Think Pink—Hot Pink

By Janet Kelly

THAT ROSY, comforting millennial pink of yesterday has morphed into a provocative pink in 2022. Shy and retiring it’s not.

For his fall/winter 2022 runway, Pierpaolo Piccioli dressed his models (and set design) in one color—hot pink, a custom shade developed in collaboration with Pantone. Only a few black pieces wandered away from his candy-colored palette. Another explanation for fuchsia frenzy is the forthcoming (2023) Barbie movie, directed by Greta Gerwig. Stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling both wear costumes in the shade of the moment.

Rather than going full bore on the trend, think discreet flashes of color. Pair a jacket from Anthropologie with a white tank top, or a Cos or Gucci sweater with black pants or light-wash denim. Tiptoe into the trend with a hot pink wicker bag from Frances Valentine, or pucker up with Nars lipstick Sciap, named for Elsa Schiaparelli, the doyenne of shocking pink.

Some call the color an in-your-face reaction to the tenor of the times—a way for women to declare their presence in an era when longstanding decisions, such as Roe v. Wade, have been overturned, vastly diminishing the rights of half the population of this country.

No matter how you see it, though, here are 10 ways to work the season’s color trend into your wardrobe.

Pierpaolo Piccioli for Valentino showed 40 head-to-toe silhouettes in fuchsia in his 2022 fall ready-to-wear collection.

Margot Robbie as Barbie. /Photo Warner Bros. Pictures via IMDb

Pierpaolo Piccioli mixed his high-octane pinks with black for his fall 2022 collection. We think it looks just as smashing with white, as seen here on Anthropologie’s Maeve double-breasted blazer. It sells for $170.

Made from merino wool, Cos’s crew-neck top ($69) in fuchsia, is cut for a slim fit. Balance that trim look with high-waisted twill pants, tailored with front pleats, slip pockets and back darts for shape.

Give your workout a jolt of color with Gap’s seamless ribbed 7/8 leggings. They’re 95 percent nylon and 5 percent Spandex for an easy-on-the-wallet $23.

Along with the traditional natural color, Frances Valentine’s Elyce Arons offers her paint-the-town-pink for this Hen Wicker Basket. The contrasting color of the lucite chain and the bright floral cotton twill lining add to the allure of this perfectly adorable bag. Oh, and it has metal feet for protection. It sells for $298.

Nars pays homage to fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli’s passion for hot pink by naming one of its lipstick shades “Schiap,” a matte vivid pink. It’s in a new formula that blends moringa and passion fruit seed oils for vibrant color and a moist, lightweight feel. It’s $26.

Urban Outfitters interprets the season’s cargo pants trend with a baggy parachute-like style with drawcords at the waist and hem. On the tech-lite side, these Balloon Cargo Pants sell for $75.

I’m tempted to try a pair of Rothy’s shoes. I’m all in with a sleek, pointed-toe flat that promises comfort and is machine washable to boot. Chime in if you have owned this brand of shoes. We’d love to know what you think. It looks as if they’ve gotten more expensive since being introduced several years ago. A pair will set you back $145.

Will pink-framed sunglasses give you a rosier outlook on life? Pop on this oversize style from Quay Chain Reaction and give it a go. They sell for $65 at Anthropologie.

Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake, who died August 5, was known for his technology-driven clothing, such as his Pleats Please collection, made with a unique technique where the materials are developed from a single thread and pleats are added after sewing the clothes into shape. Talk about functionality. This long-sleeve top, from Farfetch, is light and wrinkle-proof, doesn’t need to be dry-cleaned and can be folded to a compact size. It sells for $254.

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