Pointers On Wearing Purple this Fall

Purple adds drama to even the most average outfit, creating excitement and immediate impact. Would you wear purple?  Could you wear purple? What message does it send?

What Purple Symbolizes

Purple has long been known as the color of royalty and is associated with wealth and leadership. It’s also a color associated with spirituality and magic. The positive psychological power of purple is that it is intuitive, sensitive, and imaginative.

What Colors Make up Purple

When you break purple down, it is a mix of red and blue – warm and cool,  feminine and masculine. You can find purple in dozens of shades, from lavender to ultraviolet, indigo to plum, eggplant,  and deep royal purple. There is a shade for everyone!  Pick a more yellow-based, warmer purple if your skin has yellow undertones, or if your skin is more on the pink side, choose a deep, cool purple or a dark plum.

When to Wear Purple

Purple is a color that works year-round. Traditionally, we’ve worn deep, intense purples in the fall and lighter, softer purples in the spring and summer, but now that division has been thrown out the window. This fall, we see all shades of purple, from pastel purple to pink-infused orchid purple to deep, cool purple, mixed with traditional fall shades.

Purple is striking for formal events when you want to be noticed. It’s also commanding at work as an alternative to black. Purple is livelily worn casually with your favorite jeans or as athletic wear. The only time you don’t want to wear purple is at a funeral in Thailand. There, it is considered a color of mourning and is reserved for the deceased’s spouse!

What Colors to Wear With Purple

All purple: If you want to be noticed, head-to-toe purple is the way to go. For example, a long purple Mother of the Bride Gown would be stunning. Varying shades of purple worn together in a monochromatic outfit is also very sophisticated. Imagine shades of ultraviolet mixed with lavender or cool purple with warm plum. These combinations would be stunning.

Purple +  Dark Neutrals: If you like the idea of purple but want to tone things down a bit, consider purple worn with navy or black. Something as simple as your blue jeans with a purple blouse looks quiet but powerful. This purple ribbed sweater dress with all black is stunning.

Purple + Light Neutrals: Purple  (especially lavender) worn with nude accessories is ultra-elegant and an excellent way to ease into purple if you are not used to wearing it. Light purple or lavender worn with white will make you look soft and romantic. Deep purple and white have a whole lot more contrast and would make you look bold and dramatic.

Purple Worn with Brights: Purple can be paired with opposite brights like yellow and red or hot Pink. These are combinations that creative types love. For example, try wearing a splash of purple with bold red, such as a purple pump with a red blouse and your favorite jeans. This one takes a little confidence to pull off, so start small.

Purple with Metallics: Both silver and gold look stunning with purple. Gold looks classy and old-world (think of a queen’s purple robe edged in gold), while silver looks icy, expensive, and modern.

Do you like purple, and how are you wearing it this fall? Find out more about purple and the power of color to make you look Fabulous After 40! Check out my e-book, Color Me Fabulous.

It’s a great how-to read with over 80 info-packed pages and more than 100 photos demonstrating everything you need to know about How to Look Age-Amazing™ by wearing your Wow Colors. Don’t miss this one.