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Home Blog The History of Pink by Valerie Steele
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The History of Pink by Valerie Steele

by Marina November 13, 2019
November 13, 2019 911 views
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Last Monday, during my Fashion Marketing class, we saw this interesting lecture about the history of pink hold by Valerie Steele, an American fashion historian. During her lecture – that I advise you to listen to – she explains what lead to the wide  conception we have today about the color pink.

As anyone can imagine the majority of people now associate pink to girls and blue to boys. In addition to this, pink is often considered an unserious and controversial color that you either love or hate. The point is that it wasn’t always like this, things changed throughout the centuries.

In Asian countries, specifically Japan, India and China, pink is a really popular color and has always been used by both sexes, and this is currently happening. The pink color moved to Europe thanks to trades, but during the European Middle Age, this dye was considered more as a pale shade of red than a real color.

The dye started to be rethought in the 18th century when a new type of color came from Brazil and South America. Needless to say that the center of this global change in Paris. At that time, the capital of France was also the capital of fashion trends, so in this way with its big influence and the one of Madame de Pompadour the color pink started to be worn by both men and women.

Madame de Pompadour

Madame de Pompadour Source: Pinterest

So until the 19th century, pink was a no-gender color. Then, as always, conceptions started to shifts. The rise of capitalism and democracy lead to a drastic drop in usage of color in men’s garments and as a consequence a feminization of the color pink.

The conception of pink we have now can almost be entirely traced to “Little Women” (published just after the Civil War), when after the birth of two twins – a boy and a girl – they say that in order to distinguish them it was better to make the boy wore a blue ribbon and the girl a pink one. 

In a nutshell, according to Valerie Steele, it’s in that moment that the bond blue-boy and pink-girl starts to have the meaning of versus and not of “any gander can wear any color”. 

history of pinkValerie steele
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Marina

I’m Marina, an Italian girl who lives in Paris. In love with languages and tirelessly collecting travels. In my spare time, I write, read, and eat.

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Marina's Discoveries

I’m Marina, an Italian living in Paris, and I’m here to help you plan your perfect holiday. My blog aims to share travel adventures and fashion insights.

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Marina's Discoveries
  • Home
  • Travels
    • France Italy London USA

      A Weekend in Bordeaux: What to See…

      Exploring the Architectural Side of Paris

      Exploring Maison La Roche in Paris

      A Parisian Fashion Itinerary

      Discovering Paris: an unconventional itinerary

      A short weekend at Mont Saint-Michel

      Discover with me the Borromeo Islands

      Two must-see fashion museums in Florence

      A weekend in Turin: here’s what to…

      Venice in a day? Discover it with…

      Three days at Lake Como? Here’s what…

      Mantua in one day: what not to…

      Christmas in London: what to see

      London and Greenwich guides

      London street markets you need to go

      London travel guide part 2

      London unusual travel guide

      My London travel guide: the must-see of…

      Boston travel guide part 2: what you…

      Boston travel guide part 1: what you…

      New York City guide in 48 hours

      A California trip for an entire week:…

      A California trip for a week: Las…

      A California trip for an entire week:…

    • France
      • Paris
    • Italy
    • London
    • USA
  • Fashion
    • Zancobel: from fishing nets to technical fabrics

      WRÅD, ever heard of it? Discover it…

      Fashion Vibes at the Milan Fashion Week

      Beauty trends 2020: the make-up pieces to…

      PANGAIA the sustainable loungewear

      Emerging Talents Milan stages a physical show!

      Emerging Talents Milan and the Talents Trade…

  • Blog
    • Margaret Bourke-White

      Books about fashion sustainability you need

      8 advice in order to be more…

      4 sustainable shopping alternatives for you!

      What really is sustainability?

      School of WRAD: the new project that…

      Capra e Cavoli Milano presents a new…

  • About Me
    • Shop with me!
  • Ask me!