How to Wear Living Coral: the Pantone Color of the Year
A new year bring lots of changes and one is the color of the year. The color forecasters at Pantone study color trends in fashion, marketing, social media, and politics throughout the year then announce a color for the following year. Last year it was ultraviolet, this year it’s living coral, a pink-coral hue that is playful and lighthearted.
Pantone describes Living Coral as “an animating and life-affirming coral hue with a golden undertone that energizes and enlivens with a softer edge”.
Some years the color is easily wearable by most people and many years it’s more of a challenge. One thing is certain – if we add it to our look we’ll appear current and modern. Living Coral has already gone down the runways at major fashion houses and will soon be trickling its way into our lives.
So how can you wear this playful shade?
Since living coral represents a nurturing color in nature, it’ll pair beautifully with aqua, blue and green. Picture coral jeans with an aqua tee. Teal and coral are complementary colors and look wonderful together.
White and coral are a fresh combo for spring just as coral and brown are perfect for colder weather. Imagine coral espadrilles with white jeans or a coral sweater with brown pants and booties.
There’s a coral shade that flatters most skin tones but if your complexion is very cool, opt for a pinkier version and wear it further from your face…it’s great as a pop of color in an accessory.
Coral comes in varying shades and you needn’t stick to the tone that Pantone designated so have fun with this color.
Will you be trying living coral this year?
I don’t find many colors I am especially fond of wearing. I’ve limited my wardrobe to black and other neutrals. A few years ago, I purchased a coral cotton sweater, one of those spur of the moment buys. Each time I wore it, I was overwhelmed by the number of compliments I received, so coral became the color I wore with neutrals. I was overjoyed when coral was named the 2019 Color of the Year.
I wondered why I kept picking up items with this color! There just must be more coral items to choose from. I had just decided this was the color I was going to lean into for spring and summer.
I have a pair of coral linen pants that I wear with black sandals and a black top….haven’t worn them for a few years but always loved the combo and they still fit (!) so I’ll be sporting those this summer! Thanks!
I’m crazy about coral, though I do like it on the pinker side rather than the orange side. I am so glad Pantone chose this color for fashion and household goods. I look forward to the sprinkles of coral throughout 2019.
Love coral. It suits my complexion as I have a darker skin tone. Coral always reminds me of summer. goes well will a tan. Obviously, there are different shades of coral. How do they choose the colour of the year?
My husband loves coral – I even had a lovely sheath made in that color years ago – so I’ll definitely be on the lookout for a piece or two in this color!
I look terrible in coral, but I will add some bits to my outdoor decorating in the spring since I think the colour looks modern and fresh.
Coral is one of my favorite colors and as close to pink as I will ever wear. I’m always disappointed at the over abundance of pink in women’s clothing, as not all of us look good in it. Coral seems much more adult and sophisticated compared to pink, which seems to be the default color for junior high age girls.
Interesting observation about coral Dorothy.
Won’t be wearing coral – unless it really isn’t coral. It tends to turn my skin yellow.????
Lol, I hear you on this one Margot 🙂
No living coral for me! Checked the Pantone Link: Hot Pink, Aurora Pink and Magenta are the hues for me….hope to see these colors in stores for spring and summer (have already seen a few hot pink tops Cool colors for me and my skin tone…corals are not my cup of tea.
Brights are so cheery. Have fun with them, Mary.
I think this colour will be easily wearable for most women. I find orange brings my face to life and I look tanned. I wonder if coral will do the same. I won’t decorate with it but I will try it on and see if it is a good shade for my complexion and hair colour. I loved blush, as well, but found it washed me out. So, I went with a pair of blush runners & crossbody bag. You can always incorporate a colour that doesn’t flatter your colouring in accessories instead.
Finally a colour I love, now to find it in the stores …
You may have better luck online. I always do when looking for something specific.
Love this colour and it doesn’t have to be the “colour of the year” for me to wear it! Lol
That’s the spirit, Lea. Wear what you love!
My daughter just gave me those exact Olukai flip flops for Christmas.
beautiful colour for many of us but always go for the colour it suits you.
OK, its a gorgeous color. But the rebel in me resents the idea that this is the color one must wear or decorate with. What happened to last years color. I just don’t get it. Will I buy something with coral? Yes, if it looks good on me. I think I’d like a coral scarf. But not to advertise Pantone’s color of the year.
Of course you don’t need to wear it, Sandra. Pantone isn’t in the business of selling the color and our wearing it isn’t really advertising. They merely predict trends that manufacturers either use or not. Many will try it and others will skip it. We should wear what we love, no matter the trends.
I love this color and still have it in my closet as it is one of my favorite colors, so definitely will be wearing it. I also have a scarf with coral, black and white in it. Is black with coral too dated? I wear a coral top, black pants and the scarf in winter and change to white pants for summer. Enjoy your blog very much!
Coral looks gorgeous with black Janice! Your combo sounds great.