In spite of Pantone’s egregious error, brown will be my color this year. And I will feel grounded and connected to the land – this land, my landscape, as well as the whole of Earth – as never before.
Beautiful nuanced brown collages. So good! Maybe the purpose of Pantone Mocha Mousse (ewwww) is to nudge us to notice all the other burnished grounded hues. Although it’s hard to unsee that flat pasty color — like beige pretending too hard to be a mysterious adult.
Well, for someone who thought Pantone was an Italian yeast cake, I learned a lot about color this morning. Your sense of color is acute and your eye—through the lens—for color and shape and form is remarkable. Those collages are striking and beautiful.
Glad that the Spirit is nudging you further into Celtic spirituality. As I think I said, you were already there and maybe didn’t know it.
Hi David. When I was writing this I kept misspelling Pantone as panetone (I have a tendency to merge two words together in my head so panettone was clearly on my mind!)
Thank you on all the above but most especially for your encouragement on my path.
When the spokespeople for an entire industry choose chocolate mousse as the Pantone color of the year, there’s a bigger reason why. One of Susan’s friends was a professional color trend predictor for the fashion and design industries, and all I know is that Pantone color selection is directly tied to cultural situation and change. Eg: Dark green worsteds during WW2, grays and creams during the Depression, bright colors in the post-war days of excitement and hope (lots of brights including a cornea-burning orange in the early 60s). That mocha mousse was chosen for 2025 says it all, in every way. 1970 and 71 were both Pantone Earthly Brown. 1976 was dark grey. What happened in 1970? Cambodia. A year after Sharon Tate. Kent State. Hendrix died. Joplin died. The war kept raging. The country was dangerously divided. Like now. (Although I also had a pair of beloved wide wale chocolate cords from The Lodge (!) that I loved, and a dark brown wool suit from Brooks when I was at Harper. And for some reason, I just bought a chocolate brown sweater for book tour……
All so interesting. After I wrote this I did go back and read various comments about the color. It was weird to me that Pantone was calling it “soothing” when others were pointing out what they thought was a clear connection to our moment in time (decidedly not soothing or pretty or handsome). Fashion folks were divided with some being quite disparaging in comparing it to well, you know,…) I still love brown sweaters!
I share your sustenance in and from nature; so thanks for this perspective of brown. When it comes to food though, it’s all about color for me (as i know it is often for you too).
Ha, yes, truly I do love all color and especially bright vibrant colors, but I think your food is particularly colorful! I have to email you about induction!
Crazed with love for this post (and brown). It IS an egregious error and your description of watercolour mess is absolute perfection. What were they THINKING? Collages extremely soothing though, so thank you.
Thank you India. I so love all of your color - your dining room table during the holidays was a thing of joy! And yes, geeze, of all the great browns..,what were they thinking?!!
The collages of browns are warm and beautiful - the chestnut horses bum takes me back to my childhood and my first pony Copper ❤️
Wow, I've been transported to all my favorite earthy nature moments. This is brilliant. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it Annie!
Beautiful nuanced brown collages. So good! Maybe the purpose of Pantone Mocha Mousse (ewwww) is to nudge us to notice all the other burnished grounded hues. Although it’s hard to unsee that flat pasty color — like beige pretending too hard to be a mysterious adult.
😂 So true Lorene. I was wondering what you thought of this color! but, heck, maybe you're right - it certainly made me think about other browns!
I love this! It is the most unsatisfying brown- you are exactly right 🤎
(I can’t see other comments, but assume many agree with you!)
Hi cathy! Yes! Practically any other brown would have been better!
I didn’t like it at first but it’s grown on me!
Well, for someone who thought Pantone was an Italian yeast cake, I learned a lot about color this morning. Your sense of color is acute and your eye—through the lens—for color and shape and form is remarkable. Those collages are striking and beautiful.
Glad that the Spirit is nudging you further into Celtic spirituality. As I think I said, you were already there and maybe didn’t know it.
Hi David. When I was writing this I kept misspelling Pantone as panetone (I have a tendency to merge two words together in my head so panettone was clearly on my mind!)
Thank you on all the above but most especially for your encouragement on my path.
When the spokespeople for an entire industry choose chocolate mousse as the Pantone color of the year, there’s a bigger reason why. One of Susan’s friends was a professional color trend predictor for the fashion and design industries, and all I know is that Pantone color selection is directly tied to cultural situation and change. Eg: Dark green worsteds during WW2, grays and creams during the Depression, bright colors in the post-war days of excitement and hope (lots of brights including a cornea-burning orange in the early 60s). That mocha mousse was chosen for 2025 says it all, in every way. 1970 and 71 were both Pantone Earthly Brown. 1976 was dark grey. What happened in 1970? Cambodia. A year after Sharon Tate. Kent State. Hendrix died. Joplin died. The war kept raging. The country was dangerously divided. Like now. (Although I also had a pair of beloved wide wale chocolate cords from The Lodge (!) that I loved, and a dark brown wool suit from Brooks when I was at Harper. And for some reason, I just bought a chocolate brown sweater for book tour……
All so interesting. After I wrote this I did go back and read various comments about the color. It was weird to me that Pantone was calling it “soothing” when others were pointing out what they thought was a clear connection to our moment in time (decidedly not soothing or pretty or handsome). Fashion folks were divided with some being quite disparaging in comparing it to well, you know,…) I still love brown sweaters!
I share your sustenance in and from nature; so thanks for this perspective of brown. When it comes to food though, it’s all about color for me (as i know it is often for you too).
Ha, yes, truly I do love all color and especially bright vibrant colors, but I think your food is particularly colorful! I have to email you about induction!
Yes!
Horse hiney brown would be an amazing colour of the year.
Wouldn't it?! 🤣 They should ask for our help next year!
Crazed with love for this post (and brown). It IS an egregious error and your description of watercolour mess is absolute perfection. What were they THINKING? Collages extremely soothing though, so thank you.
Thank you India. I so love all of your color - your dining room table during the holidays was a thing of joy! And yes, geeze, of all the great browns..,what were they thinking?!!
🤎
Your piece is insightful and brilliant. Thank you
Thank you so much Anita!