Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

Pink is a favourite colour

Men wearing pink? Yes, why not, say today's trend trackers

AMBASSADOR FOR PINK Saif Ali Khan

Five years ago, appearing for an interview in a lavender shirt would have been considered hara-kiri; today it adds to the candidate's confidence and may add a few marks on his score sheet too.

Yes, it's raining colours in the male wardrobe and the reasoning goes from the earthy to the esoteric. Last year when an international magazine, Man's Health did a survey on colours in which women like their men the most, pink topped the list. Leafing through chapters in fashion history reveals that colour has something to do with culture.

Orange is considered to be loud in North America but in Japan, it denotes love and happiness. Pink is said to have a calming effect. Similarly, purple has its own connotations from death in Europe to brothels in West Asia. In India, white is considered to be serene and auspicious in the North East and in Kerala, but in the North no bride and hardly any groom will dare wear white on the wedding day.

Hot pink

"Pink and purple which used to be considered hi-fashion colours have now become classic," says Munish Rishi, a merchandiser for Marks and Spencer. From Friday dressing to smart dressing, concepts are in plenty and the bottom line is, formal has been the biggest casualty in the liberalised era.

Jobs like in PR agencies, media and BPOs don't actually require you to dress like the babus of the yore. Men also know as many shades on the colour spectrum as a woman does. Munish says film stars are the biggest influence. "Saif Ali Khan has become a sort of ambassador for pink."

If designer Raghavendra Rathore puts it to the mix of availability and societal changes, Rina Dhaka calls it a fashion cycle. Munish agrees: "You can't wear black trousers with a green shirt. It has to be a neutral shade or beige." That's why brands are coming up with complete solutions, from shirts to sandals. Are you still in the blue mood?

ANUJ KUMAR

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail