What Colors Go Well With Pink? A Designer’s Guide

Introduction to Pink Color

History

• 18th century: In the 18th century, French royal culture was very popular. At that time, pink was not seen as a "color only for women." It was a stylish and fancy color. Rich men in the upper class often wore pink in their clothes and fabrics. The color showed wealth and high social standing. Madame Pompadour, the lover of French King Louis XV, even made her own special pink shade. It was called "Pompadour pink."
• Mid-to-late 19th century: As society solidified gender roles, pink began to slowly move towards "femininity". At this time, the pink and blue color combination in children's clothing began to take shape, but it was not yet fixed.
• 1920s: Coco Chanel broke the impression that pink only belonged to "gentle little women" in the early 20th century, adding pink to modern women's clothing with neat cuts and simple lines, and pink began to be given more power and independence.
• During World War II: The German Nazis used pink triangles to mark gay prisoners, making this color a symbol of oppression and exclusion in some historical contexts.
• Second half of the 20th century: From the 1950s to the 1980s, American toy brands such as Barbie dolls further associated pink with "girl products", forming a strong market recognition. Pink during this period was a symbol of sweetness and tenderness.
• 21st century: After 2000, Generation Z and Millennials grew up. They helped make gender fluidity more popular. Because of this, pink is no longer seen as just a color for girls. Now, many men also use pink in their style. The "Millennial Pink" that became popular in 2017 is a representative.

Popular Reasons

What Colors Go Well With Pink?

Pink Color Combination: White

• Apple: Apple incorporates the pink and white combination in brand product design, particularly, in the so-called rose gold version of iPhone and MacBook, which establishes a rich and modern premium aesthetic.
• Chanel: Pink bags of Chanel are combined with white iconic accessories to transmit the message of elegance and classic temperament.
• Victoria Secrets: Victoria's Secret is a brand that deals with underwear; they apply pink and white color matching in its advertising and packaged products, which depict a romantic and feminine nature.

Colors that Compliment Hot Pink: Gray

• Muji: In Muji, pink and grey are common in beddings and small accessories in the home furnishing, as stated by Muji, to get a simple and comfortable home.
• H&M: The pink and gray combination is also quite common in the fashion series of H&M, and gray provides some calmness to the tender pink.
• Ikea: Some of IKEA’s modern home designs use a combination of pink and gray, especially in the furniture arrangements of the living room and bedroom, which are both practical and artistic.

Pink Color Combination: Navy Blue

• Lacoste: The navy blue and pink are also common in the sports series of Lacoste. This mixture is professional and feminine at the same time.
• J.Crew: In the spring and summer episodes of J.Crew, the pairing of navy blue and pink gives a feeling of layering, thus making the ensemble more stylish and luxurious.
• Anthropologie: Navy blue and pink are widely used in home decorations of Anthropologie, mostly in applying large furniture items like curtains and sofas to give the house a feeling of romanticism in a calm environment.

Color Matches up with Pink: Black

• Moschino: The mixture of pink and black is a common combination in the brand of Moschino in its design, through advertisement series in its design shows and contents, giving a strong visual effect and personalized touch.
• MAC Cosmetics: The use of black and pink is not foreign at all in the packaging of products by MAC. The mix of these colors is all fashion and modernity which besides bringing out the liveliness of the brand, also brings out the high-end.
• Chanel: During the classic line, the coupling of black and pink has given Chanel a high-end and feminine appearance in designing its bags and accessories.

Color Matches up with Pink: Gold

• Gucci: The use of gold and pink in the design of Gucci is highly unique and the touches of gold decoration are mostly seen in designing bags and shoes, which demonstrate the innovation and mobility of Gucci.
• Lush: Another example of the use of the color pink in combination with gold is Lush treatment in its Christmas and New Year presents limited editions, which transfer a warm, festive, and luxury brand image.
• Chopard: The other fashion accessories by Chopard include jewelry designs that fit into watches and necklaces made of gold and pink metal.

Colors that Compliment Hot Pink: Mint Green

• Anthropologie: The color combination of mint green and pink is found in Most homes designed by Anthropologie have at least some aspect of the color matching of kitchens and bedrooms. This mix creates a cozy and contemporary perception of people.
• Glossier: The brand design of Glossier also relies on this color combination, with mint green and pink being applied everywhere in regard to the product and interior design of their stores, which results in a relaxed atmosphere of brand design.
• Kate Spade: In the accessories design made by Kate Spade, the pairing of mint green and pink has created a very fresh and lively attitude in the whole series, particularly in the design of wallets and jewelry.

Colors that Compliment Hot Pink: Lavender

• Coach: In a certain series of bags and shoes of Coach, the twirl of lavender and pink looks quite soft, which is modern and feminine at the same time.
• Anthropologie: In the home furnishings of Anthropologie, it is possible to find the pairing of lavender and pink, usually in bedclothes, as well as with ornamental products. It introduces the family atmosphere.
• Chanel: Chanel applies the use of lavender and pink in parts of perfume bottles and accessories to demonstrate elegance and fashion.

Colors that Compliment Hot Pink: Beige

• H&M: There is a great probability that the combination of beige and pink can be observed very actively in particular lines of H&M, especially in coats and dresses during autumn and winter, which creates an effect of softness and warmth.
• Tiffany & Co.: The beige and pink mix in some Tiffany jewelry and packaging designs gives it an old-world air of luxury and particularly in the design of its wedding series.
• IKEA: IKEA (home series) The beige and pink color combination can be found in furnishings and decorations of bedrooms, which is used to transmit the simple and warm home style.

Color Matches up with Pink: Light Blue

• Burt's Bees: Often, Pink and light blue colors are used in the packaging of the skin care products of Burt's Bees, which leaves people with a fresh and natural brand.
• Gap: The light blue and pink colours used by Gap in Gap's spring line of clothing make the clothing very simple yet trendy and can be used in everyday wear.
• Zara: Light blue and pink are common in some of the women's fashion series Zara offers, and it comes with a new summer fashion in the design of dresses and shirts.

Color Matches up with Pink: Coral

• Tory Burch: The coral, mixed with pink, also appears in some of the Tory Burch spring collections, creating the impression of something bright and up-to-date, particularly (when it comes to the design of shoes and handbags).
• Kate Spade: The use of the combination of coral and pink is very prevalent in Kate Spade's accessories, particularly in designing wallets and accessories with a delightful and sophisticated attitude.
• J.Crew: In the fashion of J.Crew, there seems to be a combination of coral and pink, and when these are used together, they tend to be used mostly in the spring/summer series, particularly, in shirts and skirts, giving out a fresh and bright design.

Conclusion