Sky high shade
Pantone’s 2026 colour of the year asks the question (colour lovers, brace yourselves): is minimalism here to stay?
P antone’s 2026 colour of the year, Cloud Dancer is “a lofty white that serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection”. Following its 2025 predecessor Mocha Mousse, which is a warming, brown hue imbued with richness, it is another neutral.
Pantone, the ‘global authority for colour communication and inspiration’, was met with mixed emotions for the clean slate colour, a “billowy white imbued with serenity” that “encourages true relaxation and focus, allowing the mind to wander and creativity to breathe, making room for innovation”.
“Similar to a blank canvas, Cloud Dancer signifies our desire for a fresh start,” says Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, on the company’s launch page.
From the lips of stylists and colour consultants, Cloud Dancer’s not-warm-nor-cool tone means it’s a complete neutral, a seamless addition to your summer wardrobe (now is the best time to wear it, they say).
But across the media and social media zeitgeist, some asked if Cloud Dancer is another form of whitewashing, while others questioned its deeper meaning with concerning diversity and inclusion levels globally. Others have argued that the name lends itself to being ‘up in the clouds’ and out of touch with reality.
For 25 years, Pantone has forecasted the colour that will set the tone for the 12 months to come – Cloud Dancer heavily leans into the trending ‘clean-girl’ and quiet luxury aesthetics. “We wanted to highlight to our audience how what is taking place in our global culture is expressed and reflected through the language of colour,” Laurie has said on the colour of the year.
The off-white shade is, just like Mocha Mousse was, a shade we’re already seeing everywhere, despite a maximalism and colour ‘take back’ in fashion worldwide lately. The 2026 hue has already launched in collaborations with Play-Doh, Post-it, and Motorola. That said, find a curation of New Zealand fashion’s best pieces to feel Cloud Dancer-cool, on the next page.
Read more about Pantone’s 2026 colour of the year at pantone.com/color-of-the-year/2026.
