Originally seen as a derivative of red, pink has historically always been worn by men as a way to express their masculinity. As our notions around gender roles evolve, so do our expectations around colour theory and gender. In recent years, pink is commonly seen in menswear, from suiting to outerwear, streetwear and sneakers. In 2004, Kanye West launches the trend for pink polo shirts with the success of his debut studio album, “The College Dropout”. In Valentino’s S/S ‘19 menswear collection, subtle hints of pink pop, hinting at bigger things to come. At the 2019 Oscars, amid a sea of pink, Jason Momoa’s blush velvet Fendi suit (and scrunchie) is the look that grabs the attention of fashion lovers and press alike, with searches for pink scrunchies increasing 29% over the following days. A year later Lil Nas X subverts the traditionally masculine cowboy look wearing a hot pink, BDSM-inspired western ensemble to the 2020 Grammy Awards.

Credit: Courtesy of Maison Valentino