Pantone Colors & Top Google Searches

The after parties are long over and many celebrity guests from this year’s Met Gala have returned their designer suits and gowns, but Google and Pantone have already forecasted gala-inspired trends.

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, expects classic black and white to retain their popularity, due to the number of celebrities who appeared in black, white or black-and-white outfits. The combination of black and white also offered an element of nostalgia that connected naturally to this year’s Met Gala theme of “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” Eiseman said.

Pantone also expects wine reds and “members of the brown family having increased sticking power as far as trend is concerned.”

“The theme really lent itself to spectacular designs and finishes in black, while outfits in white offered a beacon of light and clarity into what the future might hold,” Eiseman said. “For monochromatic looks, we found the trains, tailoring, capes and volume provided much of the drama, not the color itself — as evidenced by Diana Ross and others,” Eiseman said.

Pantone also expects deep wine reds and maroons to have staying power. They are well-aligned with its Windsor Wine, as seen in Savannah James’ Hanifa attire, the hue was also flagged in the London Fashion Week Pantone Fashion Color Trend Report for spring 2025. Windsor Wine and similar colors appeared as accents on suits and menswear-inspired dresses like the Thom Browne one worn by Nicki Minaj.

Eiseman noted how Alicia Keys and Swizz Beats wearing Moncler x EE72 by Edward Enninful gave the illusion of maroon by combining  blues and reds. And Jodie Turner-Smith’s patterned and structured Burberry ensemble “added drama to the luxurious shade,” Eiseman said. 

Wine reds’ longevity is expected due to their richness and robustness, according to Eiseman. “We think of them as power colors, because they take red to a more sophisticated level. You can buy a great lipstick red dress, wear it a few times and get great compliments. But a Windsor Wine piece is more likely to be a forever purchase, an item that you may wear seasonally, but that you reach for when you want something that feels elegant and extravagant.”

Pantone also expects variations of brown to be used with greater versatility and it delivers glamour. Eiseman mentioned how Pantone’s Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse, was worn by Bad Bunny in Prada.

She also praised Aurora James in Thebe Magugu and Kara Young in anOnlyChild by Maxwell. Osbourne. Eiseman said, “Part of its longevity comes from its versatility it can represent something rich and indulgent to eat one minute and simultaneously be the color of earth itself. Brown is perpetually en vogue because it offers us both ends of the spectrum as far as mood is concerned. 

Google searches saw interest in “Zendaya hat” jump up 170 percent after the actress and musician appeared in Louis Vuitton on the red carpet Monday night. Other key searches were for “polka dot tie,” “pava hat,” “brooches,” “large red rose brooch, “Met Gala pastel colors,” “lavender suit,” “red suit,” and “floral suit” were also widely searched, according to Google. During the event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, “Puerto Rican hat” increased by 650 percent, according to the company.