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Hi there! I can't wait to learn what color will define 2026. What's the scoop?

Brace yourself, because every year for over two decades, Pantone announces a Color of the Year. This selection aims to capture the zeitgeist—shaping everything from our emotions and what we wear to home decor. The previous year's color was the deep beige "a creamy brown," which came after the gentle and peachy "a fuzzy pastel."

The latest selection, in contrast, is particularly baffling. It is "a billowy white," described by a "billowy, balanced white."

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

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

How does one characterize the color of clouds? Milk? Even though some consider white as a color, the entire spectrum is fundamentally a range of visible light. It's present in a set of colored pencils, so in everyday terms the answer is yes.

The question of whether Pantone is being provocative is trickier to figure out. According to their release, Cloud Dancer mixes well with other colors, isn't overstimulating, embodies understated style, and radiates quiet sophistication.

Responses from critics, in contrast, has been less complimentary. A number of observers have suggested Pantone of being completely "out of touch." Trend analyst Mandy Lee described it as "a let-down." Critics have likened it to implied endorsement of certain ideologies seen in recent advertising.

Right, hopefully they're happily ignorant that the timing is awkward to be pointedly celebrating the color white... Therefore, how can a regular person rarely near a fashion show apply this news in daily life? I recently coated my ceiling in white paint, does that count?

Yes, that certainly counts. The same goes for your white headphones, bathtub, or linen sheets.

The timing is curious you mention fashion shows, because many this season's presentations have been exceptionally bright, featuring eco-friendly feathers on the catwalk.

White ensembles made appearances, as always, in high-fashion looks—from structured tops to collared dresses. Celebrities and public figures have also been spotted in crisp all-white outfits at prestigious shows.

On the bright side is: chances are you already have items in this "understated" designated shade. As Pressman, Cloud Dancer "embodies a eco-friendlier decision for the sustainability-minded," which essentially suggests skipping the requirement for fresh products at all.

FINALLY, a style movement for the truly minimalist. A fresh start, in a manner of speaking. A cocoon of serene simplicity against the noise. Okay, I'm sold. Do you intend a monochrome palette for your closet?

Not a chance. Do you know how hard it is to remove tomato sauce stains from a white shirt? I could do without extra stain-removal drama in 2026.

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