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Greetings! I'm incredibly excited to learn what color is set to be 2026. Tell me everything!

Prepare yourself, since every year for over two decades, Pantone selects a signature color. This pick is a reflection of the spirit of the times—shaping everything from our emotions and fashion choices to interior styling. Last year's color was the deep beige "Mocha Mousse," which came after the subtly inviting "a fuzzy pastel."

The new choice, in contrast, is even more puzzling. It is "a billowy white," described by a "soft and structural white."

Laurie Pressman, the vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, remarked that it is "an essential foundational hue … permitting all colors to stand out."

Well, Cloud Dancer sounds… seriously, white? Are they joking? Does white qualify as a distinct hue?

What is the best way to characterize the hue of a cloud? A blank page? Even though many view white as a color, the entire spectrum is essentially a range of visible light. It's present in a set of colored pencils, so for practical purposes the answer is yes.

Whether Pantone is out of touch is harder to determine. The company states, Cloud Dancer pairs effortlessly with other colors, provides a calm backdrop, makes a minimalist statement, and projects quiet sophistication.

The public reaction, on the other hand, has proven more critical. Some commentators have declared Pantone of being completely "Pantonedeaf." Fashion and trend forecaster Mandy Lee labeled it "a let-down." Some have even likened it to coded promotion of certain ideologies seen in other media.

Okay, one would hope they're cheerfully oblivious that the timing is awkward to be pointedly celebrating the color white... So, how can a regular person rarely near a runway incorporate this information in daily life? I recently coated my kitchen ceiling white, does that qualify?

Yes, that certainly counts. This applies equally to your wireless speakers, bathtub, or linen sheets.

The timing is curious you mention fashion shows, because many this season's presentations have been vibrantly colorful, featuring eco-friendly materials on the runway.

White ensembles were present, like always, in high-fashion looks—from structured tops to collared dresses. Celebrities and public figures have also been photographed in crisp all-white attire at public appearances.

The good news is: chances are you already have pieces in this "understated" chosen hue. As Pressman, Cloud Dancer "embodies a greener option for the eco-conscious," which essentially suggests avoiding the need to purchase fresh products at all.

SO, a fashion trend for the inherently lazy. A blank page, in a manner of speaking. A cocoon of serene simplicity amid the noise. I'm convinced, I'm on board. Do you intend a whiteout for your personal style?

Absolutely not. Do you know how hard it is to get out tomato sauce stains from a light garment? I could do without more laundry disasters in 2026.

I do have a pair of formerly pristine Birkenstocks, and such staples remain perpetually fashionable.