Overall, black and blue were the favorites for all ages. Design psychologist Sally Augustin of Design With Science wasn't at all surprised by the generation's color choice. "There are a lot of stressful things going on in the world, so it isn't a shock that millennials gravitate towards darker colors," she says.
The Pantone Color Institute isn't the only brand that's been to known to hype up millennial pink. Around the same time Pantone announced it as Gen Y's hue, Paris Fashion Week went all in on the aesthetic.
According to a survey in summer 2022, by far the overwhelming majority of Gen Z consumers in the U.S. wear neutral colors, such as black, white, and grey. Pastels was the second most popular color scheme.
The trend for millennial gray likely started as an allergic reaction to the popular Tuscan-inspired interiors of the mid-to-late 2000s. As teens grew older and eventually moved out, they rejected the brown and tan walls, dusty plastic grapes, and rooster motifs that covered their parents' homes.
Gen Z yellow is similar to one of Pantone's Colors of the Year for 2021, “illuminating,” a dose of canary meant to herald brighter, post-pandemic days. So it makes sense spring 2023 runways such as Alexander McQueen and Moschino featured the color.
If Millennials had pink, then Gen-Z, it seems, has yellow. Since 2017, internet culture critics have been proclaiming “Gen-Z Yellow” — a bright, sunny, impossible-to-ignore hue — as the generation's defining colour.
If your target audience is Generation Y, or Millenials, then bold colors are your best bet. Having grown up in the digital age, this group is used to the bright colors of new technology and vivid hues of video games. Bright whites, blues, aquas, and yellows are the perfect draw for their eyes.
The focus on clean eating and balanced nutrition contributes to their overall health, vitality, and youthful appearance. Skincare has also become a crucial component of millennials' health and fitness routines. They recognize the importance of maintaining healthy skin and are diligent about skincare regimens.
Gen Y: Gen Y, or Millennials, were born between 1981 and 1994/6. They are currently between 25 and 40 years old (72.1 million in the U.S.) Gen Y.1 = 25-29 years old (around 31 million people in the U.S.) Gen Y.2 = 29-39 (around 42 million people in the U.S.)
Gen-Z drink on average 20% less than millenials, who also drink less than the previous generation, mainly because of an increased awareness of the dangers and effects of alcohol and the rise of health-consciousness as a lifestyle.
Forget balayage blonde, block-dyed brunette and vibrant red, Gen Z are playing with pastels, peroxide and game-changing colour contrasts.
Viva Magenta by Pantone
Rounding out a year of blush-tone selections, Pantone selected Viva Magenta 18-1750, a bold pinkish red, as its 2023 color of the year, calling it "an unconventional shade for an unconventional time." But this isn't your Barbie pink.
Viva Magenta is Pantone's 2023 Color of the Year, and you can see it in real life, from the Netherlands to Vietnam.
Millennial Pink: How did it start? The story started when the Pantone ' color of the year 'was unveiled in 2016. The two tones selected by the professionals incorporated the light-pink Rose Quartz and the light-blue Serenity. The first of the two was a success and gradually became noticeable all over.
The rise of millennial pink as a neutral
In the 2010s, millennials challenged traditional color associations. Pink took on a "genderless" meaning, Laura Guido-Clark of color consultancy Love Good Color explained to Insider — and millennials loved it for its "Instagrammability," she added.
Psychologist Jean Twenge defines millennials as those born 1980–1994. CNN reports that studies often use 1981–1996 to define millennials, but sometimes list 1980–2000.
Millennial women – born between 1980 and 1995 – are part of a generation that's bigger than the baby boomers and more influential.
What Is Generation Alpha? Generation Alpha includes anyone born between 2010 and now, including up to the year 2024. This means that the oldest members of Gen Alpha are 13 years old. This youngest generation is defined by the digital world.
They spend twice as much as boomers on self-care essentials such as workout regimens, diet plans, life coaching, therapy, and apps to improve their personal well-being.” They also tend to spend their money on experiences rather than things, which research has shown makes people feel more satisfied and fulfilled.
Additionally, a 2019 survey by the American Heart Association found that millennials are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors, such as regular exercise and maintaining a healthy diet, than in previous generations.
With a life expectancy of more than 85 years, millennials and Gen X will retire before 2055. How will they handle the protracted post-retirement phase? Hopefully, the corporates will promote the gig workforce without any prejudice to age.
But what's interesting about Millennial Pink is how its gray and/or peach tones make it appropriate for both warm and cool color schemes. It's light enough to function as a neutral but bright enough to warm up a room decorated in white or ivory. The color also pairs well with black, dark gray, and some shades of brown.
In Western societies, the stereotype prevails that pink is for girls and blue is for boys. A third possible gendered colour is red. While liked by women, it represents power, stereotypically a masculine characteristic.
Gender-neutral colours like yellow, white, brown, green and orange are great choices for boys and girls alike. Even better, all of these colours can be paired with various shades of blue or pink if desired.