GUEST POST: "Propagators of Pink"

Mary Jane Fashion looks at some of our favourite pink ensembles, with both men and women favouring the hue

Pink is, undeniably, a classic colour. Whilst traditionally it has been considered a colour for spring and summer, it has begun to transcend the seasons, with many designers opting for the shade in their winter collections. As a result, it is no longer a colour simply associated with sugary sweetness, but is increasingly polished and sophisticated. It is a colour that is loaded with connotation, and wearing pink can definitely be a cultural statement. More often than not, it is a colour associated with girls and all things feminine. Men, however, are being increasingly encouraged to wear it, with Ralph Lauren and Versace featuring pink suits and cable knits in their menswear collections. Men opt for pink to express their comfort with their masculinity, using fashion and clothing to break down societal preconceptions, making it an exciting and progressive hue to adopt for both men and women. We’ve compiled some of our favourite pink ensembles in celebration of this enduring and empowering colour.

• Elle Woods, Legally Blonde

Would-be lawyer Elle Woods, played by the divine Reese Witherspoon, is an unashamed fan of pink. In the stuffy, buttoned up world of Harvard Law School, she is a breath of fresh air. Her character and the film in its entirety makes the point that, ironically, girls and women who favour pink can often be stereotyped as superficial, vague and ‘dumb’; however those who impose such labels shed light on their own superficiality in doing so. Elle is continuously underestimated by her peers, referred to as ‘Malibu Barbie’, but eventually surpasses them all by representing her own client whilst still a student and graduates top of her class. Pink is a great source of power for Elle. When everything works against her, it is the one constant that she is always in control of, helping her to stay true to herself even when everything and everyone else doubts her. Her message at the end is that first impressions can be incorrect and that ‘you must always have faith in yourself’. Shop similar pink styles at this wholesale clothing distributor. 

• Chuck Bass, Gossip Girl

Chuck Bass, played by Ed Westwick, almost steals the entirety of the sartorial limelight from the likes of Leighton Meester’s Blair Waldorf and Blake Lively’s Serena Van Der Woodsen in this hit show. Chuck became an internet sensation and a fan favourite around the world thanks to his array of popping, colourful suits. Never afraid to adopt non-traditional colours, Chuck was seen sporting pastels like pale blue and lavender, as well as his bright orange trench coat and canary yellow golfing trousers. The one colour Chuck returned to time and again was pink, effortlessly incorporating pink ties, dickie bows, cravats and suits and even a rose pink pair of Hunter wellington boots into his wardrobe. Chuck did not see wearing pink as an affront to his masculinity; on the contrary, he was one of the most desirable bachelors on the Upper East Side. Pink is important for Chuck because, as his actions over the course of show demonstrate, he delights in lulling people into a false sense of security, letting them think what they like about him before coming down on them with his searing intellect and sharp wit. Pink is the perfect hue to create his suave image and he carries it off to perfection.

• Oscar attendees

There are so many successful, high-flying women who have worn pink to the Oscars that we couldn’t pick just one to represent them all. As we all know, the Oscars are the film industry’s biggest night of the year. It’s the ultimate celebration of achievement in film and everyone dresses accordingly, with actresses wearing stunning dresses to talk on the red carpet about the powerful and engaging performances their peers have given. Some of our favourites include Girls’ Allison Williams wearing a long-sleeved, backless dress by British designer Emilia Wickstead in rosy pink at the 2014 Vanity Fair party; Jennifer Lawrence wore an epically romantic Dior gown to pick up her Best Actress gong in 2013; Viola Davis wore a stunning pale pink gown by Zac Posen in 2015 that effortlessly complemented her skin tone; Penelope Cruz finishes our selection in her iconic 2007 dress designed by Versace, which featured a dramatic feathered skirt and train. None of these dresses were saccharine or sickly sweet affairs. The design of all of these dresses is dramatic yet sophisticated in direct contrast with the delicacy of the hue. They cement that pink is a colour that is here to stay thanks to the way in which it can be adapted to convey whatever the wearer wants to covney. 

**hint look out for the upcoming blog post tomorrow of how I add a pop of pink to a current fall trend**