After the weird year we've had in 2020, Pantone, weirdly, picked two colours to be the colour of 2021, Illuminating Yellow and complementary Illuminating Gray. So while the gray represents practicality, the yellow represents optimism and how both need to coexist and this combination is supposed to inspire hope and resilience. While I'm not super crazy about the colours together, inspirational message aside, I do think Ultimate Gray is an awesome neutral colour and it's the first time Pantone's picked gray at all so check out how you can introduce it to your weird year in a cool way.
Pantone Picked Two Colours Of The Year In 2021: Introducing Ultimate Gray
Bodycon Dressed Up
₹1890
Gray definitely doesn't mean it has to be boring or professional-looking; you can easily wear this gray bodycon dress in a ton of different ways. Paired with a denim jacket and white sneakers, it's a perfect for a lunch date or coffee run. Want to wear it out at night? The slit makes it so much more fun with heels and a black leather jacket.
Looking for the best white sneakers to wear with this dress? Check 'em out here.
Saree Not Saree
₹2650
A slightly unconventional colour for ethnic wear but if there's a year that deserves unconventional, it's this one. This cotton saree is super easy to drape and the sequins make it look so much fresher and younger considering the gray tones. Pair it up with a yellow blouse you've already got in your closet, or even a crop top, and you've got a complementary outfit that'll get you a ton of compliments (I had to, sorry.)
Spotted Earrings
₹430
You may have expected me to take the easy way out and imply silver earrings equals ultimate gray jewellery but nope, I would never cheat like that. Check out these spotted studs that are hand painted which makes them 10x cooler in my books. Bonus points for also being super lightweight so you're not crying when your earrings get inevitably tugged by your mask.
Tote This Around
₹599
If you like to carry practically your entire life around in your bag or have started going back to office, this tote is an easy way to lug around your laptop while also making sure your colleagues know you're keeping up with colour trends even during quarantine. Made with faux leather, this bag is super sturdy and sleek. Plus, it's a steal at only INR 599 for a full-sized tote.
Slide Into These
₹599
The moment we decided as a society that it's acceptable to wear slides in public is a moment I will never not cherish. Slides aren't just incredibly comfortable, they also look super chill and laidback; the pearls and ruffle detailing on these slip-ons, though, make them just dressy enough to be worn with casual dresses and if you're heading to Goa, I'd pack these for sure.
Airy Palazzos
₹2400
If I haven't made it evident yet, I'm a sucker for comfort in fashion and nothing's better than wearing an easy-breezy pair of palazzos, especially these gray ones when they come with ghungroos and gota patti. I love how modern the colour looks and they can literally match with so many kurtas you already own so in case you've got your 700th lockdown wedding to attend, just invest in these rather than buying an entirely new outfit.
Also, just to save your feet from the horror that is heels, check out these kolhapuris instead.
Pro-Tip
Now that you've got one half of the Pantone colour scheme sorted, check out the complementary Illuminating Yellow lookbook we've curated for you!