“What’s your favourite colour?” [Pink Roses (1881), Henri Fantin-Latour] I used to dread having to answer this when my primary school friends and I were discussing this incredibly important subject; I felt it was a betrayal of many lovely colours to nominate just one. I then spent years answering the question by going off at a tangent and saying that it depends on what it’s with, and that in fact I’d need at least two colours in combination.
I am a late comer to pink also. The problem for me was Barbie pink and bubblegum pink. I also had a daughter and made every effort to exclude pink from her wardrobe, and at nearly 30 she barely wears it. But a soft pink is so soothing and sets off everything so well, from navy to grey to greens and brown, as well as pale blue and duck egg (probably my favourite).And pink blossom. Is there anything more uplifting than the sight of it on a cold grey day in March?
I always love your selection of art and photographs that you use to illustrate your essays. Do you have a huge resource at your fingertips, or do you spend many happy hours scanning the internet?
I started reading this post thinking that I hated pink, but then realised that I have a few cherished pinks. Flowers, for the most part, but also the 1970s stylised floral pink duvet cover from my teenage years (when a duvet was a "downie") and the pink retro and vintage fabric lampshades of Dawn Witty (WittyDawn on Etsy), which I browse whenever I need cheering up. Although I own a deep pink scarf, I am tentative about wearing pink after my female head of department once described women reaching a certain age and opting for head to toe "menopause pink"...
I like the hour or so I spend with your words/images and the links related. The day is turning into evening while Elsa Schiaparelli and her pink legacy illuminate what remains of my Sunday :
And what to my mind should appear, but Mary Kay with her pink car awards … a symbol of feminine power, independence, financial success, and personal drive (pun intended). How I loathed them as a young 20ish mom… and how now, as an old woman, I understand her appropriation. She was, definitely, in the pink!
I am a late comer to pink also. The problem for me was Barbie pink and bubblegum pink. I also had a daughter and made every effort to exclude pink from her wardrobe, and at nearly 30 she barely wears it. But a soft pink is so soothing and sets off everything so well, from navy to grey to greens and brown, as well as pale blue and duck egg (probably my favourite).And pink blossom. Is there anything more uplifting than the sight of it on a cold grey day in March?
I always love your selection of art and photographs that you use to illustrate your essays. Do you have a huge resource at your fingertips, or do you spend many happy hours scanning the internet?
I started reading this post thinking that I hated pink, but then realised that I have a few cherished pinks. Flowers, for the most part, but also the 1970s stylised floral pink duvet cover from my teenage years (when a duvet was a "downie") and the pink retro and vintage fabric lampshades of Dawn Witty (WittyDawn on Etsy), which I browse whenever I need cheering up. Although I own a deep pink scarf, I am tentative about wearing pink after my female head of department once described women reaching a certain age and opting for head to toe "menopause pink"...
I like the hour or so I spend with your words/images and the links related. The day is turning into evening while Elsa Schiaparelli and her pink legacy illuminate what remains of my Sunday :
https://www.elledecoration.co.uk/decorating/colours/a34011671/elsa-schiaparelli-shocking-pink/
Thank you!
I think it was Diana Vreeland who said 'pink is the navy blue of India'.
I wondered about Jackie Kennedy and her pink suit!
And what to my mind should appear, but Mary Kay with her pink car awards … a symbol of feminine power, independence, financial success, and personal drive (pun intended). How I loathed them as a young 20ish mom… and how now, as an old woman, I understand her appropriation. She was, definitely, in the pink!
Fabulous
Lovely evocative piece -thank you. Made me think of Pretty in Pink, powder puffs , marshmallows and Barbara Cartland of all people!
I feel the same way about yellow. It’s a direct link from my optic nerve to the serotonin producing part of my brain stem.
It also made me think of Christopher Whall’s windows and the gorgeous pink angel wings too....