What You Need To Know About Pink Trending In Summer 2022 Fashion
The color wheel is often set ablaze by hot pink, which makes it an apt choice to dominate your wardrobe this blistering summer. The vibrant hue has never truly remained off runways; our definitions of femininity, power-dressing, and optimism are all seeped into fabric of the color. This summer, the color's poised to take over red carpets, street wear, and workspaces.
Trend forecasting company WGSN reported that the color pink in spring/summer 2022 womenswear catwalk collections saw an increase of 89% from the previous year (via House Beautiful). In our opinion, Valentino's pink Fall 2022 collection displayed on runways of the same color could have accounted for most of that increase (via Vogue). Shocking pink-on-pink ensembles from the brand found themselves on red carpets almost immediately; celebrities like Saweetie contributed to monochromatic pink supremacy by donning stunning looks from the brand (via Page Six).
Referencing this shift towards Orchid Flower, the color of the year, the trend forecasting company explained, "In a challenging time, this saturated magenta tone creates a sense of positivity and escapism, and embodies the dopamine brights trend that has been peaking across industries as we navigate towards a post-Covid world" (via House Beautiful).
Pink seems to be the moment, especially this summer. Read on for trends and tips to help you incorporate the color into your wardrobe.
Hot pink Regencycore takes inspiration from Bridgerton
The Kate Sharma eyebrow scrunch was a cultural reset. After Kate's actress Simone Ashley scrunched her eyebrows during a romantic scene in "Bridgerton," the internet collectively decided to imitate the actress. With over 8.2 million views on TikTok, the trend reflects the incredible viewership of the series. The romantic period drama set in Britain's Regency era had already become one of the most-watched TV series on Netflix when it aired in 2020 (via Deadline). Of course, that led to the rise of modern interpretations of costumes and clothing of the 1800s.
Corsets, bustiers, and puffy sleeves are paired with low waisted jeans and thrifted pearl necklaces — the sum total of this aesthetic is known as 'Regency-core,' not to be confused with Cottage-core. And you don't need to add too much to your cart to participate — it's meant to marry the 21st century with elements of the Regency era in a glamorous way. Think gloves and accessories; bright fuchsia is the perfect accent color to channel this aesthetic.
For instance, this look from Versace's Fall Winter 2022 collection pairs a structured, pink corset minidress with a pendant pearl choker and pointed, strappy heels. Or you could reference a Dries Van Noten look worn by Margot Robbie — a black plumage dress with shocking pink opera gloves (via Celebrity Insider). We'd recommend a corset dress ($225) from House of CB with their mesh gloves ($59) to borrow from both looks.
Oversized monotone suits can take you from work to play
For Gucci's Fall 2022 show, Alessandro Michele centered gender fluid suiting with various plaids, corduroy, and velvets. "You don't need much to adapt them to masculine or feminine bodies," Michele said of the tailored suits to Harper's Bazaar. Case in point: Travis Barker's outfit at the Grammys (via Page Six). The lines between the binaries are blurring, and suits have become closet mainstays for many. In particular, baggy and billowy suits are the silhouettes of choice; the #oversizedblazer hashtag has over 12.6 million views on TikTok.
The trend may also intersect with the fact that companies are ready to bring us back into the office, at least 50% of them want their employees to work in-person full-time again, according to research by Microsoft. "It's a return to the classics — with a twist," Loretta Choy from personal shopping service Stitch Fix told Bloomberg. "People are seeking style, but not at the cost of comfort. After years of working from home during the pandemic, people are excited to get dressed up and go out, and that includes the office."
Taking cues from Valentino's Fall 2022 show, many are embracing monotone pink suits within this trend overlap (via Vogue). The shocking pink suits add an element of fun to dreary Mondays while the exaggerated silhouette intensifies the color. Of course, a pink oversized blazer like this one from Zara ($89.90) transitions easily from a work desk to a dinner reservation.
Ruffles and feathers add a touch of gilded glamour
Continuing with the theme of living in the past, we're spotlighting ruffles and feathers this summer. This trend is also influenced by the elaborate costumes in "Bridgerton." However, wider skirts exaggerated by ruffles and layered fabrics are more reminiscent of the Gilded Age of the 1870s. The HBO Max show "The Gilded Age" and the theme of 'Gilded Glamour' for this year's Met Gala is all the evidence we need that ruffles are making a comeback.
We're embodying this trend with puffy sleeves, ruffled details, and feather trims on wider silhouettes. Celebrity stylist Soneca Guadara had another recommendation: "Added details, embroidery, and structured lace are other touches you can add to your wardrobe to complete the whole look" (via InStyle).
Jason Wu showed us how to do it in pink. In his Fall 2022 collection, the designer revealed a short fuchsia dress with a bubble hem and puffy sleeves that would brighten up any summer night out (via Vogue). This dress from Pretty Little Thing ($42) is an affordable alternative to Wu's. If you prefer a dreamier pink, get the puff dress from Selkie ($245) or find inspiration in Rodarte's pastel pink cape trimmed with feathers in their Fall 2022 collection (via Vogue).
Of course, there's an entire Pinterest board worth of looks from the red carpet; Chrissy Tiegen's stunning tiered ball gown and St. Vincent's shimmery gown with hot pink ruffles are our favorites (via Page Six).
Latex is back, and pink adds a dash of fun
You never want to hear that latex, the sweatiest of all materials, is in style just in time for summer. According to Lyst, this fabric is part of a larger trend called "fetish-core" which refers to kinky accessories, harnesses, and bondage-inspired outfits. But the shiny plasticky look has been around for a while now; celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Addison Rae helped it survive the pandemic (via Nylon), and Kim Kardashian's been a full-time endorser over the years. Of course, her stint on "Saturday Night Live" fueled the craze for latex in bright pink (via YouTube).
Channel her look with this hot pink set from Dolls Kill ($46.40) or a cut-out bodysuit ($28) in a subdued pink from the brand. You could also take cues from Versace's Spring-Summer 2022 show and pair a bright pink dress with equally electric accessories. For instance, this short, faux leather dress from Amazon serves well as an affordable dupe that would work well with neon shoes from Schutz ($118). You could also imitate Rihanna and try on latex pants (via Instagram), like this pair from Amazon ($13.99).
Finding a pink car as an accessory may not be as easy.
Y2K accessories have us nostalgic for the not-so-distant past
In 2020, the year 2000 made a comeback. Y2K, as the trend is known, began as a nostalgic ode to outfits and themes popular in the early 2000s when every celebrity paired slinky tops with low-waisted jeans and a Victoria's Secret thong peeping out the back. For the Gen-Z upgrade, play Olivia Rodrigo's "Good For You" music video and find rimless sunglasses, butterfly clips, and cutesy outfits reminiscent of "Mean Girls" on display. Additionally, baguette bags, over-the-top belts, and bralette tops are coming back into everyone's summer wardrobes, indicating that the fashion cycle's completed a full rotation.
If you remember outfits worn by the fictional (Regina George, Elle Woods) and the real (Paris Hilton), you'll know that pink was the dominant color of the era. And that extends to accessories. For instance, this butterfly motif belt from Blumarine's Spring-Summer 2022 collection perfectly encapsulates what's coming this summer (via Instagram). You could get a dupe from ASOS ($7.25) and pair with butterfly clips from Amazon ($6.98). Add a pair of pink sunglasses from Amazon ($13.95) to complete the look because, to quote Nordstrom's fashion director Beth Kanfer, "Who doesn't love Matrix-inspired sunglasses or a metal frame with pink lenses?" (via The Zoe Report).
Bralette tops are also great staples to wear during unforgiving heatwaves; pioneered by Black fashion icons like Aaliyah during the Y2K era, these tops are reappearing in runways too (via The Zoe Report).
Sheer outfits utilize skin as an accessory
Pink is the main character this summer; to really encapsulate her multifaceted use, we're going to need to use different materials, accessories, and aesthetics. One way is to channel the sheer dress trend where fabrics like mesh, organza, and tulle reign supreme (via Glamour). Referencing looks like Kate Moss' iconic slip dress (via Vice) and Nicole Kidman's sheer pink ruffled dress at the Critic's Choice Awards in 2018 (via Good Housekeeping), this trend uses skin like a subtle accessory.
Fashion houses and celebrities have collaborated to bring it back; for shows like Fendi's Fall 2022 show, model Bella Hadid wore a soft pink knee-length slip dress with gloves and a furry pink cropped jacket (via Vogue). This pink sheer mini dress from For Love & Lemons ($136) would do great with a cropped jacket and heels but would work equally well on a beach as a cover-up. If you want a more saturated pink, consider adding this midi knit dress from Cult Gaia ($328) to your summer rotation.