RUNWAY RANI: FASHION’S DATE WITH HOT PINK
Bachchan — celebrities in India and From Kim Kardashian to Aishwarya Rai overseas are currently crushing on the haute and powerful, hot pink
It seemed like 2022 would be the year of Very Peri, after Pantone declared it colour of the year. But, trendsetters had other plans. The vibrant and vivacious hue, hot pink, took over runways, red carpets and other fashion events, as celebrities, designers and influencers made it their go-to colour for the year.
THE PINK TAKEOVER
Popularised by Pierpaolo Piccioli, creative director, Maison Valentino, the colour grabbed everyone’s attention at the Paris Fashion Week, earlier this year. The designer collaborated with Pantone Colour Institute, to create a custom shade of pink called Pink PP. Piccioli literally painted the runway in pink, when he showcased his fall/ winter 2022 collection at the
Shortly after, other fashion houses and designers started featuring the hot pink hue in their collections — like Versace’s Medusa Aevitas platform pumps and Balenciaga’s jumpsuits and blazers worn by socialite Kim Kardashian.
Celebrity stylist Natashaa Bothra comments on the pink takeover, saying, “It was a risky choice by designer Pierpaolo Piccioli [to launch his collection in all pink], but it eventually swept everyone off their feet.”
CELEBS’ CHOICE
Celebrities can’t seem to have enough of the eye-catching colour. Media personality Paris Hilton walked as the showstopper for Versace’s spring/summer 2023 show in a hot pink sparkly attire. Closer home, actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wore a head-to-toe Maison Valentino pantsuit with platform heels at the Cannes Film Festival, earlier this year. Content creator Masoom Minawala Mehta graced the red carpet at Cannes in a voluminous Yousef Akbar number in the same colour. Ask her what made her choose the ensemble and she says, “I consciously chose to don the colour twice at Cannes, as I wanted to embrace the power and the boldness that hues of pink have.”
‘COLOUR HAS NO GENDER’
Conventionally, pink has not been perceived as a genderneutral colour, with Barbiecore to gender reveal parties associating the hue with feminine aesthetics. However, the stereotype is
WEAR IT RIGHT
Pair hot pink with black or white colours. Let the colour speak for itself. Women can use hot pink accessories like trinkets, scarves, sling bags, head bands, belts and more. Men can opt for a light pink tee or a shirt. For formals, match your shirt with light pink socks.
For androgynous/nonbinary look, loose-fitting jackets, hoodies, sweatshirts in hot pink would work. Inputs by celebrity stylists Natashaa Bothra and Isha
Bhansali being shattered, one designer at a time. “It’s for the first time in centuries, that pink has been able to take on genderless qualities,” explains Mehta, adding, “The hot pink hue is fresh, yet powerful. It is not the soft and sweet pink — it’s strong, and bold, yet feels good.”
For celebrity stylist Isha Bhansali colour never had a gender. “I have used pink to create/make outfits for many of my male clients. The hot pink hue has an electric quality. So, it works well now as men’s fashion is all about experimenting with colours currently,” she elaborates.
BEATING THE BLUES
The colour is now being used as a means to beat the pandemic blues. Designer Lakshmi Babu explains, “With dopamine dressing trending in the post-pandemic era, loud colours have become a favourite among designers and celebrities. The bright hot pink hue struck a chord, because while it looks angry, it also helps one get out of the dull and gloomy times.”
MUMBAI