Shades of the favourite feminine hue take a softly-softly approach as well as pack a powerful punch.
From marshmallow-soft pastels to bright pops of bubblegum, we were all thinking pink during the recent international fashion weeks. The sweet hues of cotton candy, rose, raspberry and magenta are bringing a welcome touch of optimism to winter wardrobes everywhere.
As a grown woman, the idea of outfits injected with pink can evoke memories of over-the-top childhood frills and birthday parties festooned with the sugar-sweet palette. But this season, we promise the hue is all strength and attitude.
On the runway at Mary Katrantzou in London, bubblegum pinks were cleverly cut with powerful punches of magenta, worn somewhat unconventionally against pops of orange and black. Roksanda brought a modern, graphic edge to playful pink, featuring coloured furs, shearling and tweed for texture and form. Meanwhile, Toga presented a show-stopping, shocking-pink coat that would have looked right at home in the closet of Jackie O.
Closer to home, we’re seeing a trend towards blush rather than bold with soft, rose-tinted fabrics at Kate Sylvester and the pretty-meets-masculine Zima Biker collection at Ruby. “Being a pastel shade, I didn’t want these pieces to come across as overtly feminine,” says Ruby designer Deanna Didovich. “I worked alongside our fabric supplier to produce a really beautiful cotton wool fabric in an amazing cherry-blossom pink. I opted to use it in an oversized biker jacket and matching skirt, detailed with heavy gold zippers. It’s the perfect pink suit.”
For the corporate woman, the simple, assertive shape of Ingrid Starnes’ chic shift dress means it’ll fit right in in the boardroom. Footwear is a shoe-in, too, thanks to Chaos & Harmony’s youth-inducing ‘Riley’ slip-ons in strawberry goat-hair leather, and Kathryn Wilson’s soft-focus blossom-print Brewer and Kelly heels.
Wear it your way
Where once it was a sin to pair red and pink, in 2015 it’s all about playing with the rules.
If you want to make a statement, mix softer pink tones with darker, more moody shades of plum or burgundy. Add a pop of colour with your accessories in the form of a costume jewellery necklace, a statement clutch for evening or a silk Georgette scarf à la Deadly Ponies as the perfect finishing touch.
For a more understated, classic colour combination, invest in one key pink garment such as tailored trousers or a cut-above coat to contrast against wardrobe staples in grey marle, cream and caramel.
