Pantone announced Cloud Dancer as their Colour of the Year 2026, yet the colours we truly gravitate to are anything but! In a sense of irony, the serene shade feels like the final nail in the coffin for neutral, beige tones to take shape. Now, both on and off the runways, it’s everything gold, purples, and blues as people allow neutrals to become foundational pieces for bold, vivid colours to shine.
Culturally, it’s no surprise either. Ice Blue or Cobalt Blue/Yves Klein Blue have been appearing on the runways in small doses since 2024. Now in 2026, the colour is harder to ignore. Chanel’s SS26 and Métiers d’art 2026 both showcased the hue in different forms—a pale blue cropped shirt over a tomato red skirt and a punchy cobalt blue gown in velvet. Celine’s SS26 showed us how blue has taken over red as a pop of colour. And Jil Sander SS26 featured the colour in the maison’s typical minimalist approach over cropped tops, shirts, coats, and dresses. Coach and Jacquemus held a curated Blue Edit on their website for Ramadan, featuring midnight blue pieces, including limited edition bags. Speaking of bags, Loewe introduced Stellar Blue, a new colourway across their Amazona, Flamenco, and Bilbao styles.
Some could say that the spring season is the reason for the sudden surge in the popularity of the colour. But while vivid colours become second skin during the spring-summer months, the return of The Devil Wears Prada is most likely why the colour is back on people’s consciousness. Sure, it’s not exactly Cruelean Blue, but with Meryl Streep recently donning Andy’s blue sweater as she begins the movie’s promotion cycle, the visibility is more than reaching towards our nostalgia—it’s allowing us to fall back in love with the tone itself.
Styling the Colour
For those who find the colour a tad intimidating to wear, here is a colour cheat sheet to help you get started with styling the colour.
Blue + White
Blue + Grey
Blue + Black
Blue + Chocolate Brown
Blue + Red
Blue + Cream
