Fall 2016 Pantone Fashion Color Report

FALL 2016: A Unity of Strength, Confidence and Complexity



The desire for tranquility, strength, and optimism have inspired a Fall 2016 color palette that is led by the Blue family.

Along with anchoring earth tones, exuberant pops of vibrant colors also appear throughout the collections. Transcending gender, these unexpectedly vivacious colors in our Fall 2016 palette act as playful but structured departures from your more typical fall shades.

Blue skies represent constancy as they are always above us. Grays give a feeling of stability, Red tones invite confidence and warmth, while the hot Pinkish Purples and Spicy Mustard Yellows suggest a touch of the exotic.

Leatrice Eiseman Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute

  • Door: Santorini by Mddphoto (istock.com/mddphoto)
  • Denim: Gucci
  • Chair: Domedeco By Eurofashion Ambiente
  • Clouds: Night Clouds by John North (istockphoto.com/johnnorth)
  • Woman: Lacoste
  • Vases: Eightmood Ambiente

NEW! RiversidePANTONE 17-4028

Earmarking the importance of Blue in the palette, the new blue shade of PANTONE 17­-4028 Riverside undeniably takes precedence in the fall collections.

  • Cool and calming, strong and stable
  • Displays a subtle vibrancy and sophistication
  • Borders on exciting, yet
  • Maintains a sense of constancy

Leatrice Eiseman Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute


See these colors live on the runway!

  • Bedding: Himla
  • Ribbed Fabric: Duca Visconti
  • Purse: Extracted with permission from PANTONEVIEW Colour Planner – Disguise
  • Water Droplet: Ripples on Water by Deniz Bayram (istock.com/denizbayram)
  • Woman: Oscar de la Renta
  • Texture Block: Extracted with permission from PANTONEVIEW Colour Planner – Disguise

NEW! Airy BluePANTONE 14-4122

Pantone 14-4122 Airy Blue’s lofty nature evokes feelings of lightness and freedom.

  • Designers seeking weightlessness in a world heavy with conflict
  • Blue tones appear in nearly half of the designs
  • Airy Blue nods to Serenity
  • Pair Airy Blue with Lush Meadow, Taupe or Dusty Cedar for fresh approach

Leatrice Eiseman Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute


See these colors live on the runway!

  • Chunky Knit: Lou Dalton
  • Hand: Extracted with permission from PANTONEVIEW Colour Planner – Reveal
  • Bowls: Interni Edition
  • Rocks: Extracted with permission from PANTONEVIEW Colour Planner – Reveal
  • Woman: Marissa Webb
  • Shoe: Fashion Snoops Street Style

NEW! SharkskinPANTONE 17-3914

There’s an edge to PANTONE 17-3914 Sharkskin, and yet it manages to remain neutral.

  • Pair-able with almost any fall color, bright or muted
  • A color that the rest of the palette can literally and theoretically rest on
  • Showcases practicality through a dependable but contemporary lens

Leatrice Eiseman Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute


See these colors live on the runway!

  • Silk: Barbara Casasola
  • Bag: Opening Ceremony
  • Lips: Fashion Snoops Beauty
  • Rose: Rose in Waterdrops by Gn Om (istock.com/gn_om)
  • Woman: Christian Siriano
  • Chair: Mambo Unlimited

Aurora RedPANTONE 18-1550

In contrast to the stable backbone of the Fall 2016 palette, PANTONE 18-1550 Aurora Red adds a welcome punch.

  • A bold Red that is warm, sensual and immediately pleasing to the eye
  • Gets the metaphorical blood of the palette pumping
  • Exciting and dynamic, breeds unmistakable confidence

Leatrice Eiseman Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute


See these colors live on the runway!

  • Jacket Front: Alexander McQueen
  • Plate: Rina Menardi
  • Quilted Fabric: Weft
  • Wood: Extracted with permission from PANTONEVIEW Colour Planner – Reveal
  • Woman: Jonathan Simkhai
  • Hat: Zimmerman

Warm TaupePANTONE 16-1318

PANTONE 16-1318 Warm Taupe is a hearty, pleasing and approachable neutral that pairs well with each of the top 10 shades of the Fall 2016 season.

  • Suggests reassurance and stability
  • Trusted, organic and grounded
  • Departs slightly from the foundations of the Fall 2016 palette
  • Timeless

Leatrice Eiseman Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute


See these colors live on the runway!

  • Velvet: Acne Studios
  • Pyramid Surface: Covet Studio
  • Bag + Glove: Aigner
  • Woman: Concept Korea
  • Chunky Knit: Canali
  • Sofa Andreu World

Dusty CedarPANTONE 18-1630

Like Airy Blue, PANTONE 18-1630 Dusty Cedar gives a nod to the PANTONE Color of the Year 2016, Rose Quartz.

  • A fall and winter version of the Pinks we’re used to seeing in spring
  • Dustier rose-toned Pink shade with some complexity
  • Exudes warmth and welcome

Leatrice Eiseman Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute


See these colors live on the runway!

  • Glove: Elie Saab
  • Leaves: Extracted with permission from PANTONEVIEW Colour Planner – Reveal
  • Jacket & Purse: Extracted with permission from PANTONEVIEW Colour Planner – Reveal
  • Glassware: Household Hardware
  • Woman: Jay Godfrey
  • Chunky Knit : Les Hommes

NEW! Lush MeadowPANTONE 18-5845

PANTONE 18-5845 Lush Meadow brings to mind fresh botanicals and foliage.

  • Rich and elegant, vibrant and sophisticated
  • This shade displays a brightness, panache and depth of color that elevates it from more natural greens
  • Elevates the overall elegance woven through this season’s collections

Leatrice Eiseman Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute


See these colors live on the runway!

  • Mini Bookbag: Moschino
  • Sculpture: Future History
  • Leather: D & Co.
  • Lamp: Devi Design
  • Woman: Sophie Theallet
  • Leaf Vains: SS17 - Progression – Inspiration

NEW! Spicy MustardPANTONE 14-0952

Bounces elegantly off other colors in the palette,
PANTONE 14-0952 Spicy Mustard is an exotic addition.

  • Adds another splash of uplifting vibrancy
  • A spicier, zestier Yellow than previous seasons
  • Unexpected and unusual
  • Comes through in both the abstract and geometric accents that designers employed

Leatrice Eiseman Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute


See these colors live on the runway!

  • Suede: Daks
  • Lamps: Simon Hasan
  • Wood: Bark of Cedar Tree by kyoshino (istock.com/kyoshino)
  • Bag: Aspinal London
  • Woman: Tibi
  • Leaves: Maple Leaves by Bes Junior (istock.com/besjunior)

Potter's ClayPANTONE 18-1340

PANTONE 18-1340 Potter’s Clay has an added degree of sophistication and layering.

  • Elements of russet Orange in its undertones, gives a grounded feeling that’s anything but flat
  • Neutral earth tone; expected for fall and winter palette
  • A shade with real substance; a strong foundation

Leatrice Eiseman Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute


See these colors live on the runway!

  • Jacquard Fabric: Europ Marchini
  • Rock/Crystal: Extracted with permission from PANTONEVIEW Colour Planner – Reveal
  • Leather: Leathertex
  • Chair: Covet Studio
  • Woman: Lie Sang Bong
  • Powder: SS17 - Changeling - Harmonies

NEW! BodaciousPANTONE 17-3240

PANTONE 17-3240 Bodacious speaks to the gender fluidity we continue to see.

  • Lends itself to vibrant color combinations
  • Unexpected in fall
  • Versatile; can be used with Pinks and Reds
  • Bright, rich Purple, with hints of a more sophisticated Pink
  • Turns fashion accents into fashion statements

Leatrice Eiseman Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute


See these colors live on the runway!

DOWNLOAD THE COLORS FROM THE PANTONE FASHION COLOR REPORT for FALL 2016

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The Pantone Color Institute and trend forecast agency Fashion Snoops enjoy a long time partnership. To help our clients best visualize the top 10 shades featured at NYFW Fall 2016, Fashion Snoops created color inspiration boards. Throughout the season Fashion Snoops will continue to provide color confirmation for these top 10 shades selected by the Pantone Color Institute.

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