On Dec. 5, 2024, Pantone unveiled the 2025 Color of the Year: Mocha Mousse, a soft, luxurious brown hue. For over 20 years, Pantone has selected a Color of the Year to welcome the new year through a celebration of color. The Color of the Year represents more than just a shade, reflecting the collective global attitude and mood at the time. Last year’s color, Peach Fuzz, was a soft pinkish-orange hue meant to bring a gentle reminder of comfort and connection in the fast and tense modern world. As the calendar switched to 2025, Peach Fuzz was retired to usher in a new era expressed by color. 

For the first time, Pantone has strayed away from bright, vivid colors to select a neutral shade, Mocha Mousse, a soft comforting brown inspired by the warmth of coffee and chocolate. The homage to popular comfort foods was intended to bring a form of familiar comfort to the world. Fashion Apparel and Housing Design teacher Kristen Naeger believes that this comfort is necessary in the world today.

“Last year’s [Color of the Year] was [Peach Fuzz], a bright, happy color, [but] this brown color makes me feel very calm and cozy and that’s what everyone needs,” said Naeger. “With the political landscape and the higher rates of anxiety that everyone is feeling, muted colors are a trend we’re seeing. We want [to be] muted, simple, calm, blend in and not stand out too much. Bringing in this very calm, muted color makes me think of when you’re drinking a latte, you’re relaxed and you’re having ‘me time.’” 

Like enjoying a cup of coffee after a long day or taking a bite of a rich, chocolate dessert, Mocha Mousse represents indulging in simple pleasures and taking care of ourselves. The subtle, luxurious hue answers the world’s call for comfort, empowering us to create moments of luxury and elegance in our own lives. 

“So much is changing in the world right now and 2025 has been an odd year so far. It’s necessary to have some simplicity and nice colors in our everyday life when everything is so chaotic and things are up in the air,” sophomore Malia McLellan said.

Mocha Mousse is part of the rise of brown and other neutrals that are shifting consumers away from the vivid and bold contrasts that have previously prevailed. Beginning in the fall of last year, the fashion world saw more people swapping out black for brown and other neutrals. 

In particular, browns like Mocha Mousse offers versatility that works well with varying textures such as wool, leather and other soft materials while also adding a touch of sophistication. From bags to coats, skirts to pants, purses to glasses, brown can easily and effortlessly be incorporated into outfits.

The use of brown in fashion is on point with the recent trend of “quiet luxury” that emphasizes elegant, high quality and refined simplicity over flashy logos and designs. Beyond just fashion, neutrals like Mocha Mousse bring connotations of luxury and sophistication to various fields. 

It was once common practice in interior design to cover up wooden furniture with bright paints and prints. Now, homeowners are stripping away layers of paint to reveal the natural wood hidden beneath. In addition, there’s been a turn to softer, more muted hues when selecting home decor or paint colors. 

“When it comes to houses, some people like a neutral palette. That’s pretty popular right now,” senior Esther Young said. “People are going less modern white and more natural. We’re a bit overstimulated [due to our] phones, so having your house be a color like [Mocha Mousse] or just being surrounded with neutral colors might be a calming thing.” 

Similarly, while blonde hair was once considered the expected hair color for women, brown or dirty blonde hair is now trending. In particular, many celebrities have dyed their hair back to their natural browns. Consumers have adopted the low-maintenance, effortless brunette look, embracing their natural hair colors. 

“Especially from Hollywood and celebrities, we’re starting to get away from ‘fake’ [looks],” Naeger said. “Older celebrities were the pioneers of altering how your body looks [with] fillers and Botox. A lot of them aren’t doing that anymore; [they] had their fillers taken out and want to look more like [they] did prior to all of this stuff. Going ahead and letting your hair be brown, or painting [your] nails [more naturally] might tie back into that whole naturalistic movement we’re following.”

Mocha Mousse aligns with the current universal sentiments of embracing natural beauty and a life of minimalism. However, while Mocha Mousse certainly fits current trends, the selection of the color as the Color of the Year hasn’t been as well received. Particularly with the younger generation, the message of simplicity and sophistication Pantone aims to bring faces challenges.

“I see where they’re coming from, but when I see this color, I don’t think simple pleasures,” senior Felicity Jackson said. “It looks delicious, but it doesn’t feel like a relatable color. To me, simple is something that’s unapologetically there, it exists and that’s all that matters. [Mocha Mousse] feels curated. I think of five dollars for one chocolate. It’s even called Mocha Mousse, that’s an expensive name.”

Online, the color has been criticized for being boring, with comparisons made to the ‘sad beige’ trend in which people are shying away from bright colors and turning to muted palettes. Many were surprised at the selection of Mocha Mousse over brighter colors like “Barbie Pink” and “Brat Green” that trended in 2024. Feminist club co-president and junior Clara Lazarini thinks that the turn to neutral colors is part of the larger movement of people wanting to be the same.

“With the rise of neutral colors and the quiet luxury trend in fashion, the world is less colorful than prior years and it shows the political vibe right now,” Lazarini said. “Everyone is trying to emulate quiet luxury and a fancy, chic vibe. Meanwhile, people can’t afford to pay rent. While everyone is striving to become the same and [be] uniform with Birkins and ridiculous hairstyles like chocolate brown, all of this show[s] how people are falling into very categorized styles. There’s a lack of individualism.”

While some criticize Mocha Mousse as a reflection of the world becoming increasingly uniform and lacking individuality, others — like Naeger —appreciate the simplicity of a soft color as a natural response in a time of uncertainty and rising tensions. 

“I get [the criticism], but I also think that [Pantone] takes a lot of things into consideration, and part of that is not only what is currently trending but also the landscape in general. Where are our moods? What are we feeling? And what are the trends happening socially? [There is an] upward trend of everybody feeling like they’re on edge, feeling like we’re doing too much and [feeling unsure of] what’s going on with the market or the new president,” Naeger said.

The conflicting opinions about Mocha Mousse do not deter or undermine Pantone’s goals. In fact, it’s part of the charm and purpose of the Color of the Year that these colors don’t fit perfectly with ideal trends or appeal to everyone. Ultimately, the color itself does not matter as much; rather, how we use and apply color holds true value. As an AP Drawing student, Young is familiar with utilizing colors for various meanings within her work.

“In the art sense, you’re looking at a deeper meaning of things. But broadly speaking, I think the color doesn’t matter that much. I understand why they’re making it so serious, but it’s just a color when you’re not relating it to a specific piece of art,” Young said. 

Whether Mocha Mousse is seen as a reflection of conformity or a response to the world’s uncertainty, the true power of the Color of the Year lies in its ability to provoke dialogue and challenge perspectives, much as is already happening right now. Just like the Color of the Year, as 2025 unfolds, its significance will be shaped by the perspectives and experiences of those who choose to engage and interact with it.