Unveiling the Significance of Pantone's Color of the Year 2024
Discover the captivating essence of the year to come through Pantone's Color of the Year 2024 Unveiled by the esteemed Pantone Color Institute, this symbolic hue paints a vivid picture of the future
What color will define the upcoming year? This is an annual consideration for the experts at the Pantone Color Institute, who analyze high-fashion runways, interior design trends, pop culture moments and human psychology to make their pick. Their research indicates that "Peach Fuzz" will be the defining shade of 2024 - a light, fruity tone associated with peace and serenity. "We're going through a lot of turmoil in our lives, and we have a need for a color that's nurturing," said Pantone color specialist Leatrice Eisman. "It's a warm and cozy shade, very tactile, and at a time like this, tactility is really important - to touch other people and gather them into our homes."
Peach tones have dominated the Spring-Summer 2024 runways, particularly in Milan with leading Italian houses like Gucci, Jil Sander, and Sportmax. At the Oscars Vanity Fair Afterparty in March, Hilary Duff stunned in a lingerie-inspired, peach-hued Dolce & Gabbana gown. Shortly after, Uma Thurman turned heads at the Women Making History Awards in a Prada Fall-Winter 2023 gabardine dress in the same color.
Jil Sander was just one of a number of designers who sent peach looks down the runway this year.
Vanni Bassetti/WWD/Getty Images
The research process for color selection is ongoing, and simply looking at the latest peach variations is not enough, according to Eisman. In Spring-Summer 2016, Giorgio Armani's collection featured mostly salmon pieces instead of the label's typical suit-gray. Beyoncé also made a significant appearance at the 2016 Met Gala in a peach dress that sparked attention, including criticisms of the Givenchy gown she wore. However, this moment was important to Eisman and the Pantone team, as they believed it still had relevance for the future. This influence is evident in the pop culture moments that followed, with key figures like Florence Pugh and Zoë Kravitz wearing peach-colored gowns on the red carpet.
Pantone's "Peach Fuzz" has been announced as the Color of the Year 2024.
"Peach is often considered a nostalgic color," Eisman remarked. "It has traditionally been associated with women, but it has also become more common in men's fashion and decor, which reflects its modern appeal."
The growing male appreciation for the color peach was evident in Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's Oscars 2023 outfit, featuring a Peach Fuzz tuxedo jacket from Dolce & Gabbana in a sleek satin fabric. Rihanna also showcased modern peach fashion in a stylish leather mini dress while pregnant at the OffWhite runway show in Paris in 2022.
This year also commemorates the 25th anniversary of Pantone's Color of the Year initiative. The color psychology behind their recent selections reflects endurance, optimism, courage, and strength, capturing the spirit of our turbulent times. Pantone has a history of capturing the collective mood even in times of confusion and anxiety.
Rihanna, wearing a peach leather dress, and ASAP Rocky were seen at the OffWhite show in Paris last year.
In 1999, the first Color of the Year was Sky Blue, described as wonderful and hopeful. The color was inspired by the sky and the heavens, symbolizing what lies ahead.
The Unexpected Origins of Clothing Colors: Mushrooms, Snails, and Plant Roots
In 1999, the focus was on embracing the unknown and thinking outside the box, but Pantone's outlook for 2024 is all about turning inward. "In 2023, we marked the end of the challenges of the past year," explained Eisman. "With so much chaos around us next year, we believe there will be a need for tranquility, peace, and rejuvenation, and that's what Peach Fuzz will represent for us."
