Colour of 2025 - too sad to talk about

Well, it took me 12 months to talk about it. Don’t get me wrong. I love a mocha, who doesn’t! Especially this time of year and noting those who bundle up covered top to toe in fleece and puffy vetements walking those many steps to the subway entrance on their way to work.

The rich lucious ‘flavour’ it implies feels beautiful, but there has been an element of huummmm, something missing for me. And that is where I am left, what can be placed along side this complexion, to bring it to life?

Here I see the cinnamon star addition that allows the mocha colour of the beverage, to pop. The variations of the shades and tones within the star condiment create a depth of character now imbued within the ‘cup of mocha Joe’.

Generally speaking I find that the addition of the colour white or black to most colours - affords a dash of life. But here in this image, not so much. For me it is purely the cinnamon star and it’s diverse range of deep mocha/brown colors, that make this acceptable.

I recently read someone referencing this year’s colour as - safe and trustworthy. OK. But someone else wrote it looked like sad beige. aawwwww.

I came upon an article that reminded us Pantone chose a colour called Marsala in 2015. It too was a flavor of ‘brown’ but it did contain some red that gave it that vitality I was referring to earlier.

I thought I might check to see if Pantone had divulged next year’s colour - now, for the reveal. I think it would actually be more fun to have had to wait until the stroke of midnight on Dec. 31st, when the ball drops in NYC. But it will happen Dec. 4th. (and did)

Hoping I would not be completely disappointed, I have taken some solace in the choice of what I now see as the 2026 pick.

ADDENDUM - they just announced the 2026 colour of the year - CLOUD DANSER - 1-4201 Well Phew is what I would say, there is actually no reason I can think of that this ‘colour’ (or lack there of) would inspire any issues for anyone. We’ll just have to wait until the new year to add some sparkle - but that’s ok!

The lesson - do the research don’t just follow the published trends.

— the brand auditor —