The seemingly endless 2020 finally ushered in the last month, and the international color authority Pantone has also announced the annual representative colors for next year as usual – the enduring “Ultimate Gray” and the vibrant “Illuminating”.
Pantone chose these two seemingly independent and conflicting colors as the color of the year 2021 in the hope of highlighting how different elements can support each other, conveying a sense of happiness and positive energy, hoping that everyone can wave goodbye to the shadow of the epidemic in the new year, holding a mindset that everything will develop in a better direction in the new year, waiting for the dawn to appear.
For the fashion-forward you, of course, you are already thinking about how to incorporate the meaningful annual representative color into your future outfits. Here are some reference templates for you now.
「極致灰」
Looking back at the red carpets of various awards ceremonies this year, it is not difficult to find that many female stars have chosen to wear “ultimate gray” or “bright yellow” tones. One of the most memorable looks is Ariana Grande’s gray gown by Giambattista Valli at the Grammy Awards, with layers of “ultimate gray” tulle creating a voluminous skirt, presenting the understated color in a beautiful and romantic way.
Pantone describes “Ultimate Gray” as durable, reliable, and dependable, and everyone can incorporate this quality by infusing “Ultimate Gray” tones into a sleek and stylish look. For example, you can learn from fashion experts, choose gray trench coats and utility pants with a neutral touch, then pair them with other items in cool tones to keep the overall look simple and consistent, giving off a calm and composed image, while achieving a harmonious visual effect.
As for another popular choice for fashionistas, nothing beats a gray suit jacket. Suit jackets have always been a timeless fashion item, and when paired with the enduring “ultimate gray” color scheme, you can wear it for years without looking outdated. If you want to bring out a formal look, you can pair it with matching suit pants to elevate the overall style and look more professional; if you want to appear more casual, pairing it with jeans is definitely the best choice.
「亮麗黃」
As for the “bright yellow” color has always been a favorite color for many female celebrities, because its bright and eye-catching tones can easily attract the attention of the audience. Oscar winner Cate Blanchett wore a Mary Katrantzou evening gown in “bright yellow” at the Golden Globe Awards, with special tailoring and details, very eye-catching.
Summer is also the world of “bright yellow”. Fashionistas all enthusiastically embrace yellow dresses, whether it’s a substantial maxi dress or a fitted skirt. Just adding a touch of yellow immediately makes one look more eye-catching. Extending this color to fall and winter outfits can bring a hint of warmth in the cold wind, making it stand out even more among the mainstream cold tones of winter.
Although “bright yellow” gives a lively feeling, it does not mean it is completely detached from words like “stylish” and “sophisticated”. Putting “bright yellow” on neutral items like windbreakers, shirts, and wide-leg pants is not at all out of place, but rather can showcase a unique and distinctive look.
「極致灰」與「亮麗黃」的結合
Although one is cool-toned and the other is warm-toned, they may seem difficult to match, but in fact, it is not the case! From past street snaps, you can find many examples of mixing “ultimate gray” and “illuminating yellow”, with many instances of creating contrast by stacking the two colors in large areas. You may find this method difficult to control, or may not have the courage to make such a bold attempt, but in reality, as long as you control the brightness and saturation of the colors well, these are not problems.
Fashion blogger Leonie Hanne, who is good at playing with color combinations, chose to wear a low-saturation “bright yellow” coat paired with an “ultimate gray” knitted dress. Setting aside the glamorous diamond-studded top, this kind of outfit is actually very suitable for girls who like a low-key style, exuding a subtle and elegant feeling. On the other hand, Hailey Bieber interpreted this color combination in a different way, layering a calm ultimate gray cotton sportswear set with a high-saturation bright yellow coat. The high-profile x low-profile mix brings a balanced effect, presenting a completely different street sport style from Leonie Hanne, and also showcasing the high versatility of this color combination.
If you still can’t accept large areas of color stacking, don’t worry, you can also follow the 2021 Pantone color trend by using accessories to match! You can first choose one of them as the main color tone, present it in a large area of single items, and then use the other color as a supplement or embellishment. For example, fashion bloggers all focus on gray coats, and then use a bright yellow handbag as an embellishment to add highlights to a simple cold color outfit, instantly brightening up a low-key style, a look that every girl can easily imitate.
