A Blank Slate Never Looked This Good: Pantone 2026 Color of the Year

If the upcoming new year wasn’t enough of a blank slate, maybe the 2026 Pantone Color of the Year will help. Announced earlier this month, Cloud Dancer is a serene, calming shade of white — yes, white.

We know that doesn’t sound thrilling, but since Pantone started naming Colors of the Year back in 1999, this is the first time they’ve ever gone with a shade of white. In a world full of chaos, clashing prints, and loud patterns, Cloud Dancer symbolizes a fresh start and sets the tone for what might just be a neutral-forward 2026.

Sure, white can seem dull, or like an open invitation for coffee spills and pen explosions, but there’s real opportunity here. First, a white piece gives you more room to play with color everywhere else. Second, it’s a great excuse to finally become best friends with your dry cleaner (or at least learn their first name).

To help you get ahead of next year’s trend, we’ve rounded up five standout, Cloud Dancer-inspired pieces to help you channel 2026’s favorite neutral with style, and hopefully without stains.

The Subtle Flex Pocket Square

Part of the new Pantone announcement is a call to rethink how we wear white. With a suit, a plain white pocket square is the classic failsafe, but if you want to level up your accessory game, reach for something with a subtle pattern like this one.

It’s woven from 100% wool silk, so it pairs well with any fabric suit. And the geometric shapes really pop thanks to the ivory hue. No matter the suit’s texture or color, this pocket square can handle it.

Opulent Ivory Pocket Square

A Toast-Worthy Necktie

A grenadine necktie is a woven silk tie with a gauzy, airy texture, crafted on old-school looms; whereas, a knit tie is knitted like a sweater, usually from silk, wool, or cotton.

Now that we’ve cleared that up, this 100% handmade silk tie is perfect for a summer wedding, or if you’re jetting off to a destination wedding somewhere warm, mosquito-free, and with slightly better cocktails. Its light champagne hue means it should be worn when the occasion calls for celebration. Pair it with a navy seersucker or linen suit, and you’ve achieved pure sartorial excellence.

Solid Grenadine Light Champagne Tie

The Wrinkle-Free Dress Shirt You’ll Want Multiples Of

There’s nothing sharper than a freshly pressed white dress shirt, or a non-iron version for all the guys who hit snooze one too many times. These come in multiple fits, neck sizes, and sleeve lengths, making it nearly impossible to pick a bad one.

There are several colors to choose from. Go ahead and snag three all-white shirts for $160. Because honestly, nothing says opulence like a stain-free white shirt, and having a backup or two ready to go.

Pinpoint Solid Button-Down Collar White Non-Iron Dress Shirt

How to Win Black Tie

Black-tie events, weddings, and expensive company holiday parties are all about the finishing touches when it comes to suiting, or a tuxedo if you’re really committing. And if you are committing, go all in: wear the cummerbund, but don’t skip the stud set.

A beautiful brass-and-mother-of-pearl combo instantly elevates those shirt buttons to match the handsomeness of a hand-tied bow tie. It’s a quiet flex that says you went the extra mile and that you know exactly how to celebrate in style.

Tuxedo Mother of Pearl Five-Stud Set

Cream-Toned Calm for the Chaos Below the Cuff

You don’t realize how much good socks matter until you’ve survived a pair of bad ones — feet sliding around and looking droopy when you take them off at the end of the day. Cut from cozy combed cotton, these stay up like your favorite athletic socks but are thin enough to work with a suit.

And while white socks with a suit (or black shoes) are a universal faux pas, a cream-toned pair looks sharp with a three-season navy suit or anything in the khaki family. Much like the color Cloud Dancer keeps the rest of your outfit grounded, these socks prove that sometimes the quietest piece is the one holding the whole operation together.

Wide Ribbed Cream Dress Socks

EXPLORE CLOUD DANCER