Pink is having a fashion moment, with shades of pink taking over the S/S catwalks – and the message certainly hasn’t gone unheard among royals, with princesses and queens stepping into the shadows.
Stephen Sheldon, a stylist at Luxury Legs, told FEMAIL, “It’s definitely a powerful color, and that’s because it’s the color of love and kindness — two words that have helped shape 21st century modern society.” ‘
When it comes to royals wearing the color, Kate Middleton, 41, in particular, wore not one, but two pink outfits to recent engagements. The Princess of Wales wore a bright pink ME+EM dress to host a children’s picnic at the Chelsea Flower Show last week.
Just days later, the royal family was back in pink, when she opted for a two-piece trouser suit while visiting Kinship Carers at the Saint Pancras Community Association in London.
That same day, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands was also caught walking out in a co-ord, dressed in bright pink during a working visit to NXP Semiconductors in Nijmegen.
The Princess of Wales (pictured) stepped out in a two-piece pink trouser suit while visiting Kinship Carers of the Saint Pancras Community Association in London
Elsewhere, Queen Letizia of Spain also joined in 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 and wore a fuchsia two-piece while appearing in front of the public.
According to Sibel Sevcan, fashion trend expert and founder of Belissh, there are several reasons why the tone is having a moment.
She told FEMAIL, “The recent explosion of hot pink as a popular color for outfits and accessories is certainly fueled by the frenzy surrounding the imminent release of the Barbie movie (due 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 credited Marilyn Monroe’s iconic shocking pink dress in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” as the look that started the vibrant pink trend, noting that the hue “exudes confidence and femininity.”
But, Sibel said, the royals could choose to don the hue for other reasons, noting that “for Gen Z now symbolizes a new desire to express femininity boldly and without restrictions or stereotypes.”
This is something that stylist Rochelle White agrees with, telling FEMAIL, “The color pink is strong, beautiful, flattering and tough.
Kate’s two-piece suit came on the heels of this ME+EM dress, which she wore a few days earlier when she attended the Chelsea Flower Show
Confident: Queen Máxima of the Netherlands is described as ‘confident and comfortable’ in the pink ensembles she wears
“It’s a color that suits many skin tones and genders. From nudes to neons, pink is a color that can be suitable for many occasions.’
Rochelle, in particular, described Kate’s ME+EM dress and said the hue could be representative of many factors.
Rochelle noted that the dress is a re-wear for the royal family, noting that the “pop of color” is appropriate for the fresh, horticultural setting of the flower show.
“I also feel like this could be an acknowledgment to show how strong she is and that she can handle anything,” she added.
Rochelle continued, “I feel like there’s been a shift in the royal family, and [as] Kate’s duties and appearances have increased, she’s more than likely more comfortable with who she is, her role and the outfits she wears.
“I feel like she knows all eyes are on her and she’s considered a fashion icon and trendsetter. People are inspired by her looks and maybe she uses that to her advantage.’
Sibel Sevcan described this brighter shade of pink as follows: ‘The Barbicore or hot pink trend clearly makes a statement of confidence and female empowerment. It transcends fashion trends and becomes a powerful statement of self-expression in itself.
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
“By embracing pink, individuals are reclaiming their right to define and celebrate their own version of femininity.”
According to Rochelle, this was evident from the daring tone that Maxima chose. She explained, “I feel like she’s confident and comfortable in her looks when it comes to pink.”
“I’ve noticed she tends to wear similar shades of pink and that shows me, she knows what shades work and compliment her.”
“With lots of eyes on her, I feel she likes to stand out and make a statement with what she wears. It makes a lasting impression and is quite unique for a queen to see in bright pink, [these are] statement pieces.’
And this confidence could be the reason for Princess Sofia’s choice to wear the shade, according to Rochelle, who said of her confirmation outfit, “I think this is a bold statement.”
“The fact that she can wear pink, especially in bright colors, shows her confidence in who she is as a person and who she is becoming.”
When it comes to some of the softer shades, Rochelle pointed out that pink can be very wearable.
Describing Queen Letizia’s ensemble, she said, “This is a color that suits every ethnic group. There are so many shades of pink that I think work really well for all ages and all skin tones.”
And Kate put the wearability of softer pink to good use, according to Rochelle, who described the royal family’s two-piece pantsuit as bold, yet subtle.
She said, ‘Kate’s outfit here [gives] smart and professional vibes. I think this is a more formal outfit, but with a subtle and strong statement through the color.
“She paired it with white and simple jewelry like pearls. So it makes for a more tailored, put together look compared to pairing it with white sneakers, which would make it more casual.”
While the color is definitely on trend, it certainly doesn’t seem to be a passing fad, with multiple fashion experts 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 the culture makes it very attractive as a favorite outfit color – and young people around the world are embracing the trend for that very reason. .’