Pink

As a child, pink was an emotive colour, going through phases of loving it and hating it with equal measure depending on when you asked, what the specific shade in question was and my peer group at the time.  From the amazing pink and grey anorak of my early teens to the pastel pink jumper knitted by my Mum and proudly worn until its demise through my mid-teens. I’ve always secretly if not openly, enjoyed pink – but not fuchsia!

The Colour of Love, pink is also associated with femininity, ranging from pastel to hot pink and coral to magenta, there is a pink for everyone and I would hazard a guess that if asked to visualise the colour pink, each individual would immediately picture the colour relating to their Marmite moment, i.e. the one they either love or hate.

My ‘Winter’ son loved the magenta pink bowls and cups as a toddler but soon realised that favouring the blue would enable him to worship his older brother and create competition for attention. 

Barbie & Co have perpetuated the use of pink for girls (candy through fuchsia to magenta) to the extent that some girls don’t feel they can wear, nor choose, any other colour - especially blue - which might be a boy’s colour.

Borrowing our friend’s daughter's fuchsia wetsuit wasn’t a problem for me because it was clearly one of his 2-star colours! (and ever the pragmatist, was cheaper than buying one for a week’s worth of wear on a summer beach holiday!)  I know someone who responded to the question ‘What’s his name?' with ‘HER cousin is Oliver’ because the baby was wearing a blue hat! 

There does seem to be some evidence around the use of pink for boys and blue for girls in the early 1900s which shifted around the time of World War II. If you’re interested, the linked articles provide a fairly full account. 

·            Tickled Pink – delighted

·         In the Pink – to be in great condition, particularly health and emotions

·         Pretty in Pink

·         Pink Pound – relating to the spending power of the Gay community

As with any colour, men as well as women need to ensure they employ their best shade, in this case, of pinks: 

Your pinks range from:	Strong to:	Light / Bright
Spring (warm & clear)	Flamingo / Shocking Pink	Shell, Peach
Summer (cool & soft)	Deep Rose / Cyclamen	Pastel Rose / Pastel Pink /
Autumn (warm & soft)	Rosewood / Coral	Peach
Winter (cool & clear)	Magenta / Fuchsia	Ice Pink

  

Great Pinks for your Season	Soft	Clear
Warm	Autumn – L174, L303, L697, L709	Spring - L22, L30, L347, L611, L697, L709, L710
Cool	Summer - L17, L35, L61, L301, L 302, L495, L635, L686, L714, L718, L719	Winter  - L61, L62, L711, L712, L718