The Pantone color sample, borrowed from the Pantone website, is shown in the upper left corner of this piece. From a scientific perspective, white is the absence of color. As such, Pantone has named the absence of color as the color of 2026!
Considering the political controversy surrounding the term ‘white’ in recent years, this selection appears tone deaf if not just idiocy. In political parlance there is white privilege, Nazi , White Christian Nationalist, Fascist, MAGA, Karens, haters, deplorables, poor white trash, magats, colonizers, oppressors, racists, and uneducated hicks.
From a fashion perspective, white has limited appeal if one has pets or children or enjoys anything with tomato sauce. White linen yellows rather quickly if not laundered immediately after wearing. White shoes are generally ugly. White pants are notoriously challenging to wear more than once. White shirts rarely last more than one season. Overly white teeth are glaring and distracting. In colder climates, white is difficult to wear. Notwithstanding updated guidance from the fashion industry, white is best left to summer months in floating, gossamer fabrics. But, white needs a scarf, bold jewelry, or an attitude to pull it off. Most of us are not Gwyneth or Meghan.
In the decorative world, I look at white as the default paint color when an apartment is between renters, when a house is up for sale and should show no personality, or there is a lack of imagination. Again, nobody with pets, children, those who entertain and serve red wine, or those who enjoy gardening or any hobby that involves dirt should have a white sofa or white carpet unless heavily invested in Scotch Guard, club soda, Wine Away or has Stanley Steamer on speed dial. Perhaps Cloud Dancer will work for an Architectural Digest spread, but not for real life among we, the great unwashed.
Once again, Pantone has missed the mark. 2026 Pantone gets an F-.
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