Although one could argue that all colors are in at any time, fashion has favorites. Those favorites never last too long, unless we’re talking about fiery red which refuses to burn out. Every year, Pantone names the colors that are up and coming, making it big on the 2019 runways and making their way into the closets of the fashion-focused. Let’s take a look at the 2019 Pantone colors, and how they’ve been used thus far on the runways.

Living Coral

Living Coral is a part of the rich coral reef, a place to dive in and explore the beautiful ocean that vibrant fish call house and home. Rich purples and greens surround living coral, in the form of young reef snakes and ancient sea turtles. A congregation of mollusks sways leisurely at the base of the reef, nestled into the sloping hills of sand. Manatees and dolphins are common tourists, nudging the reef as they investigate the inhabitants of this sprawling paradise. Swimming past you without a care, a clownfish darts and weaves, heading towards the center of this oceanic metropolis.

Andrew Gn accents a lovely living coral dress with a green necklace and blue shoes, while St. John and Hellessy allow this color to breathe with simple black accents. Au Jour le Jour’s beautiful coat and pencil skirt are perfect for a day of chilly travel, and Sachin & Babi’s flowing wrap dress in living coral would fit right in at a tango lesson.

Start living in coral:

Mango Mojito

Mango Mojito is a flowering bird of paradise, perched on a Capetown porch, swaying in the ocean breeze. A sunbird flits by, pollinating the colorful flower with its feet and flying off into the breeze. Streaked with purple and red, this South African native blossoms in the summer sun, opening up to the clear blue sky. A gentle wind brings the sounds of the ocean, the crashing of the waves and the voices of beach-goers, to the bird of paradise’s modest home. Sip your mango mojito and take in the beachside haven around you.

Carmen March’s bustier in mango mojito is styled beautifully with tight pants and a high ponytail, while Edeline Lee lets this bold color speak for itself with a simple ruffle dress. Mango mojito plays nicely with bright pink in both Gucci’s and Victor Glemaud’s resort collections, and  Philosophy di Lorenza Serafini showed a beautiful pair of mango mojito shorts paired with a lovely white blouse.

Add some mango to your mojito:

Pepper Stem

Pepper stem is the stalks of plants in a community garden in a sprawling urban utopia, tied to twigs as they learn how to grow. Peppers, tomatoes, and okra make their way up through the soil, tended by the careful yet clumsy hands of novices learning from gardeners well tuned to these growing pains. Vines make their way up the fences that surround the plant, fortifying the castle walls. Dappled sunlight streaks past the vines, giving strength to the seedlings. You pick a pepper to bring home, cut up and cooked into a meal that nurtures and fulfills.

Alena Akhamdullinacreates a stunningly flowy pepper stem dress for Spring, and fashions a forties style silhouette with budding flowers for Pre-Fall. Dondup’s all-denim ensemble is the perfect utility outfit, while Andrew Gn’s lovely military style coat is strictly for style. Silvia Tcherassi pepper stem blouse is paired perfectly with a flowy skirt, the ideal spring ensemble.

Pick this pepper stem:

Soybean

Soybean is a steaming cappuccino cradled in cold hands. The scent of cinnamon and vanilla entangle themselves in the heavy fog streaming from the cup. Orders are called out as people seek refuge from the rain, and the smell of grilled cheese mingles with that of the cappuccino, a surprisingly inviting aroma. A jazz band plays in the corner, their unruly sound bouncing around the room, the perfect harmony to the cacophony of conversation.  Sitting in the window seat of this cozy cafe, a book in your lap and the rain setting a steady beat, you take a sip and enter heaven.

Altuzarra’s soybean blazer is perfect for work, along with Brunello Cucinelli’s suit.  Rochas and Silvia Tcherassi both fashion flowing garments, while Mara Hoffman kept it tight with a bustier and matching trousers, perfect for heading to the local farmer’s market.

Soak it in with soybean:

Sweet Lilac

Sweet Lilac is a macaron, sold with a cup of tea in a quaint Parisian bakeshop. Now perched in the napkin in your hand, seated silently on a bench nearby its pleasant home, the scent of sweet lilac is subtle and surrounded by the city. The afternoon sun wanes, brittle behind the clouds. Someone plays the saxophone in the distance, as a young couple ride their bikes past, oblivious to anything but each other. You whistle along quietly to the sound of the saxophone and join the world around you, smelling sweet lilac.

Adam Lippes creates a beautiful peplum paired with a pantsuit, while Solace London’s beautiful bell-sleeved sweater is paired with pleated trousers. Christian Siriano and Etro fashioned stunning eveningwear in sweet lilac and Isabel Marant’s corduroy sweet lilac blazer is absolutely stunning.

Get sweet on lilac:

Which Pantone color will you be adding to your closet? Let me know in the comments!