How To Wear Purple This Year

Purple symbolizes imagination, spirituality, wisdom, passion, and courage. After two years of pandemic living, I think we could use a little of all of those, don’t you? Perhaps wearing purple will remind us to embrace those qualities! Besides, purple is one of those colors that looks good on almost everyone; you just have to find the right one for your skin tone. Whether you’re looking for something new or wondering how to style what’s already in your closet, here’s how to wear purple this year…

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First, Find The Right Purple…

Regardless of which colors are trending, you should wear what flatters your skin tone, especially when it comes to clothing and accessories that you wear near your face. For my skin tone, a cool periwinkle brightens my complexion. A muted red grape color, however, makes me look sallow. Most of us lean towards warm or cool colors so we need to pick a purple with more red (warm) or more blue (cool) accordingly.

Not sure what looks good on you? Next time you go shopping, try on as many versions of purple as you can; periwinkle, lilac, lavender, violet, eggplant, amethyst, etc. If you can’t tell, right away, try taking dressing room selfies so that you can compare them later. Have a friend give you feedback.

Also, think about the types of colors that bring you the most compliments. Do you hear, “you look gorgeous” every time you wear your royal blue dress? Then, you’ll probably also look good in bright purples with blue undertones. If you get that reaction when you wear your olive sweater, you’ll probably want to look for a warmer, muted shade of purple.

(If you absolutely love a particular color, but it doesn’t work for you, keep reading – I have some suggestions for how to make it work for you later in this post).

Add Purple To a Neutral Outfit

If you tend to wear neutrals (black, white, navy, gray, dark brown, cream, or tan) add a vivid purple as your “pop” color. I love how my High Collared Knit Cardigan brightens up an all-black winter outfit. I’ll also wear unbuttoned it in early spring with a white t-shirt and blue jeans. This lilac also works with warm neutrals like tan, chocolate, and cream.

If you prefer a softer purple, this Balloon Sleeve-Top in Purple Print is a pretty desk-to-dinner blouse that you can wear with your cream or tan pants. Add shoes in the same color to look taller, and finish with a camel coat or blazer.

If you’re looking for a new trend, try these dusty purple jeans (Archroma Day Break color) with a white t-shirt or sweatshirt.

For a casual look, this Soft Oversized Sweatshirt would look good with gray, black, navy or dark brown leggings.

I like to wear my periwinkle Pranayama Wrap with a soft white and gray. (It has sold out in my color, but they have several others in this style and keep adding more each season.) If you love the color (Victorian Pweriwinkle), Athleta still has a few other styles left, including their Momentum Tank.

Wear Purple With Similar Colors

Remember the color wheel that your art teacher showed you to teach you how to mix colors? Well, that color wheel can also be helpful for coordinating your outfits! Mix red and blue to make purple, then add a tint (white), shade (black), or tone (neutral gray).

I like to wear my Lilac Fitted Faux Fur Cardigan with light blue or pink, both colors on the same side of the color wheel with a similar tint.

Or Wear Purple With Complementary Colors

You can also style purple with complementary colors like greens, yellows, and oranges (which are on the opposite side of the color wheel). If yellows and oranges don’t work for your skin tone, add them to your outfit in a print. My scarf is mostly gray and pink (which does work for my skin tone) with a hint of yellow (which doesn’t).

Banana Republic’s Multi Striped Dress is a good example of how browns and purples work together. The purples in this print are soft and muted complementing the rich shades of brown and camel.

If you’re looking for a shade of purple that works with fall colors like rust and olive, try a deep eggplant or amethyst.

Wear It In A Print

If you’re still not sure what to wear with purple, try it in a print. I didn’t think that lavender worked with brown and black until I saw it in my printed maxi skirt. It gave me a chance to “test out” a combination to see how I would like it. It also works well if you love a shade of purple that doesn’t flatter your skin tone. Just make sure the predominant colors in the print, do work for you.

Anthropologie’s Let Me Be Lace blouse combines lilac with peach and yellow.

This gorgeous Eyelash Trim Print Cashmere & Silk Wrap is in rich shades of purple with a hint of orange.

Ann Taylor Floral Little Silk Scarf is a pretty combination of violet and sunny yellow, perfect for spring and summer.

Wear Purple Away From Your Face

If a shade of purple doesn’t work for your skin tone, try it in a pant, skirt, shoes or other accessories that you wear away from your face.

I’ve been wearing these Ranier tights all winter for walks and errands. Mine are black, but they’re available in a beautiful violet floral.

This Aimee Kestenberg Fiery Leather Pouchette Shoulder Bag comes in a vibrant purple (Purple Haze).

These Ankle Strap Pumps in Iris have a fun basket weave design and would be lovely for a spring or summer party. If your style is more casual, these sandals have a similar basketweave detail.

Also, try a print that has a background in a color that does work for you i.e. black with lilac pin-stripes or navy with lavender flowers.

Do you have a favorite shade of purple? How will you wear it this year? Let me know in the comment section below!

Need a little more help to figure out colors that work together? Take a look at this brilliant tool developed by Canva (with an explanation of color theory). And yes, I deliberately saved this link until the end so that you wouldn’t get distracted like I did! (You’re welcome.)