Let’s be honest, 2024 will not be remembered as a stress-free year. In addition to the anxiety the election caused, stressors included things like keeping family members healthy and safe, finances, current events, personal rights being stripped away, lack of social connection in this digital age, and much more. As we roll into this final month, it would probably be safe to say we all need a break. I read a funny meme that said we could all use like a month in a COVID-style lockdown to recharge.
MOCHA MOUSSE: PANTONE’S COLOR OF THE YEAR
This is why when I read that Mocha Mousse was Pantone’s Color of the Year I immediately understood why this color was chosen. Mousse is like the cozy blanket of the dessert world, the indulgent hug of sweet treats. Pantone said the color, “expresses a level of thoughtful indulgence,” and described it as “harmonious comfort,” and “feelings of contentment.” Doesn’t all of that sound amazing? God, I could go for a big bowl of mocha mousse right now.
BUT, WHAT ABOUT THE COLOR?
On the flip side, the reception of Mocha Mousse has been, well….not so great. In my Facebook Group alone the comments weren’t positive with many likening it to the many deposits made by babies into their diapers. The NY Times had funny responses to the color like, “kayaking in “alligator-y” parts of the Everglades — pure swamp.” However, my first thought was that Mocha Mousse is a perfect bridge neutral.
Pantone Colors of the Year are never going to be for everyone because every color can’t be for every person. There are going to be some years where some people are just going to sit one out. It’s not missed by me that Mocha Mousse is a tricky face color for a large majority of people and, certainly, at first glance, the color can give total swamp vibes, cheap pantyhose feels, or diaper excrements, but there is a population of people who can wear it and wear it well (raising hand). It’s also, as I mentioned, a great bridge neutral.
WHAT IS A BRIDGE NEUTRAL?
In the world of neutral colors, I call bridge neutrals those lighter shades that can bridge between the deeper neutral shades. It’s the lightness that gives these colors their versatility. They can be worn equally well with black, navy, olive, grey, and so on, in addition to being This is why a bridge neutral, like Mocha Mousse is a great bag or shoe color.
STYLING MOCHA MOUSSE
I’m not trying to win you into the yes camp for Mocha Mousse but sometimes it’s helpful to see the color styled before forming an opinion. Keeping in mind that the color was just announced a few days ago, to the best of my ability, I found clothing and accessories in this or as close as possible to Mocha Mousse and styled them to show you all the different ways this color can work.
OUTFIT #1
In this look, I styled Mocha Mousse the way I first envisioned it, as a shoe or handbag color. When worn with black, a shade like this warms up the starkness of the color. I used these block heel pumps from Gentle Souls which I styled with black wide-leg ponte pants and a slim black turtleneck, both from M.M. Lafleur. The look is styled further with a contrast stitch cardigan in black and camel from Saks, a beige from Rag & Bone, and an oval pendant from Jacquemus.
OUTFIT #2
For many people, a color like Mocha Mousse needs grounding or anchoring because it lacks the richness to be a good face color. That said, mocha mousse is a good color that plays well with many rich shades. In this look, I styled this relatively close to Mocha Mousse sleeveless sweater from Theory with a tweed jacket from Veronica Beard, and faux leather pants in burgundy from Commando. I finished the look with deep taupe booties from AGL and floral hoop earrings from Sézane.
OUTFIT #3
A Mocha Mousse coat offers the same versatility as a Mocha Mousse handbag or pair of shoes. If you take a close look at the shade, Mocha Mousse is essentially a cooler, red-based camel that makes it more wearable for those who don’t look good in this color when it is more yellow-based. This coat from Barbour has that cooler, red-based camel, at least in the photos it does. In the video on the Nordstrom website, the coat looks more yellow-based. For illustrative purposes, we’re going with the coat’s appearance in the photos. I styled the coat with a cashmere teal turtleneck sweater from Vince, grey wide-leg pants from Boden, and burgundy heeled loafers from Bernardo. I accessorized the coat with a printed scarf from Gerard Darel, and a burgundy beret from Nordstrom.
OUTFIT #4
I styled this outfit with a Mocha Mousse sweater blazer from L’Agence with navy. Two clients own this jacket and, no surprise, these two clients have “summer” coloring or look best in lighter, cool-based shades, exactly what Mocha Mousse is. This outfit also illustrates how a shade like Mocha Mousse is a bridge neutral. This jacket works with navy but would also work equally well with black. I styled the blazer with denim trouser jeans from Veronica Beard, a navy camisole from Vince, navy booties from Margaux, and a soft colorful necklace from Lele Sadoughi.
OUTFIT #5
I created this soft professional look by pairing Mocha Mousse with grey and nougaty brown. It’s a rich, harmonious look. I used this silky blouse from Kobi Halperin, a grey pinstripe trouser skirt from Aritzia, portabello boots from J.Crew, and a belt from Brooks Brothers. I filled in the neckline of the blouse with a layered necklace from Ettika.
MOCHA MOUSSE ISN’T FOR EVERYONE, BUT IT IS WEARABLE
I get it. Mocha Mousse is a tough sell and not wearable for everyone , but if we look back at some of the other colors chosen by Pantone over the years, this certainly the the first questionable one. 2024 was the year of Peach Fuzz. Was anyone excited about that one? And even 10 years later, Pantone still hasn’t lived down their choice of the not-so-dynamic duo Rose Quartz and Serenity as shared colors of the year. No Pantone Color of the Year is ever going to be universally accepted but it doesn’t mean the color isn’t wearable. With the outfits I put together today, I hope I have given you some ideas on how you can incorporate this color into your wardrobe for the upcoming year.
I actually like the color as a neutral, being someone who doesn’t fall in a definitive season in color analysis. Blacks and whites feel a bit harsh at times, and camel and some browns too warm, this would be a nice alternative.