iStyle: Coming up roses -pink is not just for girls

This season, Lee Holmes urges men to take the plunge and think pink – it’s never been just for girls

There’s been a fair bit of chatter in women’s fashion of late about the colour pink and its sickly sweet return to wardrobes. Meant to make the boys wink, pink is now synonymous with all things girly, seemingly lacking the clout of more masculine – read here, conventional – colours, and by association, undermining the machismo of any man that wears it.

So far, so predictable. However, if one were to adhere to this school of thought, it would be very much to the detriment of this divisive hue. After all, pink is only a lighter version of the colour red and throughout history red equates with power and potency. In fact, historically it was the colour blue that was once seen as a more feminine colour, especially so in Christian societies, where it was worn in honour of the Virgin Mary.

With this in mind, pink does not necessarily a sissy make but you’d be wise to limit pink to strictly one garment at a time. Whether that be a shirt, T-shirt, trousers or trainers is up to you. And, if a mass of grey or black suiting makes up the majority of your wardrobe, then a flash of pink by way of a tie or pocket square ensures you will stand out from the crowd. It adds a touch of knowing to your look, setting yourself up as a potential modern-day dandy.

For tailoring, the shade of pink should be soft and subtle rather than garish: think dusty, faded rose hues. While hot pink or sugary candyfloss are best suited to casual wear.

Whatever you do, never wear it from head to toe. It’s a deluded gentleman indeed who thinks he can channel Robert Redford in the 1974 film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby. While a pink suit may look enchanting on the flawed but impeccably dressed anti-hero Jay Gatsby, on mere mortals it rather resembles a bottle of Pepto-Bismol.