One of the season’s standout trends is the profusion of eye-popping colors, but we understand that the super bright shades can be polarizing. Certainly there are many well-dressed women who embrace the bold hues, but we know an equal number who are oddly unnerved by the nearly neon looks. We’re not sure where this fear comes from—perhaps there was an incident involving Hi-Liters in the past, or maybe Oakley sunglasses and Global hypercolour tshirts—but hopefully we can cure it today. All you have to do is follow in the stylish footsteps of Sarah Jessica Parker and Mary Kate Olsen and think (shocking) pink.
An intense magenta was shown in various degrees on many of the most important spring runways (like Alexander McQueen, Comme des Garcons, and Gucci) and we’ve noticed many celebrities are incorporating this color in a very wearable way. Instead of going head-to-toe in Schiaparelli pink, they take baby steps into the bright shade with individual pieces. Mary Kate Olsen, seen above at a Cinema Society screening of 21, pushed her basic black playsuit in a fashion forward direction by adding a bright pink belt. Anne Hathaway impressed us with her choice of startling pink shades and we also like the shocking pink socks Agyness Deyn pulled on for the premiere of My Blueberry Nights at the Tribeca Grand. Apparently Nicky Hilton is quite fond of this trend, as she was spotted in Los Angeles wearing a double dip of pink accessories with her all-black outfit. Our favorite version of this look comes from Sarah Jessica Parker, who picked a short swing coat in shocking pink for a screening of her latest movie, Smart People. Her choice of outerwear gives a youthful edge to her otherwise sophisticated selections of skinny black pants and navy silk tunic.
We found an assortment of shocking pink accessories at every price point, from a Xhilaration Skinny Patent Belt ($9.99) with a flat buckle from Target to a terrific fuchsia satin pair of Miu Miu Ankle Wrap Pumps ($465). If you want to start off slowly with this color, check out the Bertie Strappy Sandals with Contrast Heel ($150). As the name implies, only the heel of the shoe is shocking pink, the rest of it’s a more discrete dove gray. Bolder readers might like the Neon Lights Roped Sunglasses ($14) in neon pink or the W. Kleinberg Patent Leather Belt ($85), both will add a bold dollop of color any outfit. Last, but certainly not least, we’re crazy about Scorah Pattullo’s Victoria Woven Sandal ($575) in bubblegum. They’re the precisely perfect item to perk up your spring and summer dresses.
