressman, VP of the Pantone Color Institute, commented that it is "an essential foundational hue … enabling all colors to shine."

Well, Cloud Dancer sounds… seriously, white? Could they be trolling us? Is white even a distinct hue?

What is the best way to describe the shade of milk? Fresh snow? Although some consider white as a color, every hue is at its core a perception of light wavelengths. It's present in a box of crayons, so in everyday terms the answer is yes.

Whether Pantone is out of touch is more difficult to ascertain. They claim, Cloud Dancer combines easily with other colors, avoids sensory overload, declares simplicity, and radiates subtle elegance.

Feedback online, in contrast, has proven more critical. Several voices have suggested Pantone of being completely "tone-deaf." Style expert Mandy Lee labeled it "disappointing." Critics have compared it with coded promotion of certain ideologies seen in popular culture.

I see, one would hope they're blissfully unaware that this isn't the best moment to be overly emphasizing pure white... Anyway, how should I who doesn't follow a fashion show use this trend in daily life? I recently coated my ceiling with white, does that qualify?

That definitely qualifies. The same goes for your earbuds, bathtub, or ceramic plate.

It's funny you mention runways, as many this season's presentations have been bold and fuzzy, featuring plant-based fabrics on the catwalk.

All-white outfits made appearances, as always, in designer collections—from structured tops to tailored gowns. Celebrities and public figures have also been spotted in crisp all-white outfits at major events.

On the bright side is: chances are you already possess pieces in this "understated" chosen hue. According to Pressman, Cloud Dancer "embodies a more sustainable choice for the eco-conscious," which essentially suggests not having to buy new items at all.

AT LAST, a fashion trend for the truly minimalist. An empty canvas, in a manner of speaking. A haven of calming neutrality within the noise. Alright, I'm sold. Are you planning a monochrome palette for your wardrobe?

Absolutely not. Do you know how hard it is to remove red wine stains from a white fabric? I'm not seeking additional cleaning headaches in 2026.

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