Proud to be in the pink

It’s the colour that used to make feminists see red. But now today’s top women are...

ONCE upon a time, if a feminist dared to turn up to a party in a pretty pink dress she would be branded a traitor to the sisterhood – someone who pandered to an outdated gender stereotype where women were only good for baking the perfect Victoria sponge for their husbands.

So toxic had pink become that femi-zealots even suggested parents should stop buying pink toys for girls to avoid poisoning their young minds.

But, oh, how times have changed. Successful women today are now so certain of their status that they’re no longer dressing in black or navy power suits to fight for equality. Instead, they are bringing pink out of the closet, proudly parading a colour that no longer symbolises female submission but strength.

We can demonstrate we have humour, we have a softer side, you can come up and talk to us and we won’t bite. Because these pink dresses are not girly-pretty, you see. They are post-pretty. Ironic-pretty. But please beware that the precise shade is vital. Do not choose salmon, anything apricot, blush, baby or raspberry. To be precise, you have to choose Millennial Pink. This is very important. Let me explain. Pantone – the influential colour company – decided that its colour of the year in 2016 was a combination of Rose Quartz (a compassionate colour) and Serenity (weightless and airy): a soft shade that, apparently, promotes mindfulness (you have to literally ‘think pink’), and as such is an antidote to stress, particularly if you not only wear it, but paint it on your walls. Pantone’s colour for 2017 is Pale Dogwood, a shade of pink that signifies innocence and purity.

All these pinks are deemed ‘millennial’ and therefore acceptable, and have been championed by Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga and Celine, design houses keen to jump on the gender-fluidity bandwagon, and to cater for younger women who are much less concerned about being typecast than we were.

Remember, though: if you are not only post-pretty but postmenopausal, do avoid floaty frills and keep it fitted and a little edgy, just to avoid it all becoming a bit Barbara Cartland.

TESS DALY The strapless shape makes this Roland Mouret dress womanly, and the length is good. Very neat and businesslike. I’d add a necklace. SUSANNA REID I do like lace. This is a perfect length, the three-quarter sleeves stop it all being too parcel-like, and it is nicely fitted. EVA LONGORIA Wow, I love this Elie Saab gown. Eva is like a waterfall here. It has a semi-nude effect but Eva’s Latina skin tone means she can pull it off without risking arrest.

GWYNETH PALTROW Remember her pink Ralph Lauren at the1999 Oscars? This Calvin Klein dress is more grown-up and sexier. Only the black shoes are a mistake.

ROSANNA DAVISON You can always rely on Rosanna to make a statement, and this off-the-shoulder creation sits beautifully in all the right places.