Purple 3 Ways
Is it just me, or is purple trending this season?
Adding colour to an outfit always gives a little pop, but one thing I love about purple, especially the soft lilac purples, is that it goes well with so many palettes. Neutrals and reds or bold and bright tones, purple just works. It’s feminine and flirty, and in every look I’ve created with purple, the accent just hits in all the right ways.
Some women are shy to introduce colour to their wardrobe, playing things safe with greys, blacks and whites. But, this spring (and summer) season is the perfect time to throw in some purple as the range of hues is endless. If you’ve kept your eye on the runway at all this year, everything from purple sequins to orchid formal wear has taken over.
If you’re not sure how to introduce purple to your collection, you can start small with bright purple jewelry. Another simple and easy addition is floral-patterned dress with hints of orchid. Or you can go head-to-toe like me and stomp the scene in lilac pumps, light purple coat, and lavender purse all in the same look!
One of my favourite looks is the relaxed leisure look rocked with a pair of pumps. Nothing says break-the-rules like heels and track pants. Spiritual Gangster is one of my favourite cozy-yet-wearable brands and if we’ve ever bumped into each other in the city, I’m often caught wearing something SG (thanks Show and Tell Fashion). Their fabrics are insanely soft and the cuts are tight in all the right places. If I didn’t know better, I’d try to pass some of their stuff off as evening wear (lol!). Light yellow and purple are a match made in heaven (I’ve consulted my colour wheel), and so the look just wraps itself up neatly with the Mackage lavender purse and Black Suede Studio lilac shoes. I’ve also added some texture by layering a Zara striped shirt under the sweatshirt.
Although slightly unlikely, another pairing that works super well is purple and red. I like to play with pastels and bold colours. Here’s the thing, if you put two bold colours together, they might work but they might also cancel each other out. By keeping a primary red Zara pant as the focal point, I accent with the Black Suede Studio lilac pump and Mackage purse, and I tie it all in with the super soft, extremely light purple Mackage coat. I love the playful tonal match of the Rails watermelon t-shirt (also the fabric is delectable) I picked up at Ponyride Distribution. Finding ways to weave together all the individual elements to create a complete look is what makes playing with colour so much fun.
My last look is the floral dress that I grabbed at Billie Boutique on Laurier. They carry amazing brands that I can’t find anywhere in the city, unless of course you consider online shopping, then anything is possible. But if you know me at all, it’s all about trying on, touching fabrics, and really feeling the piece to know if it’s for me. This Birgitte Herskind dress is everything. I love the cut, the fit, the pattern, but what instantly caught my eye, was the colours. Light pastels like yellow and purply-pinks working alongside deep reds and forest green, this pattern isn’t like a garden, it is the garden! The floral is just so reminiscent and realistic, it shows off the possibilities and endless colour combinations that can be found in nature, where basically, anything goes.
Maybe it’s the calming effect of purple, or the feminine energy it carries with it. Maybe it’s the uplifting and inspiring quality it has. Or, maybe it’s the creativity it draws out in me. I don’t know. All I know is that I have found my muse, and purple is its name. How do you wear your colour?
Photography by Patricia Brochu