mintchipdesigns

Out of all the colours on the spectrum, pink is the ‘marmite’ one; it’s either a ‘love’ or ‘hate’ relationship. Girly, sweet, and innocent, inevitably the colour reminds us of an American Barbie doll. While the lighter shades bring out a sensitive and nurturing tone, the deeper shades exude passion and flirtation. Despite the colour having a variety of tones and shades, ultimately the colour perpetuates traditional gender boundaries. Boys are forced to loath it, while wearing the slightest shade of ‘pink’ is controversial. On the other hand, girls can’t escape it: with everything designed for female use being pink, this is a genuine nightmare when you are a girl who can’t stand the colour.

But only recently has pink become associated with gender. In the eighteenth century, pink was a common choice for male clothing, representing strength. Even Japanese warriors associated the colour with masculinity because pink cherry blossoms represented the spirits of fallen comrades. Even in The Great Gatsby, Gatsby himself wears a pink suit: in the 1920s, the colour was not so much associated with gender but with class.

However, by the 1950s, pink had become strongly associated with femininity. Even in the present pink is still predominantly a female colour, and men still wish to avoid rather than embrace pink.

Most recently there has been intense debate over the use of the colour in raising awareness for breast cancer. As pink is primarily recognised as a feminine colour it alludes to the idea that breast cancer only affects women. Of course this is extremely misleading, as breast cancer is a disease which people of all sexes can develop. It’s important to move away from seeing pink as associated just with femininity; it is a colour which inspires compassion and unconditional love but more importantly hope. The emotions that the colour pink represents are universal; therefore, the colour needs to become gender-neutral in order to successful ly represent the breast cancer cause. We need to place the colour pink on a higher pedestal rather than leave it to perpetuate traditional gender roles. Pink is more than a feminine colour; it is a colour for survival, strength and vibrancy.

So be daring, break the mould and wear pink.

Fashion tips for wearing pink

Women

While it is understandable that some women struggle to wear pink, try matching different shades of pink to your skin tone. For women with pale skin try a darker shade of pink in the form of lipstick or a dress and team with pearls for a classy finish. For darker skin tones, often lighter pink shades (grapefruit or baby pink) can look flattering. But for those of you who want to avoid looking ‘childlike’, pair the colour with darker tones such as black or dark blue for a more ‘adult’ look. Match light pink trousers with a white blouse – a pretty combination for work. Team with floral for a summery/spring look – check out H&M for their new spring collection featuring floral prints and pink tones.

Men

For men, pink shouldn’t be avoided; in fact, if you want a look which is refreshing then pink is the perfect choice. Pink tie is also a subtle use of colour for those not daring enough to brave a ‘Gatsby’ suit. Pink cotton shirt with a dark blue blazer is also a good look for those wishing to break out of the white shirt-dark grey mould of menswear. Pink jumpers are also a good move – Topshop has a good range of different shades. Experiment with traditional accessories such as a pink pocket square to add a rather vintage touch to your fashion. Equally, for those brave enough, take on the summer sun with some light pink trousers. Jack Wills has a good selection on this front.