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Hello! I'm so eager to find out what color is set to be 2026. What's the scoop?

Get ready, as every year since 1999, Pantone selects a defining hue. This selection aims to capture the current cultural mood—shaping everything from our emotions and what we wear to how we design our living spaces. The previous year's selection was the rich tan "a creamy brown," following the gentle and peachy "Peach Fuzz."

This year's selection, though, is somewhat unexpected. It is "Cloud Dancer," described by a "ethereal and neutral white."

Laurie Pressman, the vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, commented that it is "a pivotal neutral tone … allowing all colors to shine."

Well, Cloud Dancer sounds… wait, white? Are they joking? Does white qualify as a proper color?

What is the best way to define the color of clouds? Milk? Although people often think of white as a color, every hue is fundamentally a range of visible light. It's present in a set of colored pencils, so in everyday terms the answer is yes.

If Pantone is out of touch is harder to determine. The company states, Cloud Dancer combines easily with other colors, avoids sensory overload, declares simplicity, and projects quiet sophistication.

Responses from critics, in contrast, has not been as kind. A number of observers have declared Pantone of being completely "Pantonedeaf." Style expert Mandy Lee labeled it "disappointing." Others have compared it with implied endorsement of problematic concepts seen in popular culture.

Okay, hopefully they're blissfully unaware that now is a sensitive time to be explicitly championing pure white... So, how might someone rarely near a fashion show apply this information in daily life? I recently coated my ceiling with white, does that count?

It absolutely counts. The same goes for your earbuds, bathtub, or favorite mug.

It's interesting you mention fashion shows, because many this season's presentations have been bold and fuzzy, featuring plant-based fabrics on the stage.

White ensembles made appearances, as per usual, in high-fashion looks—from simple silk T-shirts to collared dresses. Well-known individuals have also been spotted in monochromatic white attire at major events.

The positive takeaway is: you likely already possess pieces in this "subtle" designated shade. As Pressman, Cloud Dancer "signifies a more sustainable choice for the environmentally aware," which could mean avoiding the need to purchase fresh products at all.

FINALLY, a style movement for the deeply unmotivated. A fresh start, so to speak. A haven of monochromatic zen against the clutter. I'm convinced, I'm on board. Do you intend a all-white theme for your closet?

Not a chance. Do you know how hard it is to remove red wine stains from a white shirt? I don't need extra stain-removal drama in 2026.

I do own a pair of formerly pristine comfort shoes, and such staples never go out of style.