COLOUR CALLOUT: LET'S TALK PINK

Pink has made a big impression over the last couple of years – from the unprecedented success of the Barbie movie to Valentino’s completely pink AW23 collection, all eyes have been on pink over the last year. It’s really changed how we view this colour, so whether you’re a girly girl or not; take note – you'll definitely want to know this. 

With Valentine’s Day coming up this week, let’s talk all about pink, what we associate with it and – of course – how you can wear and style pink to suit any occasion.  

Well, we may be about to burst your bubble here. In the world of physics, pink doesn’t actually exist. It’s actually a concoction of hues from a mixture of mostly red and violet light. Therefore, pink unites the fiery passion of red and the regal, opulent attraction of purple. This fusion of colours gives pink a very unique meaning in colour psychology. It’s linked with love, compassion and optimism.  

There are also suggestions that pink may have some strong roots in evolutionary biology, with pink being associated with vitality and health, like flushed cheeks. We also see pink in the animal kingdom, with displays to signal fitness and desirability. All of these factors make up how we subconsciously view the colour pink. 

Pink used to be exclusively associated with femininity, but this day and age, things have changed, so naturally, pink signifies much more. It suggests warmth and friendliness, with studies even demonstrating people wearing pink are thought to be approachable and empathetic.  

When women wear pink, it’s perceived as feminine and gentle, with a hint of friendly optimism.  

Notably however, when men wear pink, a study from the University of Maryland proposed that men wearing pink were viewed as having greater self-confidence, higher self-esteem and being more open to challenges. 

When we wear pink ourselves, this colour can act as a mood-booster, alleviate stress and encourage a more cheerful approach to the day, as well as slightly altering our perception of ourselves with increased love, kindness and understanding. Plus, here at Joe Browns, we believe everyone deserves to feel great about themselves!  

Light pinks bring about soft, healing and peaceful thoughts – think baby pinks and their connotation with baby girl clothing. Soft pinks are a very pleasant way to introduce pink into your clothing for both men’s and women’s clothing.  

Hot pink is viewed as bold and exciting, with a playful side. It represents uniqueness and optimism that encourages attention. Do you know anyone like this? Now imagine them in a hot pink outfit – looks good, doesn’t it? 

If you’re still wanting to try out pink without going all-out, try introducing some floral dresses or floral shirts into your wardrobe. Accessories are also a great way to introduce this colour into your outfits to bring a touch of pink out to play. 

First, we need to think about warm and cool tones. If you have a warm or golden undertone to your skin, then you’ll always look your best in warmer shades of pink. Look out for hues of pink that have yellow or golden undertones to match you effortlessly. Common shades of pink with warm undertones are baby pink, peach, apricot, bubble gum, coral, copper, rose gold and salmon.  

If you have a blue undertone to your skin, then you’ll always look your best in cool shades of pink that echo your natural undertone. Cool pinks mostly found are magenta, rouge, cherry blossom, fuchsia and deep cinnamon. When in doubt, look for darker, moodier shades of pink that have a blue or purple undertone to them. Moodier shades of pink evoke a dramatic effect, so don’t worry that your perfect shade of pink will give people the wrong impression! 

Can’t decide if you’re a cool or warm? Take a look at the veins on the inside of your wrist. Are they more blue or green? If you see more green tones, you’re warm toned. If you see bright blue, you’re cool toned. If you see a combination of both, you’re the lucky one with a neutral undertone, meaning you can wear any shade! 

Pink is such a versatile colour, meaning you can pair it different ways with different colours depending on your mood.  

In the mood for something classic and understated? Try pairing it with black, white, beige or grey. If it’s an everyday occasion, try it with your favourite pair of jeans. No matter the colour, the jeans are a true wardrobe staple making them a go-to neutral.  

Want to go all out? You’ve got it! Try orange or yellow to make a real impact, bringing connotations like sweets or fizzy pop (fruit salad chews, anyone?), making you appear friendly and sweet. Try indigo for a cool vibe that’ll really grab attention. If you fancy yourself a colour expert, go for brown. This neutral colour is astonishing, making you look like a box of chocolates and a dozen roses. If you’re feeling experimental, try green – it's one of our favourites – take a look at our Viva Los Colores Collection to see just how perfectly pink and green go together.  

For the lovely ladies, our Camille Boucle Dress and matching Rose Button Front Jacket pair seamlessly to create multiple outfit combinations. Its structure and boucle fabric give off pure class while its pink colour gives it a playful side to make it truly unique. Try pops of hot pink with our Vacation Day Suede Bag and High Society Colour Pop Bootees or keep it soft and sweet with our Priscilla Statement Boots and Free Fallin’ Suede Bag for a soft boho look that you’ll love to wear. 

For the gents, bring your a-game to your office wear with our Dapper Collar Shirt in a soft pink. Got too many white shirts? Consider adding this unique Joe Browns shirt to your collection and love its finer details. Alternatively, try our Super Smart Paisley to introduce pink in a more subtle way. Already a fan of pink and want to go all out? Our Perfect Polo in hot pink is an absolute staple that you’ll keep coming back to. If you’re in the market for something a little more opulent, try our Superb Knitted Polo and feel the quality in this piece that’ll go with pretty much anything.