{"id":71913,"date":"2022-08-17T16:02:19","date_gmt":"2022-08-17T16:02:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lovehappensmag.com\/blog\/?p=71913"},"modified":"2022-08-17T16:09:43","modified_gmt":"2022-08-17T16:09:43","slug":"a-history-of-pink-through-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lovehappensmag.com\/blog\/2022\/08\/17\/a-history-of-pink-through-women\/","title":{"rendered":"Women & Pink: A Color History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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“On Wednesdays, we wear pink,” says Karen Smith (Amanda Seyfried) in Mean Girls. But at Love Happens Mag, pink is a beloved color that is celebrated every day of the week. So we decided to dig into the history of the color pink! And in particular, its ties to women throughout history, from art and fashion to social statements and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When one thinks of pink, visions of bubblegum, the shimmer of Marilyn Monroe, or the most reliable item of clothing in your closet may appear. Pink might be all these things, but it also represents the deeper emotions in life. Femininity, empowerment, and love are all generational ideals that are preserved throughout history alongside the color pink. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In honor of our love for pink and women, read on as we chronicle the history of the color pink through the women who have made it the color it is today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Divine Embodiment<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first woman highlighted in this color category truly transcends womanhood. Her divineness never made her human. Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, is usually decorated in her nakedness alongside pink adornments. In one of the most famous depictions of her, The Birth of Venus by Botticelli, her skin is pale pink, borderline white, with blush accents on her cheeks\u2014a testament to her connotation to intimacy and love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Popularization<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While Venus may embody the color pink, a French mistress made the color popular amongst the upper-class masses. In the 1700s, Madame de Pompadour, a mistress to King Louis XV, adored and adopted pinks into her lifestyle. As her affection for the color grew, so did the color\u2019s popularity in the French court. Aristocratic men and women then saw pink as an even more luxurious color and thus a symbol of class and status. S\u00e8vres<\/a>, a French porcelain company, notes her deep affection for the color. The company even named a color, \u2018Rose Pompadour,\u2019 after her.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Pink
Pink lover Madame de Pompadour painted by Fran\u00e7ois Boucher in 1759, at the Wallace Collection, London, UK.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

This combination of nakedness, love, and delicacy from the upper classes continued into the 1800s. Then, the shift from a gender-neutral color to the embodiment of femininity began. Masculine colors became darker and darker. Feminine colors focused on bright, light, and pastel shades. Similarly, these blush tones reverted to nakedness and exposedness, possibly even an ode to Venus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The People’s Color<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At the dawn of the 1900s, the age of industrialization was here. Pink became popular among middle and lower-class people. Now, pink was the people\u2019s color. Light pink’s popularity moved into other hues. Bright pinks, like magenta and fuchsia, were bountiful as the dyes were cheaper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the 1900s, the color pink constantly evolved. In the 1940s, pink was reserved exclusively for women, often highlighting the (forced) lack of military service. Dark colors reflected military involvement. Pink was now for the homemakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 1960s marked a revolutionary time in the history of pink. Much like Madame de Pompadour, former first lady Mamie Eisenhower rang in a new era of pink into the White House. She also had a color named for her: \u201cMamie Pink.\u201d Pink home decor entered the scene, as well as her wardrobe. One of her most famous pink looks consisted of an inaugural gown\u2014studded in stunning 2,000 rhinestones.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Mamie
Mamie Eisenhower White House portrait painted by Thomas E. Stephens, 1959<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

During the 1960s, Jackie Kennedy turned heads as another model of pink. Before her husband John F. Kennedy’s assassination, the infamous pink suits were a staple in her closet. Her wardrobe always included light pink gowns and matching sets. Kennedy\u2019s refinement and poise of the color contradicted one Hollywood blonde: Marilyn Monroe. Monore chose bright, flashy shades of pink over lighter hues. Both of these women debuted the practical use of pink in the 60s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Jacqueline
Jackie Kennedy in her iconic pink Chanel suit<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Marilyn
Marilyn Monroe in ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Modern Times<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 1999, Monica Helms, a U.S. Navy veteran, created the “Transgender Pride Flag.” The flag contains stripes of blue, pink, and white stacked upon each other. The colors represent blue for boys, pink for girls, and white for those transitioning, gender neutral, or intersex. Helms created the flag after serving closeted for eight years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the color pink is associated with fashion and celebrity icons like Paris Hilton (a real-life Barbie), Ariana Grande, and singer-songwriter Pink. These women embody the color pink while still maintaining their individual styles in their respective industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A post shared by Ariana Grande (@arianagrande)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>