The Year of Radiant Orchid

Crowned in Radiant Orchid (well, purple is a royal colour) – teehee!When I was about eight years old, I discovered a passionate and violent hatred of the colour purple. This irrational antipathy was to last through my teens, past my twenties, into my thirties.

It was my mother who inadvertently planted the seed, on the occasion of my sister Serena’s wedding, by stuffing me into a despised dress made of horrible scratchy crepe (trimmed in cream crocheted lace) in a particularly virulent shade of magenta – just the shade of those inner petals of the flower in Pantone’s picture of their Colour of the Year: Radiant Orchid. Purple was my mum’s favourite colour. I thought it was disgusting.

Late last year, Pantone declared: ‘An invitation to innovation, Radiant Orchid encourages expanded creativity and originality, which is increasingly valued in today’s society.’

‘An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.’ And as if all those effusive adjectives weren’t enough, they add: ‘Radiant Orchid’s rosy undertones radiate on the skin, producing a healthy glow when worn by both men and women.’

Well really, what a lot of ridiculous hype! Who writes this nauseating hyperbole? You will only look radiant if that shade of purple suits your skin tone of course! I had long since recanted my hatred of purple (I don’t recall when or how that epiphany occurred), and discovered – ironically – that many shades of purple in the winter colour palette actually suit me.

But if it doesn’t work for you, there’s plenty of other ways to indulge in this year’s colour – just keep it away from your face.

Scroll down and admire the purpleness (and click through to Just in Love With Bernie for some more prettiness).

Be cocooned in Radiant Orchid Varying shades of radiant orchid paintSeventies sunray pleated dress from Carla And Carla on EtsyEighties peeptoe pumps from Look Again Vintage on EtsyLive inside Radiant OrchidVintage silk scarf from Plot on EtsyWhy not eat some Radiant Orchid macaroons?