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Hi there! I'm so eager to learn what color is set to be 2026. What's the scoop?

Brace yourself, as every year for over two decades, Pantone selects a signature color. This selection aims to capture the zeitgeist—shaping everything from our collective sentiment and our wardrobe selections to interior styling. Last year's selection was the deep beige "Mocha Mousse," preceded by the gentle and peachy "a fuzzy pastel."

The latest selection, though, is somewhat unexpected. It is "Cloud Dancer," which Pantone calls a "billowy, balanced white."

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

Interesting, Cloud Dancer… seriously, white? Are they joking? Can white truly be considered a proper color?

What is the best way to define the shade of milk? A blank page? Even though some consider white as a color, all color is at its core a range of visible light. It's present in a box of crayons, so in everyday terms the answer is yes.

If Pantone is out of touch is trickier to figure out. They claim, Cloud Dancer combines easily with other colors, provides a calm backdrop, makes a minimalist statement, and radiates subtle elegance.

Feedback online, on the other hand, has not been as kind. Some commentators have suggested Pantone of being completely "Pantonedeaf." Fashion and trend forecaster Mandy Lee called it "a let-down." Others have compared it with subtle advocacy of controversial ideas seen in popular culture.

Okay, hopefully they're happily ignorant that now is a sensitive time to be explicitly championing pure white... Anyway, how should I not exactly adjacent to a catwalk use this information in everyday routine? My kitchen ceiling is my ceiling with white, does that qualify?

That definitely qualifies. So would your white headphones, bathtub, or favorite mug.

The timing is curious you mention catwalks, because many collections this year have been exceptionally bright, featuring eco-friendly feathers on the catwalk.

All-white outfits made appearances, as per usual, in designer collections—from elegant blouses to collared dresses. Celebrities and public figures have also been spotted in pristine white ensembles at prestigious shows.

On the bright side is: you probably already own something in this "subtle" color of the year. According to Pressman, Cloud Dancer "embodies a more sustainable choice for the eco-conscious," which might translate to avoiding the need to purchase fresh products at all.

AT LAST, a fashion trend for the deeply unmotivated. A fresh start, so to speak. A sanctuary of calming neutrality against the chaos. I'm convinced, I'm on board. Do you intend a monochrome palette for your wardrobe?

Absolutely not. Have you ever tried to remove red wine stains from a light garment? I could do without additional cleaning headaches in 2026.

I do have a pair of now off-white Birkenstocks, and those remain perpetually fashionable.