‘What is the Pantone Colour of 2021?’ — the fashion world has been waiting for an answer to this question for the past few days of December. And there’s reason to rejoice — as a departure from norm, the Pantone Color Institute announced, not one, but two shades as the colours of 2021. ‘Ultimate Gray’ and ‘Illuminating’ are the colours of the coming year, according to the international forecasting body. Pantone usually chooses one shade as the colour of the year, but this year they opted for two different shades. The last time they picked two shades was in 2016 when Rose Quartz and Serenity were the chosen hues.
The Illuminating yellow is a “bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, a warming yellow shade imbued with solar power” while Ultimate Gray is like “the colors of pebbles on the beach and natural elements”, according to Pantone.
Illuminating yellow has been a fave colour of celebs on the red carpet. It’s bright and can be made sexy too. We loved how Jennifer Lopez at Golden Globe Awards wore a yellow slit cape gown, accessorised with a blingy silver clutch and heels.
Channel the bright yellow in a sari too, just like Jacqueline Fernandez. Team it with a stylish white blouse and you are ready to shine bright.
Harry Styles rocked the combo — a bright yellow Marc Jacobs suit with a gray shirt underneath — at the BRIT Awards earlier this year.
Illuminating yellow can be tad bit too bright for many. Try opting for the shade but with a mix of other subtle colours or prints just like Kareena Kapoor Khan, who rocked a dress in the hue but with leafy print.
Who can forget Alia Bhatt looking like little miss sunshine in the stunning yellow Sabyasachi lehnga at Akash Ambani’s wedding?! She teamed it with a grayish-silver potli bag.
The Illuminating yellow is a “bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, a warming yellow shade imbued with solar power” while Ultimate Gray is like “the colors of pebbles on the beach and natural elements”, according to Pantone.
Both the colours together give a message of happiness supported by fortitude. They also signify strength and hope
Rita Ora shows how to work the striking yellow shade in a dress with embellished stockings and a giant bow.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas’s love for gray is not a secret. The actress has been seen wearing the colour on multiple occasions. We heart this gray co-ords set that she wore at an event last year in New York. #FormalYetStylish
If you categorised gray as a dull shade, you need to rethink. Kim Kardashian shows how to rock an all-gray attire — from tank top, pants to ankle boots!
When we think gray, we think of the dapper suits on our favourite Bond, Daniel Craig. Nothing spells classy more than that.
With winter setting in, there’s nothing like a gray sweatshirt and comfy sweatpants. Kendall Jenner looked casual cool in a gray knitted turtleneck sweater and pants for one of her day outings.
Both the colours together give a message of happiness supported by fortitude. They also signify strength and hopefulness, specially in these trying times faced by the world. “The union of an enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude. Practical and rock solid but, at the same time, warming and optimistic, this is a color combination that gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted, this is essential to the human spirit,” said Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone’s executive director.
