Masculine in pink
Jul 04, 2008
UNTIL recently, it was common knowledge than blue was the masculine colour while pink was feminine. <br>However, like the roles of the gender groups have changed, so have the colours. Women are venturing into blue, while the men have now turned to pink. <br>
By Brenda Kamulegeya
UNTIL recently, it was common knowledge than blue was the masculine colour while pink was feminine.
However, like the roles of the gender groups have changed, so have the colours. Women are venturing into blue, while the men have now turned to pink.
What explains this paradigm shift by men to what has been referred to as more feminine colours? And does this imply that wearing such colours makes them less masculine?
Brian, a lawyer, attributes this trend to the increase in financial power by women who are now more likely to give their husbands and boyfriends gifts such as pink shirts. “Trends are changing and men’s tastes are changing towards feminine colours.
Men shop more with their spouses and girlfriends and so they are influenced into buying feminine colours.â€
He, however, says he only is conscious about what other people would say if he wore a pink shirt in court.
When asked about men who wear pink, Patrick, who works with Barclays Bank, was surprised at the trend. However, he says he does not mind the colour. “I wouldn’t mind wearing a pink shirt as long as I feel comfortable in it,†he said.
Don, a journalist, says pink is a bright colour and that he normally wears it on Monday in anticipation of a bright week. He adds that it blends well with black hence a food choice for one’s wardrobe.
“I first wore a pink shirt as part of my uniform in Primary Two at Rock View Primary School, Tororo,†he replied when asked about his first encounter with a pink shirt.
He adds that he first bought a pink shirt from a shop near the College Inn in Wandegeya. “I was struck by its brightness, texture and the fact that it matched my Liverpool cufflinks that have some pink in them.â€
According to Miriam and Evelyn, shop attendants at Man About Town, a local gents’ store on Jinja Road, there has been an increasing number of men opting for pink shirts, which are in the range of sh50,000.
“Pink is a shouting colour and looks good on many, especially dark men,†they say, adding that it easily blends with many colours, especially charcoal gray trousers.
They advise that care be taken when choosing clothes to match the pink shirt to avoid clashing colours.
Pam, who works at Elegant Design on Mabirizi Complex on Kampala Road, also agrees that more men are opting for pink shirts.
“Men have become stylish and this is not only reflected in their dressing. They wear make up, treat their hair and have their ears pierced,†she says.
Pam notes that pink enhances many men’s skin colour and makes them look good, adding that it can easily combine with other colours. “Some men even come purposely for pink shirts,†she observes.
Pam urges men to take caution in the choice of tie, trousers and shoes that they opt to match their pink shirts. Dark colours like grey and black are popular, she says, because they easily blend with pink.
Their pink shirts range between sh70,000 and 100,000. An article published in USA Today, titled “Think Pink,†quotes Stan Williams, a fashion director at Maxim, a men’s lifestyle magazine, as saying pink “is just sweeping up,†which he attributes to “the neo-preppy trend going on.â€
He adds that pink looks good on every man and complements every skin tone.
Sheila, a student at the Law Development Centre, says: “Pink shirts and ties are often eye-catching.â€
But she cautions that men consider their skin complexion before getting themselves a pink garment. For those men who have not ventured beyond blue shirts, a trip to one of the local gents’ stores in town could inspire you. The adventure would be worthwhile.
UNTIL recently, it was common knowledge than blue was the masculine colour while pink was feminine.
However, like the roles of the gender groups have changed, so have the colours. Women are venturing into blue, while the men have now turned to pink.
What explains this paradigm shift by men to what has been referred to as more feminine colours? And does this imply that wearing such colours makes them less masculine?
Brian, a lawyer, attributes this trend to the increase in financial power by women who are now more likely to give their husbands and boyfriends gifts such as pink shirts. “Trends are changing and men’s tastes are changing towards feminine colours.
Men shop more with their spouses and girlfriends and so they are influenced into buying feminine colours.â€
He, however, says he only is conscious about what other people would say if he wore a pink shirt in court.
When asked about men who wear pink, Patrick, who works with Barclays Bank, was surprised at the trend. However, he says he does not mind the colour. “I wouldn’t mind wearing a pink shirt as long as I feel comfortable in it,†he said.
Don, a journalist, says pink is a bright colour and that he normally wears it on Monday in anticipation of a bright week. He adds that it blends well with black hence a food choice for one’s wardrobe.
“I first wore a pink shirt as part of my uniform in Primary Two at Rock View Primary School, Tororo,†he replied when asked about his first encounter with a pink shirt.
He adds that he first bought a pink shirt from a shop near the College Inn in Wandegeya. “I was struck by its brightness, texture and the fact that it matched my Liverpool cufflinks that have some pink in them.â€
According to Miriam and Evelyn, shop attendants at Man About Town, a local gents’ store on Jinja Road, there has been an increasing number of men opting for pink shirts, which are in the range of sh50,000.
“Pink is a shouting colour and looks good on many, especially dark men,†they say, adding that it easily blends with many colours, especially charcoal gray trousers.
They advise that care be taken when choosing clothes to match the pink shirt to avoid clashing colours.
Pam, who works at Elegant Design on Mabirizi Complex on Kampala Road, also agrees that more men are opting for pink shirts.
“Men have become stylish and this is not only reflected in their dressing. They wear make up, treat their hair and have their ears pierced,†she says.
Pam notes that pink enhances many men’s skin colour and makes them look good, adding that it can easily combine with other colours. “Some men even come purposely for pink shirts,†she observes.
Pam urges men to take caution in the choice of tie, trousers and shoes that they opt to match their pink shirts. Dark colours like grey and black are popular, she says, because they easily blend with pink.
Their pink shirts range between sh70,000 and 100,000. An article published in USA Today, titled “Think Pink,†quotes Stan Williams, a fashion director at Maxim, a men’s lifestyle magazine, as saying pink “is just sweeping up,†which he attributes to “the neo-preppy trend going on.â€
He adds that pink looks good on every man and complements every skin tone.
Sheila, a student at the Law Development Centre, says: “Pink shirts and ties are often eye-catching.â€
But she cautions that men consider their skin complexion before getting themselves a pink garment. For those men who have not ventured beyond blue shirts, a trip to one of the local gents’ stores in town could inspire you. The adventure would be worthwhile.