The Meaning of Pink

Nearly all of the pink coloured things in my wardrobe are vintage or second-hand, discarded by their original owners.

Does any other colour in the rainbow have such controversy surrounding it? People who like it are often on the defensive. Yet pink is considered a peaceful, calming hue; the universal colour of love; happy, hopeful, nurturing, sweet, feminine… are these curse words? I have heard women dismiss it for its girlishness in scathing tones – but is that rather a reflection of their own sentiments than a valid denunciation of an innocent distribution of light energy versus wavelength?

How could you not? (Photo by Kareem Black)It is always a source of amusement to me that pink – a colour associated with femininity – used to be considered a suitable colour for boys. It only serves to emphasise that our perception of colour is also influenced by cultural conventions*, not only by the emotional responses they evoke.

pink is considered a peaceful, calming hue; the universal colour of love…

About.com has a fascinating collection of reader responses to pink, from Nathan, who feels powerful; to Calinda who feels disappointed and rejected; and Linda who says, “Pink is pretty, girly, loud, bold, fun, and sometimes sexy.”

Kitten-Kay is obsessed with it. (Photo by Barcroft/Fame Pictures)Who could deny the beauty of Japanese cherry blossom? (Photo by Sakura Saki.) A hue divine enough for prayers in Vietnam. (Photo by So Not A Princess)As for the vertiginous hot pink satin heels, and the wool felt cowboy hat in a shade of scorching pink, both are found from the same charity shop. One day I will attempt to totter around in those dangerous shoes, but the hat will adorn the head of my niece Rosiecheeks. I am sure she would echo Linda’s words: “I LOVE PINK. I love being a girl, so I love pink, and I always will…”

*Click here for a complete psychological profile on pink.
Click on images for sources. Thanks to Sapphire for helping me take the main photo. 

Cotton Picking

Mercerised cotton balloon-sleeved top by Kookaï. (The flowers are dried Australian billy buttons.)Who has noticed on their fabric content tags the description ‘mercerised cotton’, and wondered what exactly is the difference between it and ordinary cotton? I knew it was supposed to be better quality, but when my sisters and I were discussing it recently I could not explain why.

Simply, mercerised cotton is softer, stronger, and more lustrous than ordinary cotton. It absorbs dye more readily, making it popular with clothing manufacturers. Also, while it is resistant to mildew, you may find garments form lint more easily.

…mercerised cotton is softer,
stronger, and more lustrous than ordinary cotton.

The fibres are treated with sodium hydroxide in a chemical bath, which causes the cell walls to swell and soften – thereby increasing the surface area and reflectance.

The method takes its name from the Englishman John Mercer, who first developed it in 1844. However, it was not until 1890 that the process became popular, when Horace Lowe improved it by applying the mercerising treatment while the fabric was held under tension – which is what increases the lustre. This is the method still used today.

In my own closet I have noticed that the labels Kookaï and DeCjuba utilise it, although only it remains to be seen if they stand the test of time.

I learned more than I really needed to during research – if you really want to know the nitty-gritty, click here.

Zara’s Coming!

Bettie XL // Claunch 72 MonochromeZara is coming to Australia at last! Can't wait. This is old news of course, but after my lunch date in the city today and a quick stop at the supermarket, I found I still had 20 minutes left on my tram ticket. I thought I’d breeze by Bourke St and see how things were coming along.

Hmm… still a while longer. In the meantime, I’ll get my Spanish fashion fix at Mango round the corner.

Market Buy

I’ve written before about shopping adventures in Hong Kong markets, and mentioned the expensive purchase of a buffalo hide handbag. At last it makes its appearance on these pages!

My friend Aurora and I spent the day at Stanley Market, and I saw the bag early on. However, it was quite expensive, and I decided to ponder its purchase while I frittered away small amounts on other fripperies (a cream cashmere shawl that I still regularly use; a rhinestone belt triumphantly discovered, but never worn yet as it’s too big for me, etc).

Eventually I decided to have another look at the bag before I made my final decision. When we arrived back at the stall, I found an American woman looking the bag over. Imagine my fright! I cursed my indecision. Fortunately, she decided against it, and before she could change her mind, I snatched it up and made it mine.

The bag has been with me for several years now, and has been admired by many. My sister Star has laid claim to it in case I should ever tire of it (unlikely). I am well-practised at making the right shopping decision, and there are few things I buy today that are soon discarded. If you stay true to your style, take your time to shop, and buy the best quality you can afford, you’ll rarely make errors – even when souvenir shopping in overseas markets. 

Violets for Irene

Iolite is a pretty gemstone that appears different colours depending upon which direction it is viewed: a cube cut from iolite will look a violet-blue from one side, clear as water from the other, and a honey yellow from the top. It sounds almost magical.

Raw iolite. Image from fortunecity.com

The name iolite was derived from the Greek word for violet: ios. It has also been called ‘water sapphire’ because it looks very much like a blue sapphire. Another name was ‘Viking’s Compass’. Supposedly the Vikings used pieces of iolite as a polarising filter to determine the exact position of the sun, and allow them to navigate safely when far from familiar coastlines. And – rather bizarrely – it is also apparently a talisman for people named Irene!

… rather bizarrely [iolite] is also apparently a talisman for people named Irene!

Faceted iolite rondelles. Image from Dragon’s Treasure Hoard.Most iolite is mined in Brazil, Burma, Sri Lanka, India, Mozambique and Zimbabwe – how exotic. The Vikings probably mined theirs from deposits in Norway and Greenland.

My earrings are composed of tiny silver flowers with faceted iolite centres, linked together. So pretty and delicate, they crumple easily like a real chain of violets. 

Check out additional images in the Out-takes & Extras Gallery.