How to Incorporate Pantone’s Colour of the Year into your 2021 Wardrobe

Colour trends come and go, so keeping up to date with the hottest hues of the moment is essential to maintaining a fresh, fashionable look. But how do you know which colours are cool and which are a little outdated? Well, heading straight to the authority on colour, Pantone, is an easy way to make sure your look is in line with the most stylish shades of the year. The global go-to for information on upcoming colour-trends, Pantone’s colour predictions for each year inform everything from interior design and homewares to fashion and accessories. Here’s how you can incorporate its must-have hues for 2021 into your closet.

For only the second time in 22 years, Pantone selected not one, but two colours to be its “Colour of the Year” for 2021. Announced in December, Ultimate Grey and Illuminating are the colour authority’s picks for the year. Described by Pantone as independent but complementary, these grey and yellow shades represent a theme of unity and mutual support. While Ultimate Grey is firm and dependable, Illuminating is bright and lively, providing the perfect balance of reliability and optimism, comfort and excitement, safety and adventure. But no matter what you read into these two hues, there’s one thing we can all agree on: they look seriously chic together.

Ready to update your wardrobe in line with the latest colour trend? Here’s how you can embrace the year’s chicest shades and make them work for you.

A simple way to incorporate the Pantone Colour of the Year into your wardrobe is to choose pieces in block colours. From a yellow dress to a grey tee, you’ll find plenty of options available to add to your wardrobe. And don’t worry. While Ultimate Grey and Illuminating may technically be the top shades, a variety of grey and yellow tones will also work to keep your wardrobe on-trend and chic.

If you’re not quite ready to try the two together, you can build up to it. To start with, try pairing grey and yellow pieces with denim instead of each other. This is a fail-safe combination that you can be sure will look great. Once you’re feeling confident about wearing the colours individually, you can start getting playful and wearing them together!

To really embrace the colour trend, try teaming grey and yellow pieces together for a strikingly chic look. You could try a yellow top with a pair of grey pants or a yellow dress with a grey cardigan. No matter the combination, you’re sure to look great in these two tones. Just don’t forget to consider your skin tone. If you have a cool-based skin tone, consider making grey your main colour with pops of yellow. If you have a warm skin tone, you may want to reverse this combination as yellow can beautifully complement your look. Of course, the main thing is that you feel confident and fabulous in whatever you wear!

Together, Ultimate Grey and Illuminating represent unity and mutual support. What better way to translate this notion into your wardrobe than with a printed piece that combines the two? Playing off each other’s warm and cool tones, these two colours appear surprisingly chic when worn together. Of course, finding that perfect printed piece in grey and yellow can be a challenge, so if you can’t get your hand on a style that’s right, feel free to simply embrace patterned pieces in either of the hues. After all, these colours are both independent and complementary, so there’s no wrong answer! Try geometric designs for a striking style or turn to florals for a timelessly beautiful look.

Not ready to dress in head-to-toe yellow and grey? No problem at all! You can still incorporate the most popular colours of the year into your wardrobe through accessories. By maintaining your usual style and simply adding accessories in yellow and grey, you can get the best of both worlds: on-trend style with a personal twist.

When shopping for accessories in grey and yellow, you’ll have countless options to choose from. Shoes, bags, hats, scarves, sunglasses, belts, and jewellery can all make excellent choices for adding the Colour of the Year to your outfit. Have fun and experiment with different pieces and what you wear them with. Our tip? We love a sunshine yellow bag strap to bring to life a classic grey T-shirt and jeans.

While not technically accessories, cosmetics can also be a playful way to channel Pantone’s Colour of the Year. Why not try a yellow or gold eyeshadow and smart grey nail polish? Or flip it up with a smoky coal eye and a pop of yellow on your nails? Get playful and see what kind of combinations you can come up with!

1. Invest in a variety of pieces in yellow and grey shades
2. Try wearing block colour pieces separately to ease into the trend
3. When you’re feeling a little more confident, try mixing and matching yellow and grey pieces together
4. To fully embrace this colour trend, try a print that combines both hues
5. If you’re feeling unsure, try yellow and grey accessories instead of garments
6. If you have a cool skin tone, opt for more greys. If you have a warm skin tone, make yellow your go-to.
7. Don’t forget to have fun with this reliable yet optimistic palette!

Ready to take on 2021’s hottest colour trend? Discover our curated edit of items inspired by Ultimate Grey and Illuminating to add to your wardrobe. From classic grey tees to gorgeous yellow dresses, we have on-trend pieces for every woman, no matter your style! Click the button below to shop our selection of the top grey and yellow garments for 2021.