I realized:
We don’t have to embrace this color just because it’s trending.
In fact, sometimes not embracing it is the truest form of self-expression.

Let me explain.

When Trends Try to Tell Us Who We Are

Pantone’s Color of the Year is sometimes fun and inspiring, but it’s never really meant to be a compass for identity. As a mom, I’ve spent a lot of time reminding my teens not to let social media dictate who they should be. And honestly? Adults need the same reminder.

Because Pantone picks trends.

But you pick truth.

Color forecasting is built on culture, commerce, and aesthetics, but not your memories, mood, heritage, or inner world. It’s a “one-shade-fits-all” idea… and life has taught me that nothing truly meaningful fits all.

Whether I’m helping a kindergartener pick the color crayon that “feels happy today,” or listening to my teens explain why they suddenly hate the shirts we bought last fall, I see the same thing:
We all crave colors that reflect who we are right now—not who a trend tells us who to be.

The Fashionista in Me Loves Trends—But Not at the Expense of Authenticity

I adore fashion. I love fabrics, textures, statement pieces, and the thrill of discovering a color that makes me feel unstoppable. But I’ve also learned that confidence doesn’t come from the runway—it comes from resonance.

And what if Pantone’s pick simply doesn’t resonate?

Maybe it washes me out.
Maybe it clashes with my favorite lipstick.
Maybe it just doesn’t feel like me.

That’s okay.
Color should never be an assignment.

Why Color Matters Even More Than Any Trend

Here’s what I know, both as a mom and a teacher:

1. Color expresses what words can’t.

Kids feel it. Teens live by it. Adults forget it—until they rediscover a shade that brings them back to themselves.

2. Color builds confidence.

Whether it’s a kindergartener proudly wearing mismatched brights or a mom choosing a bold coat because it makes her feel alive—color is empowerment.

3. Color shapes emotion.

The right color can help a child self-regulate, help a teen feel understood, and help a mom feel ready to take on the world.

4. Color carries culture, memory, and meaning.

Maybe your favorite hue reminds you of your grandmother’s scarf…
Or a childhood bedroom…
Or the twinkling lights of your favorite holiday.
Pantone can’t forecast that.

5. Color is a form of self-care.

When you choose shades that align with your energy, you’re choosing environments that support your well-being.

This Year, Choose Your Own Color of the Year

Pantone may have crowned “Cloud Dancer” (white) as the official color for 2026, but I’m crowning something a little different:

The Color That Makes You Feel Most Like Yourself.

Wear the shade that calms you.
Decorate with the hue that energizes you.
Pick the palette that reflects the season of life you’re in.

That’s the color that deserves your attention this year.

As a mom of teens, a kindergarten teacher, and someone who sees fashion as joy rather than rule-book, I believe this deeply:

Trends fade.
Authenticity lasts.
And your true palette is worth celebrating.

What’s Your True Palette?

Color Discovery Reflection Activities

Because finding your Color of the Year should feel joyful, grounding, and personal.

For Moms: “The Color That Feels Like Home”

This activity helps moms reconnect with their identity beyond the roles they carry.

Step 1: Close your eyes for 10 seconds.
Think about a moment recently when you felt completely yourself—not “busy,” not “needed,” but you.

Step 2: Picture that moment in color.
Was it warm? Cool? Soft? Bold? Sparkling? Muted?

Step 3: Journal these prompts:

• When do I feel most like myself?
• What colors are present in those moments?
• Which colors energize me? Which soothe me?
• What colors do I avoid, and why?

Step 4: Choose your personal “Everyday Confidence Color.”
Wear it once this week—lipstick, scarf, sweater, even socks.
Notice how your energy shifts when you walk into a room embracing you.

For Teens: “Your Mood Palette”

Teens love self-expression—but often need help separating their true tastes from trends.

Supplies: Scrap paper or a notes app, and a few colored pencils/markers (optional).

Step 1: Think of the last week as a movie of your life.
If it had a color palette, what would it be?

Step 2: Choose 3 colors that match your week:

• A color that shows how you really felt inside
• A color that shows how you wanted others to see you
• A color that shows who you’re becoming

Step 3: Reflect:

• What colors make me feel powerful?
• What colors make me feel safe?
• What colors do I choose for myself—not for trends?
• What color feels like the “real me” this season?

Step 4: Create your “Identity Highlight Color.”
Use it in something small this week:
a notebook cover, phone wallpaper, scrunchie, hoodie, nail polish, or water bottle sticker.

Teens LOVE this because it gives them choice, voice, and control in a safe, creative way.

For Kindergarten Teachers: “The Color Check-In Circle”

This activity is perfect for morning meetings, transitions, or emotional regulation.

Step 1: Prepare a set of large, simple color cards.
Include a range: bright, pastel, neutral, dark.

Step 2: Begin Morning Meeting with a Color Check-In:
“Choose the color that shows how you feel today.”

Let students hold the color card or point to it.

Step 3: Invite simple sharing:

• “I picked yellow because I feel happy.”
• “I picked blue because I’m calm today.”
• “I picked red because my body feels energetic.”

Step 4: Teacher Reflection (for YOU):
After class, take 60 seconds to reflect:

• Which colors did I choose today—intentionally or subconsciously?
• What colors helped my classroom feel peaceful or joyful?
• Which colors do I personally need more of to support my energy as a teacher?

Step 5: Choose your “Teacher Regulation Color.”
Use it somewhere in your space:
a lanyard, clipboard, water bottle, anchor chart border, or corner of the room that’s “your calm spot.”

This helps both you and your students feel aligned, grounded, and emotionally supported.

Remember…

Color isn’t a trend.
Color is a story.
Color is a mirror.
Color is you!