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While Barbiecore, with its flagship, candy pink, was the color of 2023, this year kicked off with a more toned light purple. If you have a look at 2024 LaQuan Smith’s light purple metallic outfits, you’ll start to doubt the innocence this color bears.
In Carolina Herrera’s ready-to-wear Fall 2024 collection, several tones of light purple took over the show. The list of this color’s appearance on 2024 runways is much longer, from Staud, Balmain, Colin Locascio, PatBo, Wiederhoeft to Feben, and many more.
Light purple on 2024 runways appeared mainly on traditionally feminine silhouettes, such as long silk dresses and multi-layered ball gown-like skirts. After an exaggerated Barbiecore, where head-on femininity went through the roof — 2024 is more about Balletcore, i.e., simply being feminine in its most elegant form. Priscavera’s Spring/Summer 2024 overview will give you an idea of how far the feminine subtleness can go with the help of light purple.
Light purple knows how to show up all creative as well; this Purple Camille Cocoon $475 Faux-Fur Coat by STAND STUDIO and Maison Margiela’s outfit are the best proofs. According to Sourcing Journal, purple «bewitched» also Men’s Fashion Week. The title statement appears to be accurate, looking at several exquisite creations involving light purple by Emporio Armani, Blue Marble, Dhruv Kapoor, Etro, Fendi, Gucci, Givenchy, and Solid Homme, among others. All in all, light purple, befriended with lilac, lavender, mauve, and dusty orchid, is said to be one of the biggest Spring 2024 fashion color trends.
This color has also been historically associated with royal realms; type «Kate Middleton light purple,» and you will get an overwhelming list of light purple outfit inspirations. There is a reason nobles love this color. It’s linked with ambition, wisdom, wealth, royalty, luxury, and power. Purple doesn’t appear frequently in nature, so it’s seen as rare, intriguing, exotic, and artificial. The color’s symbolic correlation to wealth stems from the fact that, in the past, purple dye was rare and very expensive. Associations with extravagance and aristocracy persist to this day.
Light purple is associated with light-hearted, feminine, and romantic terms. It is frequently used in manicures and women’s cosmetic packaging. Yet, we should consider the cultural context. In some parts of Europe, light purple relates to death and mourning, while in the U.S., the Purple Heart is among the highest honors for bravery in military service, representing courage and bravery. These cultural variations in the perception of purple add an intriguing layer to its significance and impact.
Purple is also linked to spiritual realms, creativity, mysteriousness, magic, enlightenment, extravagance, and independence. «Purple prose» describes highly imaginative writing, prone to exaggeration, hyperbole, or outright lies. This color has the strongest electromagnetic wavelength, just a few wavelengths from x-rays and gamma rays. Hence, it’s often used in visual illusions like the lilac chaser illusion. In Feng Shui, purple is a color with high vibrations.
In the psychology of color, purple is not just a hue but a powerful tool for achieving harmony between mind and emotions. It enhances balance and stability, acting as a bridge between the spiritual and the physical worlds. From a psychophysiological standpoint, purple is a blend of a high-energy color (red) and a calming color (blue). This unique combination means that purple can be both energizing and relaxing, depending on its use. When used sparingly, it appears uplifting and triggers joy and inspiration. However, when used in excess, it can become frustrating and overbearing, highlighting the delicate balance of its psychological effects. Depending on the hue, level of saturation or purity, and how bright or dull they are, cool, subdued colors (blues, greens, purples) will be soothing. Purple light has been proven helpful for falling asleep and reducing emotional and mental stress, invoking a sense of calm and harmony.
