An 'in the pink' image.
"In the Pink' relates to being 'in perfect condition, especially of health'.
The origin's earliest mention is dated to the 16th century, where its meaning was 'the very pinnacle of something', and not necessarily limited to one's health.
In 1597 Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Act 2 Scene 4, has Mercutio saying "Why, I am the very pinke of curtesie". Pinke was another word for flower. Mercutio's expression means the very height of courtesy.
Here's a video showing 3 different versions of R & J Act 2 Sc 4, and Mercutio expressing his "pinke of curtesie" comment.
The 3rd version of the above is from Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film. I have watched and listened numerous times and I think the "pinke" quote is omitted, but there is this delightful shot within the scene.
We may not get "the very pinke of curtesie", but we do get this young man in his delightful pink hose.
Other early citations relating to 'in the pink'...
1720 Leigh's play Kensington Gardens quoted "Tis the Pink of the Mode, to marry at first Sight: And some, indeed, marry without any Sight at all." In this instance 'pink of the mode' is the acme of excellence of fashion. (Like that young man above, maybe).
Apparently Thackeray in 1840, used the same phrase "In the very pink of the mode".
And, Charles Dickens Letters of 1845 recorded a much different meaning to our saying with "Of all the picturesque abominations in the world, commend me to Fondi. It is the very pink of hideousness and squalid misery."
In 1905 this appeared in the Kynoch Journal, concerning guns and ammunitions, "Makers may despatch explosives from the factory in the pink of condition."
Perhaps we are getting closer to our 'in the pink'.
There is an association with 'in the pink' regard the jackets worn by UK fox-hunters, but it is unproven.
An image, from a number-of-years-ago-now Vogue article...The caption reads 'Dogs and Mad Englishmen Otis Ferry poses (in pinks) with fox hounds...' (Otis Ferry, son of Bryan)
The jackets, which are actually scarlet, are said to have derived their 'hunting pink' association from a tailor called Thomas Pink. Apparently there are no historical records of a tailor called Thomas Pink associated with the making of fox-hunting jackets.
A poem.
Pink appears in the natural world
Farmers Almanac goes into it a little more through this link https://www.almanac.com/content/full-moon-april
Pink skies, as in over New York.
Pink skies are usually due to high atmospheric pressure containing dust particles in the air, which increases the density and starts to work as a filter.
We see blue light in the sky on a clear day because blue & violet wavelengths of light are more readily scattered and dispersed when they encounter the molecules and small particles in our air. We tend to see the sky as blue rather than violet because our human eyes are more attuned to that colour.
So, when it's being filtered due to more dust particles, more violet light than blue is scattered, giving the sky a pinkish hue.
I like this next link, 'Top 10 Things That Are Pink In Nature', and very cool to see Aotearoa/New Zealand's Pink and White Terraces featured.
Another pink in nature, but not totally natural,
If you want to know more, take in the Christo site. Information is provided regard the full on preliminary administrative work, that had to be undertaken, plus images of Christ's sketches, as he planned the concept. (Christo passed away in 2020)
An image of its interior,
He also presented the images in a video, check it out via this link.
There are so many wonderful pinks!
Check them out here, 99 of them...https://www.colorsexplained.com/shades-of-pink-color-names/
Rei Kawakubo presented a wonderful array of pink in a variety of collections.
Fall 1995
Spring 2000
Fall 2001
Spring 2005
Spring 2008
Fall 2012
Spring 2014
Fall 2016
Spring 2018
Fall 2018
Spring 2020
Fall 2020
Spring 2022
And the one pink creation from her famous 1997, 'Body Meets Dress Dress Meets Body' collection. Baby Pink gingham is so sweet.
inspired Annie Lomax's sensual soft sculpture.
Nick Knight, SHOWstudio, presented some very cool images of the CdG Fall 2016 '18th Century Punk' collection, for an Another magazine shoot.
Nick Knight, SHOWstudio, presented some very cool images of the CdG Fall 2016 '18th Century Punk' collection, for an Another magazine shoot.
I love the Bubblegum Pink polyurethane garments, and it was such a buzz to create an inspired version of this one
I made my one out of scuba knit fabric.
A couple of other pink 'solovetosewliketheboys' constructions
I guess that makes this skirt a pink shade. Never thought of it as a pink before.
In 2018 New York's Fashion Institute of Technology held the exhibition "Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Colour". The curator, Valerie Steele, presented an interesting lecture concerning the history of pink.
Included the shocking pink dress Marilyn Monroe wore in the 1953 film, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"
And Madonna recreated the same scene in her 1984 Material Girl video
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Pink Panther,
Die Rosa Winkel.
The symbol has evolved into an important reminder for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community of the continuing homophobia and inhumanity against them and other repressed minorities around the world.
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You'll find the pattern via this cool site https://www.pussyhatproject.com/knit
As I state in my sidebar I'm a Material Girl. 'I see the value in material garments and their qualities. I know how garments are put together. I can talk to people about fibres. I have a reasonable concept of a fabric's construction by its hand and lustre. I appreciate the fine detail in a garment.'
What about men and pink?
The Great Gatsby, chapter 7, Tom Buchanan making his comment about Jay Gatsby being nouveau riche, therefore he will never fit in.
‘About Gatsby! No, I haven’t. I said I’d been making a small
investigation of his past.’
‘And you found he was an Oxford man,’ said Jordan helpfully.
‘An Oxford man!’ He was incredulous. ‘Like hell he is! He wears a pink suit.’
The Robert Redford and Leonardo DiCaprio pink suits.
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These bamfstyle connections provide excellent information,if interested in the fine sartorial features of each pink suit.
And, of course, 1955 Elvis Presley.
Comme des Garcons Homme presented a couple of cool pink suits in its Fall 2023 collection
And CdG Shirt presented a 'Pink Panther' shirt in a 2005 season.
with the cool Henry Mancini theme tune.
There is one connection with men and pink that has a hideous history.
The identification badge assigned by the SS to homosexuals in the concentration camps.
Both of these articles explain what the situation was in Germany pre Nazis, then when they had control, what its hideous oppressive regime imposed on innocent people.
The symbol has evolved into an important reminder for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community of the continuing homophobia and inhumanity against them and other repressed minorities around the world.
The Pink Triangle San Francisco transform the side of the Twin Peaks north hill facing downtown San Francisco into a memorial by installing a giant pink triangle
In 2018 Nike caused some controversy, when they put out their Pink Triangle sneakers
It is worth reading this article, very valid criticism made regard this high roller company doing this sort of thing.
Last connection with men and pink
I like the story of how the band took on the name
Inflatable flying pigs were one of the regular happenings at Pink Floyd live shows. One made it onto the 1977 'Animals' album cover.
Watch Big Piggy fly over Battersea Power Station.
Takes me to my 'If pigs could fly' hoody. Sourced the fabric from the Woodville Fabric store on a road trip one time.
As I was going about my research for this blog, I came across this cool pink CdG Tricot Jacket. I love its plain knit construction
and, of course the inspiration is a Coco Chanel iconic two-piece suit jacket.
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For those of you interested, The Victoria & Albert Museum is going to present an exhibition dedicated to the work of Coco Chanel, with over 180 looks on show. The exhibition will open 16 September 2023.
Here's another cool knitted pink product. Remember 2017 Women's March on Washington, pink pussy hats were worn as a symbol against Donald Trump's sexism.
Pink was used as a symbol of feminine power.
The actual stimulus for this Pink blog was Debbie Harry's 2019 memoir, 'Face It'. I read it during my summer holiday break.
On page 285 Harry was writing about her 1983 'Debravation' album, in particular the 'Strike Me Pink' song. There was controversy concerning the video for it. The theme was the Houdini water tank trick and the video was not meant to imply any kind of fatality. Debbie Harry did not like the video that was shot, as it really had nothing to do with the song.
Quote Harry, "It isn't an angry song, it's a sexy song with a sort of bluesy, positive lyric-Strike me pink. Not Strike him Dead. "Baby your touch is magic...maybe you'll bring me a lucky streak/ Well strike me pink."
Harry went on to describe "the original plan was that I would come in wearing a fantastic pink dress, looking very feminine and lovely, and the I would wave a magic wand and the guy would escape. There's something powerful about the colour pink. It's something that dates from the cradle, a system created to distinguish male and female sexuality, hence there are some adult males who get the instinctive drive to do that "man" thing for a girl in pink....Pink was a smart move for the singer Pink. Just or almost as smart as "Blondie". I have always thought the contrast between innocence and lusty sexuality, like that between good and evil, is irresistible."
But, the pink dress never arrived, and the only other costume at the shoot was a man's suit and a tie! No magic wand, the man drowned. Apparently Harry was dating a magician/illusionist at the time!
The video. I agree Debbie, it's not great.
I am going to sign off with a connection, once again with the great bard.
Tina Fey's 'Mean Girls' retold in Shakespearean verse.
"On Wednesdays we, the Plastics, array ourselves in pink! We're together."
And, hey, fancy that, Pink is coming to NZ, March 2024.
SLTSLTBsigning off the think-pink way!