A world of purple affairs

Traditionally associated with royalty, the colour purple is one of elegance, spirituality and mystery. It reminds you of delicate orchids and irises as well as luxurious amethysts and jades. When it comes to fashion, the versatility of purple is what makes people fall in love with it, be it in the form of a gentle lavender gown or a bold plum lipstick.

FINDING THE RIGHT COLOURS

Purple on its own can often be overwhelming. The trick is to mix it with other colours to achieve the right blend of sophistication without seeming too moody. Start by figuring out whether you are a cool tone or a warm tone. Warm tones would look better in reddish purples such as magenta or cerise while cool tones should opt for bluer ones such as plum or lavender.

Being a dominating colour, purple works best when paired with neutral or toned-down hues. Bright oranges or reds matched with purple may pave the path to a fashion disaster. Instead, opt for white, beige and grey shades if you are wearing dark purple, and add a bit of black to your lilac outfits for an elegant effect. Alternatively, if you are not too shy to play with colours, try pairing purple with pale yellow or blue for a more vibrant look.

THE RUNWAY PURPLE

Purple makes a fine choice when you are aiming for semi-formal attires. A purple shirt matched with your either black or white trousers can be your go-to wear for the office, especially when you want to add a bit of personality to the otherwise monotonous professional look.

You can opt for a mauve handcrafted shalwar kameez for the day, and switch to eggplant georgettes or mulberry silks for the evening parties.

Tropical floral patterns also go really well with violet as it retains the elegance of purple and the freshness of flowers. On the other hand, just add a pop of colours to your all-white jumpsuit by finishing your look with a violet shrug or cardigan.

PURPLE IN MAKEUP 

Perfect for the winter, purple makeup can be used to bring out your features while still maintaining the soft subtlety of the colour. You could opt for a washed-out monochromatic lilac look. Start with a lilac and black smoky eyes and match it with a rosy blush with a hint of lilac. Then finish your look with mauve lips. While the makeup is quite neutral, there is still enough colour to make you look sophisticated.

Nothing is as true as the statement 'less is more' when it comes to purple. One bold stroke of berry shades on your lips, and you are good to go!

For evenings, add a bit of glitter to your violet smoky eyes, and pair it with nude lips. Alternatively, a touch of brown to your lavender eyes can be used to create soft ethereal aesthetics. Colourpop zipper or Maybelline Color Drama Lipstick in Berry Much are just a few of basic everyday lip favourites when it comes to the purple shades.

HAIR FOR THE BOLD

For the bold ones who love a bit of drama, why not deviate from the classic brown and burgundy, and opt for something more hipster? A pretty purple shade done right can look absolutely gorgeous and perfectly capture your youth. Opt for dark hues such as violet. However, before you commit yourself to such an unconventional shade, understand that there is a lot of maintenance involved.

To extend the life of your colour, colour-specific shampoos and conditioners are a must. However, fading of the colour is inevitable but do not worry! As the colour fades, you are likely to get lighter shades of purple over time which look equally beautiful. While ombres are most flattering here, you can never quite go wrong with a few streaks of dark-purple amidst your black hair.

Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed

Model: Shrabosti, Arko

Makeup:  Farzana Shakil's Makeover Salon

Styling: Sonia Yeasmin Isha

Wardrobe: Noir, Mumu Maria