Pantone Color of the Year 2020: Classic Blue

New Year, new decade and new color of the year 2020 by pantone are here!

What is Pantone?

To begin with, Pantone is a company most commonly known for their Pantone Color Matching System. In simple terms the company created a color guide in order to make the process of identifying a specific shade more accurately. This guide contains numerous colors, all categorized by shade and they are given a unique code and color name for easy identification. This Matching System is being used by pretty much every industry that uses colors like graphic designers, marketers and of course the fashion industry.

Color of the year

The Color of the year tradition started back in 2000 and since then it has become a major part of the fashion industry as well as the marketing industry and more. Every December the Pantone Institute announces the Color of the year for the following year. The company’s great influence makes this announcement really important since it is sure to attract much attention.

This December the announcement revealed this year’s color to be Classic Blue. According to Pantone this particular shade of blue is “a timeless and enduring blue hue . . . elegant in its simplicity”. As true as it may be the reactions were less than ideal. Pantone has made a point of selecting colors that reflect current situations in our society and according to many they totally “missed the point” with Classic Blue.

Opinions

I personally think that blue is a very “vanilla” color…it has it’s uses but let’s be honest, there are better options. Also, I can’t say I find it reflective of anything except to remind me of my Facebook app! Last, year the Color that was chosen was Living Coral, now that’s a color with meaning. The environment and it’s constant threat from humans is a major social issue the last couple of years and Living Coral came the right moment to remind us of the dying oceans and their inhabitants. On the other hand, Classic Blue feels like an industrial color to me. It does not have a soul if you ask me.

Now don’t get me wrong Classic Blue is a nice color but I wouldn’t go so far as to name it Color of the year for 2020. Just think that 2020 is the start of a new decade and we all want a good start for the decade. We need a color with true meaning. If Pantone didn’t boast their intentions on making the Color of the Year a social issue we wouldn’t be making it such a big deal. Get it together Pantone!

Inspiration and Products

Overall, Classic blue wasn’t the best choice and most experts voiced their opinions accordingly. I think the start of the decade needed a strong unique color, something electric and intriguing to spark hope for the future. In the end, Classic blue may not be the best Color of the Year but it is still considered a nice color to look at. That’s why I’m including some pieces to get inspired and add Classic Blue in your life for the rest of the year.

Pantone Sneakers in Classic Blue are the cutetest!

A sweater in the color of year is a must

Classic crossbody for your everyday outfits

Blue pumps for the win

Classic Blazer

A great way to incorporate Classic blue in your outfit is tonal dressing (For more info on the subject click here!) Combine a light blue suit with a Classic Blue sweater and nutral assecories and you’re good to go! Also, classic blue assecories, like a bag, a scarf or even shoes can become a subtle way to use the color.

That’s all for now. We have a new Color of the Year even if we don’t really love it we’ll make it work!