Last month, Pantone sparked debate with the unveiling of its 2026 Colour of the Year: Cloud Dancer, a billowy, ethereal white. Meant to serve as a blank canvas for creativity, the shade is described as an antidote to our “frenetic society”, encouraging moments of quiet reflection and measured consideration. While some critics lamented what they saw as an absence of colour, the real intrigue lies in how this subtle neutrality will permeate fashion, interiors and beauty in the year ahead.
Fashion trends 2026
In fashion, volume is having its moment. With balloon hems and sculptural pants on the rise, Cloud Dancer feels prescient. Our wardrobes are becoming odes to weightless silhouettes, and the next evolution will likely take the form of statement skirts made from layers of tulle or billowing silk, and unexpected materials like Chanel’s multicolour flock of feathers or Chloés exaggerated leather folds.
Demna’s Gucci collection for spring/summer 2026 pushed gravity-defying creativity further. Among 37 character portraits, “La Snob” featured a sculptural collar reminiscent of a black orchid, as though the material had a life of its own. While this may be a tad impractical for the rush-hour commute (though a great way to ensure personal space), such designs hint at a wider embrace of structural, ethereal tops in everyday wardrobes.
Perhaps most aligned with Cloud Dancer’s quiet versatility is the trench coat. The perennial wardrobe staple sees renewed drama in 2026 through statement collars and luxurious leathers. Givenchy leans into sculptural shapes with cinched waists and bold collars, while Bottega Veneta’s buttery trenches incorporate hints of its signature intrecciato weave, balancing tradition with modernity.
Lifestyle trends 2026
The new year won’t just see us stripping back our interiors spaces, but our digital spaces, too. Digital detoxing is nothing new, with a rise in off-grid experiences being sought out by burnt-out young professionals, but this year will turn our attention to what experts are coining “ping minimalism”. Trend forecaster WGSN predicts this digital detox trend will see us attempting to attack notification fatigue by curating our tech spaces with an intentional approach. Think scheduled windows for phone time, app organisers and monochrome colour schemes (a Cloud Dancer background, perhaps?).
Elsewhere on the wellness frontier, cellular health will come into focus. The building blocks of our entire being, cells are the very foundation of healthy living and, in the spirit of going back to basics, treatments targeting cellular health are entering the wellness conversation.
Science-backed facials, such as Claridge’s Augustinus Bader treatments, target skin cells to activate the body’s natural regenerative process, supporting cell repair cycles and boosting cellular communication.
Beauty trends 2026
Beauty, too, embraces Cloud Dancer’s ethos. As Pressman observes, 2026 celebrates ‘a more sustainable choice for the eco-conscious’ and, in beauty terms, that translates to natural, refillable and vegan-friendly products. Sustainable cosmetics, continue to shift from niche to mainstream.
Luxury sustainable skincare is exemplified by STELLA, Stella McCartney’s line made with at least 99 per cent natural-origin ingredients. Highlights include a 2-in-1 Reset Cleanser for a radiant glow, an Alter-Care Serum targeting pores and luminosity, and a Restore Cream designed to strengthen the skin’s barrier – proof that conscientious formulations can marry efficacy with elegance.