HUNGER gives Pantone’s peach fuzz the high fashion treatment
The girlies on TikTok have dubbed their colour of the year ‘girlhood’ pink and Insta babes have been opting for a classic ruby red. But really, there is only one colour announcement that really matters, as Pantone declares Peach Fuzz the new hue of the year.
“Peach Fuzz captures our desire to nurture ourselves and others,” says Leatrice Eiseman, the Executive Director of Pantone on their site. “It’s a velvety gentle peach tone whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body, and soul.” Compared to the animated and powerful magenta from 2023, it would seem we are in our elegant era with peach in a bid to slow it all down and embrace our “innate yearning for closeness and connection.”
At first glance, we must admit, Peach Fuzz seemed eerily reminiscent of 2010s pastel mania and the unofficial Stabilo highlighter palette we worshipped. But, as Pantone is so certain that this colour will bring unwavering hope, we simply have to give it a try. More investigation proves that the shade is already the subject of an intense revival on the runways, and designers are integrating their fuzz into the likes of quiet luxury-esque drapes and streetwear-ready slouchy tailoring.
As per Pantone’s reasoning behind picking Peach Fuzz, it is integral that the shade is the focus however you choose to style it. Unlike previous years which carried more saturated tones that could be achieved with an added accessory, peach is warm and expressive, so is inherently all-consuming. Opt for perhaps a full-monochrome fit or oversized jacket, and pull it all together with a Peach Fuzz bag and shoe moment. Essentially, you can’t subpar this season’s colour – you need to be fully dedicated to the optimistic energy it is set to bring you in the new year.
Just take a look at this season’s runways for the ultimate fit-spo of bringing together romance and elegance. Maison Alaïa’s SS24 runway is all about the notion of time and charting evolution of the ritual of dressing. From wool flannel to cotton linen to leather and latex, they embrace sensuality and their silhouettes act almost as a second skin. Peach Fuzz latex trenches and transparent pencil skirts took to the stage, paired with crisp white belts, black leather heeled mules, and even some opera gloves. In a cocktail of romantic Regency core and quiet luxury, Alaïa’s not afraid to get a little sexy, baring legs and exposing high-waisted undergarments with their see-through Peach Fuzz materials. It is a lesson in how to live through the colour in 2024, by pairing minis with oversized staples, and accentuating with block monochromatic whites and blacks.
Over at Balmain, their FW23 was ahead of the game in terms of showing their Peach Fuzz love. Glazed donut beauty topped off the French fashion houses dedication to all things metallic, and they injected a shimmer into their peachy creations. The sparkling star of the show was the corrugated off-the-shoulder swing mini dress, complete with a ruffled hem and neckline, similar to Roksanda’s Spring 2024 longer showstopper. Christmas and New Year inspiration perhaps? The draping in the Balmain SS23 show was also worthy of credit, pairing tailored jackets with long shawls and mixing shape and texture to break up the dense colour. Another brand teaching how to properly style Peach Fuzz is Missoni, whose SS24 runway used patterns and layering to take the shade from Balmain’s colder months into the summer. The fan fave sported by Irina Shayk was a mesh dress overlay onto Missoni’s signature graphic pattern, with pops of yellow, black, and white underneath. Taking a leaf out of the Italian brand’s book, your Peach Fuzz could be popping up in patterns, or even correlating with your new ‘do. Peach Fuzz Buzz anyone?
Elsewhere, London-based Denzil Patrick revelled in relaxed tailoring, matching up a menswear Peach Fuzz two-piece with a lighter and brighter pastel orange and matching trunk. It shouldn’t work, but it just simply does, and if anything brings an air of streetwear wearability to those who aren’t planning a romantic quiet luxury getup. Kiko Kostadinov also followed suit in the peachy menswear game, albeit less suits and more everyday staples. Their jersey experimentation as displayed on Instagram lay a Peach sweater vest style over a classic blue shirt, and they displayed their final piece for Spring 2024 in a long dress with dark green trimmings and pockets.
Jil Sander’s SS24 lent to ballet core with a satin jumpsuit and mid-calf boots and large Peach Fuzz trousers that acted like a skirt. Zimmerman favoured the colour (and trend) of the year too, with uber-high-waisted pleated pants and a simple off-white cropped bralette. Many are tipping darker autumn shades like burgundy and khaki as their Peach Fuzz companions, but if the runways are anything to go by, it’s how you choose to layer your many Peach Fuzz textures and shapes. Big pants, little top, and little pants, big top theory may be the go-to this year. And if in doubt, a little blush and dyed hair could have you going into 2024 feeling like a real peach.
