Lately we’ve been keen on colour, and this New Years we resolve to add Ultra Violet into our wardrobes.
Solange in Glamour Magazine. Photographed by Petra Collins.
When Pantone announced the new colour of the year – Ultra Violet – we knew it. We’d seen it coming. Since last spring the women shopping at garden centres in violet hued coats circa 1989 filled our thoughts with that feeling of not yet… but maybe soon. The colour needed a revamp from the Fresh Prince era. It needed to stray away from cotton drawstrings amongst the shoulders of the over padded silhouettes and full voluptuous hoods.
The colour itself was nothing far from dense, it served itself as a royal. It demanded respect, attention to its heavy richness. Not unlike other hues made by Pantone, purple has long been associated with queens and kings since its use in expensive textiles from the Middle Ages. One present day royalty – King Karl Lagerfeld – used it unsparingly in his collections decades ago.
Image via Jon Kopaloff
After a rummage a few years ago through a vintage store on Queen West, one such accessory found its way into a writer’s wardrobe. A supple belt painted in electric violet leather hung from a frame of tiny porthole-like belt holes, strapped in regular pulse opposite to a leather-wrapped buckle. On the inside in a dark charcoal brush script woven into a paper white label read “Karl Lagerfeld, MADE IN FRANCE”. Immediately it became part of the collection of other vintage designer belts hung behind the closet door.
Only recently it was debuted in an outfit whilst on a visit to the office. The purple belt paired with soft pink leather vans and high waisted gray denim, holding taught a white seer sucker long sleeve button down blouse.
via Pantone
Slowly we’re working the royal hue into our everyday wear, and here’s what we suggest you try to embrace the 2018 colour. Consider this your New Year’s Resolution:
- Track pants. Like Rihanna’s Fenty silhouette, reimagined in Ultra Violet.
- Shoes. Aaron Nesser did a cool pair in the violet hue, made out of sea kelp.
- Scarves, or blankets. Bring the Ultra home. Use the colour as an accessory to pull out the red tones in those dark eyes; also compliments purple-y blue eyes like Liz Taylor’s.
- Hair. We’ve seen reservations of natural hair colours dissolve into bold moves at the salon – even last week Jordan Nullman dyed his hair purple.
Tell us your thoughts on the Pantone Ultra Violet swatch @holrmagazine.