This year’s color is “Living Coral,” a color I’ve been complaining about for at least the last five years. It’s a color that looks good on few and downright terrible on others. Target has been pairing it with a medium, dusky blue for years. I continue to be unconvinced that the shades go together, that they belong on clothes or that they belong in this decade.
Image via Pantone.com
Living Coral is supposed to be bright, but understated. Humanizing, reminiscent of the past but bringing us into the future, light hearted and life affirming. Or some such.
Previously:
- 2018: Ultra Violet
- 2017: Greenery
- 2016: Rose Quartz and Serenity
- 2015: Marsala (I kinda like this one)
- I’m stopping now
I guess something had to be the color of the year and it’s unlikely to be a shade to my taste. Not with my general dislike of bright colors or pink. Any pink. All pinks. At least it’s not “Millennial Pink.”
By the Bodkin 
December 6, 2018 at 1:38 pm
I agree with everything you said about this color, the idea of pairing it with any kind of denim makes me itch, but I will fight you on “millennial pink”. . .
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December 7, 2018 at 12:00 pm
What color IS Millennial Pink anyway? I’m not sure that’s a settled thing. Is it pale pink? Medium pink? Baby’s butt pink? I’m all for creativity, even in color naming, but I’m tired of trying to decide something is Eggplant vs. Concord, Red Plum, Mulberry or Boysenberry. At least those are based on things that are purple! I’m ok with imperial purple too. It has history. But don’t ask me what Eminence is vs. Purple Mountain Majesty! And don’t call your purple Exquisite or something. Ugh. Thank god for hex codes.
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December 6, 2018 at 2:46 pm
Umm… why do we need a “colour of the year” thing at all? 😕
And: I like that coral… 😲 I’m actually one of those (lucky?) few who can wear it. It reflects some human colour onto my vampiric pale face (no one needs to know about my relationship with bats 😉). But I agree I wouldn’t pair it with denim.
I had no idea that this year’s colour was ultra-violet. I always thought it was outside the visible light spectrum? So not visible to humans, but may be to bats?
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December 7, 2018 at 11:13 am
lol, this cracked me up.
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December 7, 2018 at 11:44 am
I agree. Ther’re just trying to be relevant, to sell new copies of the various Pantone color guides. After all, they try to convince people to buy a new one annually. Because colors shift over time and with exposure to light, etc. I’m not saying they’re wrong, but I wish they’d make a basic guide that someone who only needs decent references occasionally could afford! I bought a Pantone solid to process, coated, guide like 15 years ago for some print ads I was doing. I believe I paid $80 for it. The cheapest one I can find now is a set with two books, coated and uncoated, for $135 on Amazon. I’m not sure if it’s the latest version. Various guides in the Pantone store can run into the several hundred dollar range. A color guide, on my fabric of choice, on Spoonflower costs whatever the price of a yard of that fabric is and is far more relevant.
I would say you are lucky if that color works for you; you’ll be able to buy this year’s fashions, should you wish. I’m reminded of the eye shadow a girl I knew in high school seemed to wake up wearing.
I never thought of that blue as denim, but your right. I always think of denim as having dimension because of the yarns and dying process. That’s why denim goes with everything! But as a stand alone solid it’s rather blah. It’s to blue what mauve is to pink. Damn the 80s!
I had missed that couple shade too. It hurts. I must be part bat!
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January 13, 2019 at 2:09 am
I’m unsure if how I feel about this color, I’m weirdly trapped between love and hate. All I know for sure is that my eyes read it as blinding and it reminds me of the neon and near neon colours of the early 90’s.
Of all the things that have come back out of 90’s nostalgia, violently neon colours and leggings have to be the most confusing to me. And modern leggings are made 100% worse due to the thin, cheap fabric being used to make them!
Now I’m imagining leggings in this colour, yikes!! You know it’ll happen, just wait and see!
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January 13, 2019 at 12:50 pm
I think it would be better if it was less saturated. I’ve seen it on some textured things and it isn’t too bad. I also think it will look dated in a few years.
Apparently 80s neon is back. At least someone said it was and I did see some neon leggings *shudders*. I think you’re referring to the see through fabrics? Definitely bad. I will say that modern leggings have a better shape than ones from the 80s / 90s. Remember how high the waist was and how unflattering? It’s like they thought they could make tights in heavier fabric and not use a different pattern. I much prefer the shaped waists and wider elastic they use now.
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January 13, 2019 at 2:14 am
Also, I just read Pantone’s description of ultra violent and had a good snicker – they really are up their own butts, aren’t they? LOL.
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January 13, 2019 at 12:56 pm
Yeah… But when you create your own industry I guess you’ve gotta stay relevant.
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