2019 Color of the Year: Living Coral

Pantone announced recently that their Color of the Year for 2019 is Living Coral. If you are like most people, you are probably wondering who or what Pantone is, and how do they decide the color of the year? Pantone, LLC is company that has a proprietary color matching system used in a variety of industries to include paint, fabric, printing, etc. Since 2000, it has met in secret with industry experts from other countries, and, after several days of meetings annually, decides what the color will be for the following year based on what they perceive is the current state or mood of the world.For example, in 2017, the color was Greenery: “Greenery bursts forth in 2017 to provide us with the reassurance we yearn for amid a tumultuous social and political environment. Satisfying our growing desire to rejuvenate and revitalize, Greenery symbolizes the reconnection we seek with nature, one another and a larger purpose.”For 2019, we have Living Coral. According to the Pantone website, Living Coral is “vibrant, yet mellow” and “embraces us with warmth and nourishment to provide comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment.” They go on to say, “In reaction to the onslaught of digital technology and social media increasingly embedding into daily life, we are seeking authentic and immersive experiences that enable connection and intimacy. Symbolizing our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits, PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral embodies our desire for playful expression.”I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty excited about this color. I haven’t loved other choices in the past. Sand Dollar in 2006 was the worst! However, I think this is a beautiful color that can look good on a lot of people. You won’t see it anytime soon, however. It takes fashion a bit to start working with the color. Be on the lookout for it in a future post. In the meantime, here are some examples.