Pink, once a colour that many thought of as "girly", is undergoing something of a revolution.
The many tones dominating 2023 fashion lines are being described by design specialists in terms like "brave", "intense" and "self-confident".
Hot pink, soft pastel pink and everything in between has been filling this year's fashion shows, as part of a wave of bright colours sweeping the latest clothing lines.
Some designers even say the right use has the potential to boost your mood.
"Dopamine dressing" is the name coined by fashion psychologist Dawnn Karen from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Choosing bright colours can create positive expectations – releasing the motivation and happiness hormone dopamine in us, she argues.
For the first half of this year, pink stands out from the crowd of strong, cheerful colours.
Read more: 'Dopamine dressing' is about using a colourful wardrobe to boost happiness
Incidentally, the colour is also on trend in other areas, for example in furnishings and decorations.
Pantone has chosen viva magenta as its "Colour of the Year 2023". The institute has developed a widely used colour system for the graphics and printing industry and has social developments analysed by trend scouts every year.
What follows is a wave of advertising, and the colour chosen by Pantone is consciously used by companies and the distribution of products using that colour increases once again.
Magenta, a shade of pink, is expressive of a new signal of strength, optimism and joy, according to the Pantone Institute's reasoning for choosing it as its colour of the year.
Magenta is brave, fearless and symbolises a new narrative.
Stylist and colour consultant Sylvia Ebner uses similar adjectives: intense, dynamic, but above all self-confident. Combining such a striking colour is a challenge for many people.
However, Ebner says that "there are also more muted colourways when it comes to magenta, so that everyone can find a tone for their wardrobe".
At the fashion shows of trend-setting labels and designers, you can see a lot of head-to-toe pink looks, including on very eccentric pieces.
If that's too extravagant for you, labels are also bringing the trend to the shops with looks that are suitable for everyday wear.
"My tip: Bordeaux with magenta," says colour consultant Sylvia Ebner.
"That's still a bit of a unicolour combination, but the dark bordeaux brings some calm to the outfit."
Colour blocking – combining different bright colours in one outfit – is not so trendy at the moment . Instead, one or two pieces in a strong tone are worn with otherwise understated pieces, calming down the overall combination.
"I have said goodbye to the Barbie connotations. We are all – regardless of age – self-confident women who know what life can throw at us," says Ebner.
She counts pink and rose among her favourite colours and thinks if you want to wear this colour, you should do so with confidence.
And especially when it comes to this season's trend shade: "Magenta is strong, dynamic and self-confident," says Ebner.
Read more: Jeans above, jeans below, jeans everywhere! The denim-on-denim trend is back
What's more, it is precisely workwear and daytime pieces that can be found in pink.
This includes suit combinations, jumpsuits and trench coats, with most pieces utilising clear cuts and leaving behind the frills and ruffles. These are not little-girl dresses.
Besides combining with otherwise more subdued colours, the material of the pink garment is also important.
"If it has a silky sheen, the colour looks even brighter," Ebner explains. "Slightly rougher materials such as knitwear appear duller and this reduces the colour effect a little."
A great tip that always helps: only use pink sparingly, such as on your belt, on your shoes or even just on your nail polish. – AFP
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