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

Brace yourself, since every year since 1999, Pantone chooses a signature color. This pick seeks to represent the spirit of the times—influencing everything from our collective sentiment and what we wear to how we design our living spaces. The previous year's color was the rich tan "Mocha Mousse," preceded by the gentle and peachy "a delicate peach tone."

The latest choice, in contrast, is particularly baffling. It is "an airy shade," described by a "ethereal and neutral white."

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

Hmm, Cloud Dancer… seriously, white? Are they joking? Does white qualify as a proper color?

Can you even define the shade of milk? Milk? Even though people often think of white as a color, every hue is at its core a perception of light wavelengths. It's present in a child's crayon box, so I'd argue the answer is yes.

If Pantone is being provocative is trickier to figure out. According to their release, Cloud Dancer mixes well with other colors, provides a calm backdrop, declares simplicity, and radiates quiet sophistication.

Feedback online, in contrast, has not been as kind. Some commentators have accused Pantone of being completely "Pantonedeaf." Style expert Mandy Lee described it as "a let-down." Others have compared it with subtle advocacy of controversial ideas seen in other media.

Okay, one would hope they're blissfully unaware that now is a sensitive time to be explicitly championing the color white... Anyway, how might someone not exactly adjacent to a runway apply this information in daily life? I recently coated my ceiling in white paint, is that enough?

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

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

White ensembles featured prominently, as per usual, in luxury shows—from structured tops to tailored gowns. Celebrities and public figures have also been seen in crisp all-white attire at public appearances.

The good news is: you probably already possess items in this "understated" color of the year. According to Pressman, Cloud Dancer "represents a eco-friendlier decision for the sustainability-minded," which might translate to avoiding the need to purchase anything new at all.

AT LAST, a style movement for the truly minimalist. A blank page, so to speak. A cocoon of serene simplicity amid the clutter. Okay, I'm on board. Will you be creating a monochrome palette for your wardrobe?

Definitely not. Attempting to get out red wine stains from a light garment? I'm not seeking extra stain-removal drama in 2026.

I do possess a pair of once-white sandals, and this classic footwear never go out of style.