In 2018, just like in 2017 and 2016, it’s nearly impossible to go a day without seeing millennial pink. At the time of writing this, I’m wearing a millennial pink top, sitting next to a roll of millennial pink paper, and staring at a millennial pink print of palm trees. When I stepped out earlier today, I saw a girl carrying a Mansur Gavriel millennial pink bucket bag, three girls arm in arm with millennial pink Glossier bubble makeup bags, and a man carrying his lunch in a millennial pink Dig Inn bag. I could go on (a copy of Bittersweet in the window of McNalley Jackson) and on (millennial pink dream couch sitting in Coming Soon) and on (the newest shade of *that* Arrivals jacket), but it actually seems like the color may soon be on its way out.
Of course there will still be lots of millennial pink things (see above paragraph). Just the other day, Sophia Amoruso wrote on her Instagram story, “Thinking about millennial pink and I know my book four years ago was part of making it a thing but fuck do you want it to end as much as I do?” The Instastory poll was pretty evenly split between people who were still into the color and those who were completely done with it. But every day it seems to fall a little out of favor as people crave something different. We can, after all, see about 10 million colors with our eyes. That’s 9,999,999 colors that aren’t millennial pink. This month, the runway and street style offered up a ton of alternatives, but these are the three we think have the power to take the top spot and finally replace millennial pink.
Hot Pink
It’s still pink! But slightly more neon! We can probably thank Rihanna for this pink tonal shift. It was the color of the sand mountains for her SS18 Fenty show and a prominent color in the collection itself. If millennial pink was soft and subtle, then hot pink is vibrant and in-your-face. If you don’t feel like investing in it just yet, you can also absolutely find some in your parents’ closet from the ’80s–most likely in the form of a funky sports jacket.
Lilac
Pantone named ultra violet the color of the year for 2018. It’s the color of Prince, David Bowie, and Jimi Hendrix. It also represents experimentation, nonconformity, the mysteries of the cosmos, and the vast and limitless night sky. All of these things are great, and I’ll never not take the opportunity to channel one of those three musical legends and style icons. But I will say it seems that the more muted lilac is the color that will more likely be everywhere. It was all over the runway this season and last. It also definitely ruled street style this season. Perhaps it’s just the perfect in-between transition from millennial pink to deep violet, or it’s the fact that it’s flattering, pretty to look at, and currently the color of all the best accessories right now (can we talk about these dream Dorateymur Boots?).
Yellow
Big Bird yellow is really hot right now. Like, really hot—a specific shade of muted yellow has even been dubbed “Gen-Z Yellow,” and if that doesn’t tell you you’re about to see it, nothing will. Yellow actually hasn’t been seen this much in fashion since...ever. Still need convincing? Just look to Solange in a bright yellow Jean Paul Gaultier gown or Rihanna in a yellow Hellessy tunic and coordinated Jacquemus bag and heels.
