If you are a ‘pink person’ what does this reveal about you?
Pink takes its name from the flower of the same name, and its use as a colour name can be traced back to the 17th century. Different qualities are associated with different shades of pink, for example, light pink evokes femininity and the rosy glow of a healthy person, whereas a dark, vivid pink is often equated with tastelessness.
Pink is often thought of as feminine, romantic and affectionate. It is associated with love, beauty, charm, sweetness and childhood. It represents compassion, nurturing and love. It tones down the physical passion of red, although the deeper the pink, the more passion and energy it exhibits.
Beware someone who constantly wears pink as it may indicate a need for support and unconditional love!
In colour psychology, pink is a sign of hope, inspiring warm and comforting feelings, and a sense that everything will be okay. Pink can signify good health, being ‘in the pink’, success as in ‘everything’s rosy’, and ‘tickled pink’, meaning to be happy.
There are studies which show that pink has a calming effect and can relieve feelings of anger and aggression. Pink has been used to treat violent and aggressive prisoners by placing them in rooms with pink walls although overexposure to the colour may have the opposite effect.
Since pink is said to have a tranquilizing effect, sports teams have been known to use it to paint the locker room used by opposing teams.
Whereas the brighter pinks can be associated with sex appeal, the lighter pinks are usually marketed towards children. A popular colour with children, pink represents the sweetness and innocence of the child. In Western culture it is associated with girls, particularly babies and young children – look in any children’s clothing department!
On the negative side pink can represent a lack of willpower, self-confidence and self-esteem. It can indicate a sensitive and overly cautious nature. If you use the pink too frequently, or only wear pink clothes, it can make you appear immature, silly and girlish.
In clothing, combining pink with darker colours can make it stronger and more sophisticated.
Brighter pinks are seen to be youthful, fun, and exciting.
Internationally, the pink ribbon is a recognised symbol of hope and awareness in the fight against breast cancer.
In Japan (and some other countries), pink has a masculine association. The annual spring blooming of the pink-blossomed cherry trees is said to represent the young Japanese warriors, or Samurai, who fell in battle.
The Chinese didn’t recognise the color pink until they had contact with Western culture and the Chinese word for pink translates as “foreign colour.”
In 1947, the innovative Italian fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli introduced ‘shocking pink’ to western fashion, although today we would call it “magenta.”
Perhaps a colour not that commonly used by brands, examples we’ve come across include Victoria’s Secret, which even has a clothing line called ‘pink’ and T-Mobile. Pepto-Bismol (used to alleviate stomach complaints) uses yellow and pink. Thomas Pink, the luxury clothing retailer, perhaps not surprisingly given the name, make liberal use of it within their branding.
And finally, watch out if you’re on a diet as pink makes us crave sugar!
03/06/2015