Pantone recently declared a shade of white named Cloud Dancer to be 2026’s color of the year. It’s a calming shade, sure, but it doesn’t elicit strong feelings, except perhaps of wanting to take a nap. Cobalt blue, on the other hand, gives you a jolt. And that’s probably why fashion designers and celebrities have been gravitating toward the hue.
Cobalt blue has been in the mix for a few seasons now. It showed up on the Spring 2024 runways at Loewe, Burberry and Armani, among other houses, according to Who What Wear, and designers like Schiaparelli, Balenciaga and Chloé featured the color in their Spring 2025 collections. It was also highlighted in the Spring 2026 presentations of Gucci, Tom Ford and Victoria Beckham, in addition to Chanel’s Métiers d’art show in December, according to Vogue. But unlike Barbie pink or butter yellow, cobalt blue isn’t ubiquitous, which makes it feel fresh.
Whether you clad yourself in cobalt blue, like Greta Lee in her Luar suit or Dakota Johnson with her Gucci gown, or you limit the hue to a single piece, like Kendall Jenner’s scarf or Jennifer Lawrence’s sweater from the Row, the effect is electric.
