Guide to Wearing Pink - Men's Fashion and the Color Pink

How to Best Wear Pink

It’s not uncommon for even the most fashion-forward men to stray away from wearing pink. After all, the color has very often been mistakenly associated with femininity, and has thus alienated a lot of people from wearing it. The fact is, however, pink is actually rather versatile, and more than has a place in men’s fashion. There are a lot of psychological elements that need to be taken into consideration when incorporating pink into an ensemble, as the more you know about the psychology of the color, the better you’ll be able to wear it with confidence. By taking all of the following into consideration, you’ll be well on your way towards making pink an effective part of your casual ensembles, regardless of how you’ve felt about the color in the past. This dress guide is part of our series titled The Psychology of Colors in Mens Fashion.

Immediate Calming Response
An interesting thing to understand about pink that many people don’t take into consideration is the fact that it can have an immediate calming response on those who the color is worn around. The subdued nature of the color has been utilized in a variety of different scenarios, from sports teams painting opposing teams’ locker rooms pink to promote passivity, to people simply painting bathrooms and other rooms pink for a calming effect. It’s important to note, however, that the calming response that results from wearing pink can wear off if the color is worn too frequently, and can actually cause the exact opposite response. Thus, you should avoid wearing pink on a regular basis in order to keep your appearance fresh.

The Color of Romance
While red may be the color of love, pink is considered to be the color of romance. Differentiating the two can be difficult, but it comes down to the simple fact that the energy emitted from pink (which is, for all intents and purposes, a lighter shade of red) calls to mind the fun, flirtatious nature of the beginnings of a relationship. It should come as no surprise, then, that pastel pink polos and dress shirts are often worn to nightclubs and casual evening events by those who are looking to pick up women. Overdoing it certainly comes along with a great deal of issues, but wearing pink in a subtle manner can be very effective when it comes to attracting the opposite sex.

Wearing Pink Effectively
The most important thing to remember when setting out to wear pink in an effective manner is to keep things subtle. An overabundance of pink will do you no favors, and can make you look like a caricature of yourself. Pink chinos, for example, are exceptionally difficult to pull off and should thus be avoided by most people living outside the Hamptons. That said, those who identify with “preppy” dress will find plenty of scenarios in which wearing pink can be effective; the pink polo, for example. Pair pink with subtle neutrals such as tan or beige; black can be effective, but sometimes creates a bit more contrast than is preferred. Experimentation is key, as you never know whether or not an ensemble will work unless you try it on.

Finally, when it comes to pink ties, think spring and summer. One celebrity that made the pink tie famous was business tycoon Donald Trump – who actually created his own line of neckwear later on. Pink ties look best with gray and navy suits. Our tip: stick to lighter pinks, and instead of the solid pink tie, choose a necktie that uses pink as an accent color. These type of ties will also look great when paired with a pastel pink dress shirt – just in case you can’t get enough of this color. Pink ties look best with suits in gray and navy.

Other Color Guides You Might Like:
Guide to Red in Mens Fashion
Mens Fashion Guide to Orange

Your Bows-n-Ties.com Team