Barbie pink is out, grown up pink is in! Stylist reveals how to wear the feminine hue with a ‘sophisticated spin’ for spring
Pink seems like it’s always been trendy — from 2016’s Millennium Pink fashion to last year’s Barbie-inspired excess.
And the color shows no signs of abating according to the runway, but now there’s a ‘grown-up’ way to wear it, according to the Telegraph.
According to the outlet, “Modern pink, 2024 pink, looks less like you’ve had a run-in with the Barbie Dreamhouse. It’s more subtle – like a hint of pink – than an overwhelming, saturated color.”
Given the generally short lifespan of trends, it is remarkable that pink – in any shade – is still so popular.
Stephen Sheldon, a stylist at FEMAIL, previously told FEMAIL about the shade’s continued popularity: ‘It’s definitely an empowering color, and that’s because it’s the color of love and kindness – two words that have helped shape shaping modern society of the 21st century. .’
Lily James (pictured) was another star wearing the new, lighter adult pink that’s on trend this year when she attended the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Los Angeles in March.
Mila Kunis wore a fashionable, toned-down pink when she attended the 2022 Oscars, demonstrating the pale shade’s enduring popularity
Kate is pictured in a bright pink ME + EM dress at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show last May
Pink’s role now should be to ‘enhance other shades’.
As Morgane Sézalory, founder of Sézane, told the Telegraph: ‘Powder pink is the best option for me because it is easy to combine with neutral colors such as beige, gray or white, or even with denim. It’s ideal for a daytime look and with a touch of powder pink you can never go wrong in either spring or winter.’
The paper recommends that another new ‘grown-up way’ to wear pink every day is to ‘enhance other shades’, rather than as a main colour.
This is because it matches a number of other colors, for example red, burgundy and brown.
AHEAD OF THE CURVE: Emma Roberts was well ahead of the curve when she donned this very pale pink and cream ensemble to attend the Tod’s Hamptons Summer Celebration in July 2023
Confident: Queen Maxima of the Netherlands is described as ‘confident and comfortable’ in the pink ensembles she wears
Sibel Sevcan discusses 2023’s love for hot pink: told FEMAIL: ‘The recent explosion of hot pink as a popular color for outfits and accessories is certainly fueled by the frenzy surrounding the upcoming Barbie movie release (which came out in July).
‘It was also a central theme during fashion week with Valentino’s Pink PP A/W23 collection, which had a major influence on this season’s looks.’
She also added that “for Generation Z, pink now symbolizes a new desire to express femininity powerfully and without limitations or stereotypes.”
So while hot pink may have had its day, the color is still generally seen on red carpets and catwalks.
This may be because the pale shade is easier to wear.
Pretty in pink: Queen Letizia of Spain (pictured, left) and Princess Sofia (pictured, right) both opted for pink for the younger royal’s recent confirmation, but opted for very different shades
British Home Secretary Priti Patel (pictured) wore the color at the world premiere of No Time to Due in 2021
Zendaya (pictured) is pictured in hot pink at the 2022 Paris Fashion Week in Paris, France
Plus, it adds, “It’s a great combination for a harder-to-wear shade because it adds warmth to the skin and suits just about everyone.”
Stylist Rochelle White previously told FEMAIL about the enduring appeal of pink: ‘The color pink is powerful, beautiful, flattering and cool.
‘It’s a color that suits many skin tones and genders. From nude to neon, pink is a color that is suitable for many occasions.’
While pink is certainly a trend, it certainly doesn’t seem like a passing fad. Several fashion experts are convinced that the color is here to stay.
According to Sibel Sevcan, “Whether you’re a pink lover or a hater, its new place in culture makes it very appealing as an outfit color of choice—and for that very reason, young people around the world are embracing the trend.”
Last year, four European royals came together and wore the vibrant color on the same day: the Princess of Wales, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands and Queen Letizia of Spain, along with her daughter, Princess Sofia.
During her SNL hosting appearance in October 2021, Kim wore a bright velvet Balenciaga coat and thigh-high boots for her rehearsal
Lil Nas
Justin Bieber wore a pink hat at the GRAMMYs paired with his Balenciaga suit as he posed hand-in-hand with wife Hailey in 2022
The Princess of Wales wore a rose pink ME + EM dress to a children’s picnic at the Chelsea Flower Show that week.
On May 25, the royal family was back in pink as she opted for a two-piece trouser suit during a visit to Kinship Carers at the Saint Pancras Community Association in London.
That same day, Queen Máxima was also photographed when she stepped out in a bright pink outfit during a working visit to NXP Semiconductors in Nijmegen.
Elsewhere, Queen Letizia of Spain also got in on the rosy action, wearing a soft pink shirt to attend the confirmation of Princess Sofia of Spain in Aravaca.
The younger royal also opted for a pink palette with a bubblegum pink two-piece.
The movie Barbie was released two months later, with crowds of people heading to the cinemas to watch the highly anticipated film dressed in their favorite pink outfits.
In 2021 and 2022, bright fuchsia was all the rage – a color that couldn’t be more opposite to a subtle, dusky rose.
It was so popular that celebrities, fashion designers and even politicians like Priti Patel wore the sharp and striking color.
The sought-after color was thanks to stars ’embracing femininity’ amid an erosion of women’s rights, including proposals to overturn Roe vs Wade in the US.