In 2019, a warm, inviting hue called “Living Coral” crashed into the public sphere. This golden pinkish-orange has been used by everyone from fashion houses to graphic designers to furniture companies. But why has Living Coral become one of the most fashionable colors of 2019?
Every year, the Pantone Color Institute, one of the world’s foremost authorities on color, searches for a color that captures the global zeitgeist. The “color of the year,” which is voted on by color standard groups from around the world, is determined by the palettes of emerging artists, the entertainment industry, fashion designers, and more. This year’s search also took them to the depths of the ocean.
PANTONE 16-1546, also known as Living Coral, is described by Pantone as “an animating and life-affirming coral hue with a golden undertone.” Much like coral reefs provide shelter to a colorful menagerie of marine life, Living Coral provides a kind of intrinsic, familiar comfort. Its combination of mellow and vibrant tones creates a color that is simultaneously calming and energizing.
Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, explained that with all the pessimism, uncertainty, and cynicism of the previous year, people are turning to color for emotional comfort. “We are looking for colors that will embrace us with warmth and reassurance in our continually shifting environment,” she said. An equally influential factor in its selection was its natural origins, more important than ever as environments like the ocean degrade and humanity becomes increasingly disconnected from nature.
Regardless of what it personally means to you, the question that remains is how to get Living Coral into your life. The good news is that that color has become ubiquitous. Whether you’re looking for clothes, bags, shoes, makeup, nail polish, cosmetics, wallpaper, furniture, or paintings, you’ll be able to find Living Coral (though it might not be called as such) as a color option.
Now that we’re more than halfway through 2019, however, the omnipresence of Living Coral might be inspiring some visual fatigue. A bolder shade like Living Coral is best as an accent color and can be outright headache-inducing when used as a dominant color. While Living Coral may be a sweet color, there’s a razor-thin line between sweet and saccharine. Subtlety will be key as you introduce Living Coral into your daily life.
Your tech, being a spatially small but functionally huge part of your life, is a perfect place to start. When Apple introduced the iPhone XR, many were surprised to find that one of the color options would be coral. For all its popularity in fashion and cosmetics, coral’s more “naturalistic” qualities made it a highly uncommon color in the technology world.
The more you think about it, though, it’s a perfect color for phones, tablets, and another tech. You spend a good portion of your life staring at them, so wouldn’t you want them to be in a more vibrant, energizing color like Living Coral, rather than a common, stolid color like black or gray? Plus, combining a natural color like coral with something as cold and mechanical as a smartphone has a fascinating, almost surreal effect.
Of course, you’re probably not going to drop a stack on a new phone or tablet just for its color. Luckily, ESR has just released a brand-new color for many of its best-selling products, now available on its official website. These new color options are inspired by Living Coral and its summer-friendly vibrancy. Read on to learn what ESR products have gotten a makeover!
Breeze Plus AirPods Cover
This Coral-colored silicone sleeve is designed to protect your AirPods case from scratches and other kinds of everyday wear-and-tear. With cushioned corners, the Breeze Plus AirPods Cover also helps absorb the shock of drops and other impacts. Despite all this, it’s only 0.03 inches thick, and will neither affect wireless charging nor will it obstruct your AirPods case’s status light. The hingeless, two-piece design allows your case a full range of motion, which means unlike other case covers you’ll still be able to open your AirPods case fully with this cover on.
Galaxy S10 Yippee Color Soft Case
This phone case is one of the softest, most comfortable-to-hold cases in the ESR catalog thanks to its liquid silicone finish. Its non-slip, ergonomic frame helps make up for the natural slipperiness of the Samsung Galaxy S10’s glass back. Its ultra-thin and lightweight design, especially now that it’s available in Flamingo Pink, makes this case an ideal summer accessory.
iPad Mini 5 2019 Rebound Slim Smart Case & iPad Air 10.5 2019 Rebound Slim Smart Case
The Rebound Slim Smart Case is an ESR staple, which makes it an ideal candidate for a new look. If you have an iPad Air 3 or mini 5, you’ll now be able to get your Rebound in Papaya. With its mix of red and orange tones, Papaya is a little lighter than coral and even easier on the eyes. The front cover of the Rebound Slim is made of polyurethane, while the back cover has a soft, flexible rubberized coating that both feels great and keeps it from slipping out of your hands. The magnetic trifold cover can be folded into either a comfortable viewing stand or an ergonomic typing stand.
iPhone XR Slim Clear Soft TPU Case
If you’re looking for a truly subtle method of adding color to your phone, the Essential Zero TPU case for the iPhone XR is the case for you. It has a clear backplate made with premium, yellowing-resistant TPU, surrounded by a flexible TPU frame that’s now available in Coral. It’s the ideal case if you only want to add a tasteful hint of color to your phone, or if you already have a Coral iPhone XR and are looking to show it off. At only 1mm thick, it’s incredibly lightweight, but with its shock-absorbing Air-Guard corners it still provides plenty of protection against drops.
iPhone XR Makeup Glitter Case
On the very other ends of the spectrum from the Essential Zero is the iPhone XR Makeup Glitter Case. They may both be Coral-colored, but with its show-stopping sparkles, the Makeup Glitter Case is sure to turn some heads. It’s more than just a fashion statement, though. With its flexible TPU inner layer and hard PC outer shell, this case is as durable as it is glamorous.
Take the theme of Living Coral a step further by adding vibrant colors to your smart devices.
