Pantone’s 2025 color of the year is a delicious flavor of brown

When Pantone shows me its 2025 Color of the Year, the first thing I see is Skims. Then Fear of God sweatsuits. Yeezy. All flavor of taupe-adjacent Nike. The new Beats by Dre. But the official name? That’s Mocha Mousse, also known as Pantone 17-1230. It’s brown without being heavy or overbearing—as easy on your eye as cacao whipped with egg whites.  Mocha Mousse isn’t significant simply because it’s a new statement color. “It’s a foundational shade. It’s a fashion shade, but...