Fashion seems to no longer be confined to the boundaries of gender, and the topic of equality is one of the most talked about topics on the year. Pantone, the leading authority in colour, has announced Rose Quartz and Serenity as the colours of 2016. This is the first time that the in 16 years that Pantone has announced crowned two colours as it’s winners; this is a reaction to the equality movement in fashion, as explained Pantone Colour Institute’s executive director Leatrice Eiseman:

“We are experiencing gender blur as it relates to fashion… societal movements toward gender equality and fluidity, the consumers’ increased comfort with using colour as a form of expression, and an open exchange of digital information that has opened our eyes to different approaches to colour usage that challenge traditional colour associations.”
This calm pastel pink and blue has been making a debut on the runway as of late, with brands as J.W Anderson, Carolina Herrera, Miu Miu, Roksanda, Jil Sander and Vivienne Westwood have been incorporating them into their shows. When shopping for your 2016 wardrobe, forget the bold, shocking colours and opt for a softer palette of pink, dusty blue, beige, grey or lilac.

“Rose is also an embracing colour, reflecting wellness, which of course is a big issue with everybody. With the tranquility of the blue, you get a kind of soothing feeling of order, composure and peace. We thought that really was tantamount to putting these two colours together and presenting them.”