Pantone | DorEm Answers

Dear Dorigen,

After over a year, I’m still figuring out how to best navigate life as a Soft Autumn.

Muted earth tones are very hard to find outside of a sandy beach. Like, when picturing a brown shirt, you may think of a deep, rich chocolate or a warm, sophisticated cinnamon. Now take that clean top off the hanger and throw it directly in the middle of any beach. Let the elements and wildlife take hold: sun bleaching, sand muck, various species of urine, “accidents.” After a year, this once brown garment will arrive at a shade of dusky filth that’ll make my olive skin glow. Soft Autumn is the post-apocalyptic glamour.

Thankfully, the lovely folks at Pantone have removed these extra, unsanitary steps by releasing their 2025 Color of the Year: Mocha Mousse 17-1230. I feel seen.

Perhaps in the coming year, we’ll see groutfits morph into moussefits or we’ll just throw on anything with an Ugg boot.

Will you attempt this of-the-moment mousy couture colour?

Love,

P.S. Mocha Mousse is just beige, right?

P.P.S. Pete and I only just learned the term “groutfit” during a conversation with a newly informed dad.

Peach Fuzz

Dear Dorigen,

Pantone recently announced their color of the year: PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz. It’s not simply Peach, not Warm Blush, not 1980’s Shell, not even Tawny Sunset. It’s Peach_Fuzz. That load-bearing space between Peach and Fuzz does nothing to make me forget KMD’s “Peachfuzz.”

To me, Peachfuzz (or, I guess, Peach Fuzz) can only ever be the insult used for teasing someone who can’t yet grow in their hair. Period.

The thing is, this Pantone color, this particular shade of peach, is pretty.

It deserves a name that doesn’t conjure up playground ribbing. If you absolutely can’t just call a color of the year by its singular name, Peach, then I suggest:

#1: PANTONE 13-1023 Cherie Wins Miss Adorable Dress

#2: PANTONE 13-1023 Peaches N Cream Barbie

#3: PANTONE 13-1023 Caboodles Classic

#4: PANTONE 13-1023 Soft Sweet Potato

I guess I just prefer the name of a color to conjure up thoughts of Mr. Andy Gibb pairing a sequin blazer with red leather pants, while crowning the clear winner of Miss Adorable. Margaux’s “I’m strictly a female female” be damned.

What do you think? Will you wear Peach Fuzz this year? If you do and if you feel compelled to rub your chin, think of Cherie winning Miss Adorable in that fabulous dress and your posture may become regal.