Pantone have chosen a Colour of the Year (COTY) since 1999. Throughout the year, their global team research trends and collate data from fashion, travel, lifestyles, sporting events, the economy, entertainment, and much more. They speak to designers, interior decorators, and marketeers to decide which colour speaks best to the zeitgeist. Their promotion of it will enhance its prominence and companies will use it to inform their product development. Now, our Star Consultant, Fiona Ingham chatted to us about the new Pantone Colour of the Year...
PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse is their choice for 2025. Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Colour Institute, enthuses: it is “underpinned by our desire for everyday pleasures. Mocha Mousse expresses thoughtful indulgence, contentment, connection, and comfort, harmony, joy in the moment.” This is way different from the ebullience and optimism of the recently popular neon Brat Green (by the way, a close relation to PANTONE 15-0343 GREENERY colour of the year 2017). It is a colour meant to calm and soothe us in turbulent times. As ever, it seems hard for a hue to achieve so much, but it’s certainly a great way of opening conversations around colour!
This is only the third neutral chosen by Pantone in its 26 year history. It is perhaps a surprising choice, given that already all manner of browns, from the darkest to the palest, have been popular during 2024. Many brands, including Hermès, Gucci, Miu Miu, and Max Mara, have already shown it in their Spring 2025 collections.
What colours can you wear from your seasonal colour palette?
This ‘richly mellow soft brown’—think a scrumptious chocolate mousse—is something which can easily be slotted into the wardrobes of Springs, Summers, and Autumns. However, brown is not the new black for Winters! Winters, please don’t be tempted. Continue with your own fab neutrals: black, charcoal, cool navy, and cool grey. The brownest to go for is taupe, a grey-brown. Don’t let this on-trend alien get into your wardrobe! If you haven’t yet done your Colours but suspect that you might have cool-based skin tones—beware!
This shade can be elegant in soft leathers or suedes, glamorous for evening in a gauzy chiffon or silk, cocooning in fake fur, or cosy in a chunky sweater. It’s great for casual wear, and brown trousers will mix and match with everything. Whatever your Clothing Personality, you will find something that works. The old adage for men, ‘no green and brown in town,’ is relevant now only to the most formally dressed professions, so in a smart casual or casual workplace, some brown could be fine.
Autumns and Springs—go for it! Hopefully, you already have it in the wardrobe. For a monochrome look, team it with classic camel, buttery cream, or succulent dark chocolate. And all your colours, whether pale or bright, will work with it.
Summers—ensure that your version has a slightly grey, mushroom, or rose look. Don’t be tempted to lean towards tan or any yellowy browns. The right browns will work throughout your cool, soft palette. Check the descriptions in your colour booklet to clarify this.
If wearing it head-to-toe does not appeal, maybe an accessory—a bag, belt, shoes, or scarf—could nod to the trend. Add the gold or silver metal that works for your colour season.
Mocha Mousse is arguably not the most exciting of colours, but I’m thrilled that it has been given prominence as an excellent neutral. From the 1920s, when Coco Chanel was influential in changing perceptions of black from the colour of mourning to being the epitome of elegance and flattering to all, black has reigned supreme as the neutral to wear. I have often looked down the long carriage in a London Underground train to find that I’m the only one not wearing black. It will bring me joy if I start to see some brown. I will be more excited still if some have been bold and combined it with a pop of colour!
Want to find out if PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse is your best colour? Book your personalised colour analysis with our local stylist today!
