Each year, we (not-so) patiently wait for the Pantone Color Institute to announce its pick for top color for the upcoming year.
For decades, Pantone has been the authority on color and the trends that impact home décor, fashion, event planning and, really, the direction of any hue-impacted industry with an authoritative intensity. (Kelly here: I’ve definitely changed my nail color based on Pantone color report trends once or twice – hello, 2015’s “Marsala”.) And the Pantone color choice really sets the tone for trend waves throughout the following year.
Since 2020’s pick of “Classic Blue,” which ended up not predicting the tumultuous year we had with the coronavirus pandemic, we’re not sure we’ve fully been on board with all the color picks since, but the winner for 2023 seems to have true promise and we are in love with it.
For 2023, Pantone chose “Viva Magenta.”
Viva Magenta, at first glance, is a gorgeous and very rich color. It’s not bright, what you typically think when you first hear magenta, but its hue is equally as bold and show-stopping as a typical magenta shade. To us, it struck as a strong color, one that signaled the vibe we want to bring into the first of the year that will – hopefully – not be impacted at all by COVID, or at least unremarkably.
Pantone explains on their announcement that Viva Magenta is “a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength.” It’s meant to symbolize power and provide an empowering, strengthening moment to the masses.
“Invoking the forces of nature, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta galvanizes our spirit, helping us to build our inner strength,” said Leatrice Eisman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. Continuing in the announcement that Viva Magenta welcomes “anyone and everyone with the same verve for life and rebellious spirit.”
No matter what the idea behind the choice, we are fully on board. The bold color is perfect for the upcoming winter months and will act wonderfully as a base and anchor for brighter, more intense colors for spring and summer.
