ESD MAGAZINE
By: Laura Solla

Peach Fuzz: The Color of the Year 2024 is the Most Flattering Shade of the Color Palette

Year after year, certain style mysteries keep us fashion enthusiasts in suspense. What will be the theme of the next Met Gala? What surprises will designers have for us during fashion weeks? What will be the most repeated trends in street style around the globe? Above all these uncertainties stands the most striking decision of all: the color that will dye our wardrobes for the next 365 days.

The Peach Fuzz tone, chosen by the Pantone Color Institute for 2024, is a soft blend of pink and orange, a sort of coral or, to imagine it more easily, the exact color of peach fuzz or a sunset at the beach. It's a haven of peace after the intense Viva Magenta and Pink PP of last year, flattering and as versatile as they come. "Peach Fuzz is a soft, velvety peach tone whose enveloping spirit enriches the mind, body, and soul," claim the experts at Pantone. Today, we will give you all the keys to make the most of it without any risk of error.

"We were looking for a shade that expressed our innate desire for closeness and connection, so we chose this radiant color that exudes warmth and modern elegance," explains Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Institute, about this orangey shade that brands like Alaïa, Patou, Balmain, or Missoni have already showcased on the runway. No surprise there, as this color not only flatters all skin tones but also conveys balance, warmth, and serenity in equal parts. Because color psychology does matter, and in this case, it only foretells good things: a warm and comforting tone that stimulates the desire for unity with others, to cherish moments of quietness, and the feeling of protection.

Although it might not seem like an easy color at first, rest assured, it has far more possibilities than you can imagine. And if not, just ask Lady Di who, as usual, sported the trend before anyone else with her elegant two-piece suits or polka dot dresses, her favorite pattern. Trendsetters of our decade have also already caught on, and our favorite brands are beginning to launch all kinds of accessories and garments dyed in this curious Pantone. But how can we adapt it to our wardrobe? We can start by including it in small accessories that add a touch of color to our styling, such as bags, belts, caps, or the easiest option, scarves and handkerchiefs. In the peak of spring (the most appropriate season for this tone), we can include it in larger garments like skirts, sweaters, or, of course, dresses. And once the much-anticipated summer begins, Peach Fuzz will completely settle into our wardrobe.

Because although it is a flattering color regardless of whether we are more or less tanned, it is true that it will still look even better when the sun's rays begin to impact our skin. The exact coordinates of this new Color of the Year 2024 within the international chromatic identification system, the Pantone Matching System (PMS), are 13-1023. Coordinates that allude to a warm and cozy tone selected by a committee of 40 trendsetters led by Leatrice Eiseman, color specialist and, as mentioned earlier, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. But everything has its reason, and as is often the case in fashion matters, this reason goes back a long time. More specifically, to the blush tones that Madame Pompadour, a French duchess and courtesan, lover of King Louis XV, used to wear at the court. During the entire Rococo period, this pinkish hue remained at the forefront of trends but it was not until the 1930s that it was definitively installed in the fashion industry as we know it today, making its leap to Hollywood. There, among red carpets and walks of fame, the reign of the 'naked dresses' embraced peach as a preferred color, even invading all sorts of home decorative items in the crazy 80s.

Now, more than forty years later, Peach Fuzz regains its fame to delight the most romantic and sensitive (and the boldest, of course). In short, at ESD Magazine, we are already more than ready to bet everything on the most flattering color of the color palette—are you?