Serenity Now
In December we finally learned the answer our hearts had waited so long to hear: Serenity and Rose Quartz were named the official Pantone colors of 2016. What, no Ridiculous Rouge?
Overnight, fashion and design industry sources buzzed about the influence these two partners in pigment would have on global color trends. Women’s Wear Daily wrote, “...soft blue and pale pink will reign supreme next year.” Katy Perry was quoted saying, “Pantone said the color of the year is Rose Quartz and it means love, so I’m here,” as she stood clad in a rosy pink frock on the red carpet at The Golden Globes. Serenity and Rose Quartz had arrived.
But what does the selection of these particular colors say about the world in 2016? That we’re ready for calming tones—tones that parlay the muted pastels of our hearts? That we want not one, but two stable, peaceful hues in our lives; hues we can count on to be there, in all their safe, comforting glory like the “chubby” jeans we’re too smart to really throw out?
Serenity and Rose Quartz are not by any measure deep, strong, bold colors. They are not colors that have even a remotely powerful connotation. They are essentially nothing more than a blue lilac and a faded blush. Is this what 2016 will be—faded? I thought we were headed into a year of taking the world by storm, making real progress, kicking ass and being our best selves ever. Am I now to believe my best self is decked out in light pink and tired purple? I guess my Nana finally won.
In 2000, Cerulean was the first color Pantone selected as Color of the Year. Cerulean: trustworthy, good for humanity; a modest, non-vibrant, go-to blue that went on to work its way into corners of the world where they have no concept of Pantone or any other tone for that matter. Then came 2001. Was Fuchsia Rose really the definitive shade of the world in 2001? Was Tiger Lily our cultural touchstone in 2004? How about bland, beige cousin Sand Dollar in 2006, followed by peppy-as-it-wants-to-be Chili Pepper in 2007—was our mid-aughts mood that of a split personality?
Was Tangerine Tango really the shade of 2012? I don’t remember Obama sporting an orange hued tie as he rolled into re-election? Or what about Emerald in 2013? A good old green to let us know we were on track, or on something. How about last year’s selection of Marsala as Color of the Year. Described by Pantone as, “A naturally robust and earthy wine red, Marsala enriches our minds, bodies and souls.” Let’s see, 2015: Wine (check), earthy (check—Climate Change Summit, Leonardo DiCaprio, we live on Earth), enriched mind, body and soul (um, define enriched).
Now here we are, 2016. In their search for each year’s perfect shade, Pantone’s color enthusiasts boast they, “comb the world looking for the color which best defines the global zeitgeist.” Is “serenity” really what will define the global zeitgeist in 2016? And what does it say that, for the first time, we have two colors of the year—that we as a society must appear overtly equal opportunity so as to coddle even the peskiest of colorists? Or that the Pantone powers that be couldn’t decide between Rose Quartz and Serenity, two hues that don’t really say much at all, so they took both, muting the color palettes and cultural consciousness of the world in one fell swoop.
Or maybe Pantone’s refined shade connoisseurs felt that after the turbulence of 2015, we could all use a return to a peaceful, not so in-your-face, state of mind. A year to be calm and focus on what really matters, not allowing ourselves to get caught up in the mental stress and worry over the chaotic state of the world; a year to improve the mood of that world one beautiful shade at a time.
Yes, Pantone, let’s do it. Let’s take a breath and stop and smell the Rose Quartz in an effort to find Serenity, and truly come together as a mellower, possibly even better looking populace. If color can’t subliminally affect us, what can?
Maybe I’ll take a page from Pantone’s book and chill out, buy some faded pink dungarees and get Zen. That should last me right up until the November election.
2016, color me ridiculous.