How to wear pink - WHAT EVERY WOMAN NEEDS (2024)

HOW TO WEAR PINK

1. Colour clash
Pink works well with many colours.

• Worn with the cool dark tones of black and navy, pink looks sophisticated and safe
• Turn up the heat and mix with hot red or orange (pictured above)
• Add grey for understated elegance
• Softened with beige, pink gives an extra professional tone
• Mix with green for a natural palette
• Grab attention by teaming with cobalt blue
• Traditional white is fresh and crisp
• Use silver or gold accents for an elegantly rich appearance
• Look for prints or patterns with the colour to wear back with solids

2. Use as a highlight or accent colour only
If bold colour isn’t your thing, ease into it. Start with a statement piece such as a coat. The coat can be removed and you’re left with a more conservative ensemble. If not, you have a wonderfully unexpected piece of outerwear. As an added bonus, you’ll make a statement when you arrive.

Alternatively, try a pop of colour with a bag or shoes, or statement earrings or chunky necklace. Team a of pair pink shoes with your favourite jeans, or fuchsia pink clutch bag with your print skirt. Alternatively, throw on some bold drop earrings with your favourite oversized white linen button-down shirt or chunky necklace with a silk top. These could be just the lift your outfit needs!

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3. Try tonal
Layering varying shades of the colour is the perfect way to wear pink. Tonal colours — think fuchsia pink and a pale pink — are complementary. The lighter shade softens the look, while the brighter shade acts as the highlight.

4. Make it monochromatic
Just love a monochromatic look, especially as it’s also extremely slimming. Whether head-to-toe in abpant suit, a jumpsuit, a skirt and top (with matching shoes) or a dress, it’s hard to go overboard with this colour. Complete the look with matching accessories, if you like. But it stands on its own very well.

5. Know what shade of pink works best with your skin tone
Generally speaking, if you have pink or rosy undertones, your skin tone is cool, and colours with blue undertones will suit you best. If you have golden or apricot undertones, your skin tone is warm, and yellow-based hues will flatter you.

There’s a fine line between bubblegum and blush, so when you’re office-bound or want a more sophisticated statement, choose a muted shade. Peach, azalea, dusty rose and blush are safe bets for a more subtle look. For the colour obsessed, bright coral makes a bold statement and Radiant Orchid is the ideal pink/purple hybrid for trend-hunters. For the colder months, pink-infused berry shades are key.

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6. Add a leather accent
Despite its prevalence on the runway — and its many fans — leather is still an edgier choice than silk or cotton. Teaming a black leather pencil skirt with a pink blouse gives an ensemble a business-like edge, but if you throw on a leather motorcycle jacket over a pink silk dress, suddenly the look becomes more contemporary.

7. Go bold — in a a pattern
A graphic pattern lends interest and polish to any ensemble, so adding a patterned skirt to a pink top (and vice versa) would serve the same purpose. However, whimsical prints aren’t always the best choice when it comes to pink pieces. Pink paired with polka dots can look a bit childish if you’re not careful, and a rosy skirt with a floral top might be a bit too saccharine for the office if both are rendered in a bright palette.

8. Mix with menswear
Even the most feminine outfits become edgier with a few menswear accents. A fitted jacket or tailored pants, even a man-style cardigan, can do wonders for an otherwise girly ensemble by toning down a pink palette. Alternatively try a hot pink fitted mans-style jacket over white T-shirt and jeans.

9. Pay attention to cut
Any piece of clothing can look chic and urbane if it’s well-tailored and cut to perfection, so if you’re going for a full-on fuchsia dress, head-to-toe hot pink pant suit or a solid pink coat, make sure it’s fitted and cut to flatter your body. Anything overly voluminous or frilly may provoke flashbacks to your childhood, but a sleek shift or fitted jacket is both professional and stylish.

Tired of wearing black? Do you love this colour? How do you wear it?Want to share your style secrets? Ever stylishly yours …