Pink - So Misunderstood

Pink has a lot in common with the dumb blonde who’s really smart–seems like fluff and fun but there’s a deeper side. Pink’s association as the signature shade to announce the birth of a girl connects it to all things girly. Pink ribbons, lipgloss, frosted cupcakes and a young girl’s bedroom accented with fairy lights and unicorns further portray the color as ultra feminine. Though pink has grown up and, historically, has had diverse connotations. Says Valerie Steele, chief curator of FIT in her new book Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color, “The stereotype of pink-for-girls and blue-for-boys may be ubiquitous today, but it only gained traction in the mid-twentieth century.”

Fenty Puma by Rihanna, Spring/Summer 2017. Photography: Tim Walker. Stylist: Jacob K. Creative direction: Rihanna. Photo courtesy of Puma.

Thanks to Steele, pink also has its own exhibition at The Museum of FIT, which connects to her book. From vintage imagery and notable historical figures to fashion runway and news shots, you will find gorgeous representations of the hue. Pink is not the expected tome showcasing romantic and cutesy pinks but, similar to that pretty-in-pink blonde with something to say, it spurs a reaction for those who have the confidence to show femininity with depth.

: Zandra Rhodes, ensemble, 1978, England, Museum Purchase. Photograph © The Museum at FIT

: Moschino, Spring/Summer 2015.

: Thomas Lawrence, Sarah Barrett Moulton: Pinkie, 1794. Oil on canvas. Courtesy of the Huntington Art Collections, San Marino, California.

: CODEPINK protesters participating in a four-month all-day vigil in front of the White House, November 17, 2002. Photo courtesy of CODEPINK

In the age of Instagram feeds so colorful they almost look sugary, pink is the star color to punch up a visual. It is seductive yet innocent, which conveys an exciting image.