Embrace Grey and Yellow: The Colours of 2021

Author: Magdalena Kořínková

Like the moment the first bright yellow sun rays appear behind a mass of grey rock – that’s the impact of the Ultimate Grey and Illuminating colour combination, selected this year by the Pantone Institute. What do these colours symbolise, and how can you surround yourself with them to stay stylish this year, even if you’re more of a lover of classics and history? 

After the challenging year of 2020, we’re all eagerly looking out for those “silver linings,” the gleaming edges of rain clouds. This idiom, which we know in English as “every cloud has a silver lining,” signifies that there’s good in every bad situation. It’s no surprise that grey and yellow are the colours chosen to represent 2021. This combination was presented at London Fashion Week back in October 2020 – at a time when the world was being hit by the vast grey wave of the pandemic’s second wave.

Ultimate Grey

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of “grey”? It might be concrete, an overcast sky, or one of 2020’s most common outfits – sweatpants. But grey also stands for elegance, strength, and resilience. Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Institute, described Ultimate Grey for the article in Vogue like this: “Ultimate Grey (Pantone 17-5104) represents strength and endurance. In nature, it symbolises beach pebbles, stones, and rocks that have withstood sudden changes for millions of years. (...) Grey embodies bravery. We rely on it to support us through tough times.”

Illuminating

If the grey of everyday life brings us down, the sunlight reliably lifts our spirits. Leatrice Eiseman described the chosen Illuminating colour for Vogue like this: “For most people, yellow symbolises optimism and something to look forward to, as they recall their childhood. Yellow has always provided an uplifting sense of hope, so inherent in the human spirit – it represents the bright sky of a sunny day.”

The Year of Two Colours

It’s clear that Illuminating and Ultimate Grey will dominate the fashion industry. We’ll see these colours on clothing, shoes, and even in architecture and interior design. Naturally, there will be plenty of grey and yellow accessories and jewellery.
But if you’re a fan of timeless jewellery and antiques, don’t worry that you’ll be left out this year. We’ve got a few tips to help you shine as brightly as the sun, or stand firm like a rock – whichever colour you prefer is entirely up to you.

Ring with a Yellow Stone

Would you prefer a modern ring with a cut citrine made of 18-carat yellow gold, or an utterly stunning gold ring with a cushion-cut natural diamond in a natural orange-brown hue? Whichever you choose, it’ll be a great choice. And don’t worry about the ring size – we’ll make sure it fits you perfectly.

A Stylish Accessory for Your Handbag or Desk

A silver box decorated with yellow enamel, where you can keep any little secrets, makes a stylish addition to your handbag. Whenever you take it out, it’ll catch everyone’s eye.

Imagine a bright fresh morning, with sunlight streaming through the window, casting golden patterns on the wall as it passes through a crystal perfume bottle… Beautiful, isn’t it?

White Gold and Diamonds – A Classic That Never Fades

The combination of white gold and diamonds is considered a classic. But if you choose a piece with a unique shape, like a necklace from the French brand Chopard with “floating diamonds”, or a spiral-shaped ring with 122 diamonds, you’ll definitely stand out.

Antiques Have a Place Even in a Modern Home

Some antiques are perfectly timeless, and they complement modern interiors beautifully.



 

And What About Combining Both?

If you can’t decide on just one colour, you can combine grey and yellow.