Inspiration in the color hot pink.
Learn the history and meaning of the color hot pink, a hue as fun and flexible as spiced bubblegum.
What is the meaning of the color hot pink?
Hot pink is a color as intense as its name suggests. The color is vivid and it never goes unnoticed. Hot pink color has been an emblem of social and fashion movements for generations. It’s a bright and vivacious mix of red and white, and it packs more punch than almost any other shade on the color wheel.
Hot pink color is a vibrant hue that gets attention by making bold statements. It’s direct and leaves no one guessing.
The history of hot pink color.
Hot pink found its place on the spectrum of pinks.
The color hot pink is a mix of red and white, just like other pinks. The pink spectrum provides a whole range of shades that conjure different looks and feels, and hot pink falls on the warm side of things. Because of how much red it has, hot pink color is discernibly warmer than champagne or baby pink. The color hot pink is also brighter than a hue like dusty rose. In today’s complex color wheel, hot pink falls between red and magenta.
The color hot pink was seen in fashion first.
Most shades of pink can be found in nature — from the bright plumage of birds to the many shades of pink in the flower bed. The color hot pink, however, is rarely seen in nature. Pink color was a color concept introduced as recently as the 1600s. It wasn’t until an 1849 issue of Bentley’s Miscellany (a literature magazine) that “hot pink” was first seen in print. In the publication, it was said of a character that, because she wore hot pink color, she was “gratuitously ill-dressed.”
The heyday of hot pink color rose in the 1960s.
Even if hot pink was considered an “ill-advised” fashion choice in 19th-century England, by the mid-20th century it was adopted by counterculture fashion. Hot pink color got bolder and brighter in the 1960s. A decade later, the color hot pink was elected by the feminist movement. Not long after that, it became a bold contrast to the color black that punk rock played with. Most recently, hot pink has been the pink of choice reclaimed by the LGBTQ+ community as a symbol of pride.
The color hot pink across different cultures.
The role of hot pink color in fashion.
Pink was first seen in a wave of fashion statements in the 1700s. It was the era of Madame de Pompadour (1721–1764), the mistress of King Louis XV of France, who was famed for her pink gowns. The pink dyes in this era, however, ranged from baby pink to puce. Hot pink color didn’t make its first impression in fashion in the 1960s. Since then, the color hot pink has been a fashion statement for many youthful and trendy styles.
Does the color hot pink have a place in interior design?
Hot pink color isn’t the first hue that designers recommend for clients’ homes. The hue is bright and can be overpowering. In contemporary design trends, though, complex color palettes are coming back. Hot pink color is popping up as an accent and statement maker. Imagine an accent wall or pops of hot pink in throw pillows.
Hot pink in the world of color psychology.
The color pink has long been associated with youth. Baby pink was historically worn by boys (because it was seen as the diminutive of “virile” red) and, after the 1950s, it was linked to girls. Pink has also been associated with femininity. The color hot pink has a different psychology than all the rest. Hot pink color represents decisiveness and courage.
How to use the color hot pink.
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Design trends with the color hot pink.
Today’s user interfaces aren’t shy to use hot pink color when projects call for it. The color hot pink adds a vibrant visual pop and generates interest or excitement. All areas of graphic design have played with hot pink to create lively images and bold brand identities.
Hot pink is found among other intense hues.
Today’s more complex color wheel places hot pink color between red and magenta. Consider magenta a more surreal hue, or neighboring electric pink a fluorescent variation of hot pink color. Cerise, another intense neighbor, is a deep red-pink that makes bold statements, too.
Tap into the psychology of the color hot pink.
The color hot pink isn’t like other pinks. It isn’t limited to any one gender, as the feminist and LGBTQ+ movements have proven. Hot pink isn’t even limited to youth. Look at today’s popular hair dyes used by adults well into their gray years, and you’ll find hot pink. Add hot pink color to any project to promote creativity, non-conformity, or confidence.
Combine hot pink with other colors.
Hot pink pairs well with other vibrant colors like cyan or yellow. These palettes make bold statements with no uncertain intent. To tame the intensity of hot pink color, pair it with navy blue or dark purple. The color hot pink can be set next to lighter pinks in a palette that demands instant and total attention.
Information about hot pink color.
The hot pink HEX code picker is #FF69B4. This is the warm mix of red and white with deep saturation that leaves instant impressions.
The color hot pink can be achieved in a RGB space with 255 red, 105 green, and 180 blue. Hot pink color can be achieved in a CMYK color space with 0% cyan, 59 % magenta, 29% yellow, and 0% black.