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(CNN) - You may see a lot of blue in 2020.
Pantone announced this Wednesday night that its Color of the year 2020 is classic blue, a tone that reminds of the sky at dusk.
"It's a color that anticipates what will happen next," said Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, which selects the color of the year. "What will the future hold for us as we move forward in the afternoon hours?"
A visual representation of “Classic Blue” at the Pantone 2020 color revelation event. Credit: Kirsi Goldynia / CNN
This is a pertinent question when we embark on a new decade. But as prospective as it may be, the color 2020 takes us to an almost complete circle to the first Color of the year, the cerulean, another blue shade chosen in 1999 to capture a moment in time.
"We were moving to Y2K and wondering: is the world going to collapse?" Pressman said.
The Pantone Color Institute said it recognized similar feelings of instability in today's world, from the United States to the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Syria and around the world. He decided on a tone that offers the tranquility, confidence and connection that people may be looking for in an uncertain global environment.
Pantone has chosen a color of the year for more than two decades. In 1963, the company created the Pantone Matching System, a patented system used in a variety of industries, such as printing, graphic design and fashion design to manage colors.
The sight, smell, taste, sound and feel of classic blue
The color of the year 2020 is not just to see.
In collaboration with partners in all industries, Pantone created a Classic Blue multisensory experience, which was exhibited in Manhattan on Wednesday night in its 2020 color reveal.
The fragrance of Classic Blue floated in the air while the sounds of Classic Blue echoed. Classic blue-textured cushions covered the floor and blue drinks were served.
It was, without a doubt, a vision of classic blue to remember. But interpreting color through the other four senses is a much less objective task.
In the event, a “Classic Blue” cocktail was served to reveal the color of the year. (Credit: Kirsi Goldynia / CNN)
The official aroma of the classic blue is described in part as a "contemplation of where the sky and the sea meet"; the taste like "vines in bloom"; touch as a "soft and velvety texture"; the sound as "vivid nostalgia."
Another interpretation: Classic Blue has an earthy and floral musk; a sugary flavor that evokes blue raspberry syrup; the feeling of a new and luxurious sofa; and an underwater and ethereal sound.
There is no crystal ball to define the color of the year
The color of each year is decided through a long and thoughtful process that takes into account the lifestyle and trends of the industry, Pressman said.
"Typically, the trends we see in color reflect great macro trends that are taking place in culture," he explained.
The influences of color can come from art, the next media, movies, lifestyles, socio-economic and political conditions, travel destinations, new technology, really anything.
The name of the color is an important factor.
"If you have a color called earth brown, versus chocolate ganache, acquire two completely different meanings," Pressman said. "The name really has to resonate with the message we want to convey."
True to its name, classic blue can be regal, sober and unlimited. But it can also be nervous, even anomalous, using a variety of shades, materials and prints. (Think of a blue classic concept car of the new era.)
Incorporate classic blue in your 2020
For those who want to wear the color 2020, Pressman recommends decorative pieces of the classic blue like a scarf or watch strap, or a vase or candle for your home or workplace.
But incorporating color into your life could be as simple as adding blue foods to your diet. Aligning with the growing emphasis on health, foods and beverages that are similar in color to Classic Blue are rich in anthocyanins that are believed to reinforce the body's defense against cardiovascular disease and the proliferation of cancer cells.
Or, if you have reason to indulge yourself, you could serve yourself a decadent blue macaroon.