COTY: Peach Fuzz

Talk about a change in direction.

After 2023’s bold Viva Magenta - a blue-red tone that was supposed to herald the age of the Metaverse (a total bust so far) - the color experts at Pantone have done an about-face and announced Peach Fuzz as their 2024 Color of the Year. This warm, airy peach hue is described by Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute Leatrice Eiseman as having both calming and cocooning qualities and offers a welcome break from the tensions of our external world, like everyday politics, global conflicts, and technology. In short, Peach Fuzz is about being comforted.

Of course, like anything these days, Peach Fuzz has received a mixed reception from the internet talking heads. While Refinery29 liked its versatility – it can be a “guileless baby-soft pastel or a little improper, a little bit smutty but in a safe flirty way” - others have called it a “miss” with its late 1980’s / early 90’s vintage vibes that invokes the Golden Girls.

Peach Fuzz does have a retro feel, but more 1970s than 80s (at least to me). It’s a soft, flesh-tone hue with a sophisticated neutral spin that’s in-line with the direction interiors and fashion are headed (read the 1stDibs article in my December Media Roundup). And because the name Peach Fuzz includes a tactile quality, expect to see it incorporated into cozy and textured home décor like upholstered furniture pieces. Beauty and fashion have already started to tap into the color, from warm-tone makeup palettes (a Gen Z TikTok obsession - the video link is hilarious) to the Spring 2024 runways of Schiaparelli, Molly Goddard, Altuzarra, Stella McCartney, and Jil Sander. Get ready to see a Hollywood awards season awash in Peach Fuzz starting this Sunday at the Golden Globes.