by Maura Carlin, Editor
Image courtesy: pantone.com
As someone who wears a white shirt almost daily, finding myself ahead of the color fashion curve is, well, fascinating. At least for the foreseeable future, I can shelve my years-long efforts to add color to a wardrobe mix of white, black, gray, and blue. According to Pantone, a white called Cloud Dancer is the color of 2026.
Intended to bring “tranquility and peace to a noisy world” Pantone describes its chosen color:
“Cloud Dancer is a billowy white imbued with a feeling of serenity. An ethereal white hue, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer serves as a symbol of calming influence in a frenetic society rediscovering the value of measured consideration and quiet reflection. A breath of color whose vaporized and aerated presence gently illuminates and enlightens, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer is a whisper of calm in a noisy world.”
Image courtesy: pantone.com
Perhaps not surprisingly, Cloud Dancer has been met with a bit of derision. Choosing a white shade as the Color of the Year makes ‘florals for spring’ actually seem groundbreaking! My elementary school color learning was that white was the absence of color (and black is the presence of all colors), raising the question of whether white qualifies as a color.
On the other hand, anyone who has consulted a Benjamin Moore (or other paint purveyors) color chart for white choices quickly realizes that the variety of white shades can be overwhelming. Listing Bone White, Simple White, Chantilly, White Dove barely scratches the surface of one’s options. Even the so-called ‘White’ shirt section of my closet includes variations of white, like optic white, ivory, and off-white.
Hermès New White. Image courtesy: @luxurymaisonhk
And if you’re wondering where Cloud Dancer falls in the Hermès color guide, at first glance, the PurseBop team is thinking New White, Beton, or classic Hermès Blanc. What do you think?
Hermès Beton. Image courtesy: @luxurymaisonhk
Hermès Blanc
Love, PurseBop
XO
Updated: December 5th, 2025
Comments