Not since the Billboard charts crowned Jimi Hendrix king (look it up, post baby boomers), has the word “purple” been on so many people’s lips. While no color definitively dominates any fashion season, certainly purple will be the hue everyone will remember when they recall the fall and winter of 2007.

Why purple? The surface-level answer is, “Because it’s beautiful.” But sociologists will tell you that popularity of a particular color is often indicative of the time and place in which it’s embraced. For instance, it has been suggested that societies tend to gravitate toward “grounding” shades of brown during times of political and social upheaval.

Purple is a dramatic choice. No one who wants to go unnoticed in a crowd chooses to wear a purple shirt. It demands attention, much like a child. And perhaps not so coincidentally, surveys show that almost 75% of pre-adolescent children choose purple as their favorite color.

What does it mean when a society chooses purple? Perhaps that it wants to stand up and be noticed? Certainly purple’s ancient history as the exclusive color worn by the noble and wealthy would indicate that the hue represented a powerful presence.

People who study the power of crystals associate purple with the desire for spiritual fulfillment. Many say it’s effective for use in meditation, perhaps because it’s a balance between the warmest color (red) and the coolest color (blue).

Is it possible that American society today desires to be noticed, have power, be spiritually fulfilled and balanced? Or, are we just embracing purple because it’s beautiful?

Regardless of your point of view, find out more about how purple has found its way into the beauty world this fall and winter in “All Grown Up,” DAYSPA’s article of the month.

DAYSPAMAG.com

subscribe to e-minutes