While I was preparing my purple posts for March, I discovered that purple seems to go with every color. This is what I love about vintage textile design, so many colors that look amazing together that I likely wouldn’t have paired together.
Simply put, basic purple is a recipe of blue and red and therefore is considered a color of compromise. Purple is the color of respect and dignity and evokes different emotions depending on its shade or tint. Adding more blue creates a feeling of tranquility and peace while adding more red creates a feeling of excitement. Purple can be associated with wealth, royalty and extravagance however, it is also associated with spirituality. In some countries, dark purple or plum replace black and are considered colors of mourning while the sweet pale colors of lavender and lilac evoke romance and nostalgia. The thought of burgundy and merlot remind me of velvet theatre curtains and old Hollywood.
All colors have positive and negative traits. Violet is the highest vibration of light and represents our crown chakra. If you want to channel inspiration and imagination wear some purple and/or eat purple foods like blackberries, plums or blueberries. Purple is also said to develop mental clarity and aides in letting go of negativity. On the flip side, it can represent arrogance, vanity and immaturity and if too red can produce a feeling of irritation. A little goes a long way.
While taking a deeper dive into the world of purple, I examined my own Spring garments. Although I have many garments that are only blue or only pink, I realized purple is mostly used as a secondary color to enhance other colors. I don’t have a single garment that is entirely purple. I looked online for images of “purple only” vintage attire and found very few.
Although I gravitate to bright multi-colored garments, I know that’s not for everyone. Sometimes we feel more comfortable in neutral tones and like to pair them with brightly colored accessories like a purse, a scarf or a piece of jewelry. So, whether you want to channel some inspiration or just want to add a splash of color to your outfit, try purple…it may turn out to be your new best friend.
XO-
Mel