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Greetings! I'm incredibly excited to find out what color is set to be 2026. What's the scoop?

Get ready, because every year for over two decades, Pantone selects a signature color. This choice aims to capture the spirit of the times—influencing everything from our emotions and fashion choices to how we design our living spaces. The previous year's color was the deep beige "a creamy brown," preceded by the gentle and peachy "a fuzzy pastel."

This year's choice, however, is somewhat unexpected. It is "a billowy white," described by a "billowy, balanced white."

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

Hmm, Cloud Dancer… hold on, just white? Could they be trolling us? Is white even a distinct hue?

Can you even describe the hue of a cloud? Milk? Even though people often think of white as a color, all color is at its core a range of visible light. It appears in a child's crayon box, so in everyday terms the answer is yes.

The question of whether Pantone is out of touch is trickier to figure out. The company states, Cloud Dancer mixes well with other colors, provides a calm backdrop, embodies understated style, and projects subtle elegance.

Feedback online, in contrast, has been less complimentary. Some commentators have declared Pantone of being completely "tone-deaf." Style expert Mandy Lee labeled it "underwhelming." Others have likened it to implied endorsement of controversial ideas seen in recent advertising.

Okay, one would hope they're blissfully unaware that this isn't the best moment to be explicitly championing whiteness... Therefore, how might someone who doesn't follow a fashion show incorporate this information in daily life? I just painted my kitchen ceiling white, does that count?

It absolutely counts. So would your earbuds, bathtub, or favorite mug.

It's funny you mention runways, since many collections this year have been bold and fuzzy, featuring naturally dyed feathers on the runway.

All-white outfits featured prominently, as always, in designer collections—from simple silk T-shirts to sleek suits. High-profile figures have also been spotted in pristine white attire at major events.

The positive takeaway is: you likely already possess items in this "subtle" color of the year. As Pressman, Cloud Dancer "signifies a greener option for the environmentally aware," which essentially suggests not having to buy fresh products at all.

SO, a design directive for the deeply unmotivated. A fresh start, if you will. A sanctuary of serene simplicity amid the clutter. I'm convinced, I get it. Will you be creating a all-white theme for your closet?

Not a chance. Attempting to clean tomato sauce stains from a white fabric? I could do without more laundry disasters in 2026.

I do possess a pair of formerly pristine sandals, and such staples are always in vogue.