Purple Power

Weddings go grape with new styles in the bold color

By Nola Sarkisian-Miller
CTW Features

These days, brides aren’t waiting till they get old to wear purple. They’re choosing to incorporate the vivid hue in their weddings, whether outfitting their bridal parties in shades of eggplant or choosing sassy bridal footwear.

Call it amethyst, call it plum, it’s a color that isn’t for shrinking violets. Purple’s current appeal is in its boldness.

“Purple is a rich and passionate color,” says Amanda Sheronas, a spokeswoman for Alfred Angelo. “Purple can be powerful and sophisticated or punchy and fun.”

Purple recently punctuated the spring 2011 runways in New York. Jason Wu, a First Lady favorite, sent down purple girly looks, including a ruffled dress and a sheer, tiered top paired with a flouncy skirt. Burberry generated more than the typical attention for its London show when a model strutting down the runway wearing a purple leopard print dress took a spill.

For those walking down the aisle of matrimony, Enzoani’s Love collection offers purple bridesmaid dresses, such as the short, strapless dress color-blocked in blueberry and eggplant along with a silky taffeta sheath in lavender.

Of the eight purple shades offered, violet, grape and eggplant are the most popular at Alfred Angelo, Sheronas says. A strapless satin floor-length gown in eggplant, a sleeveless violet gown and a chiffon strapless gown in violet are a few of the highlights.

Brides themselves may opt to add color to their gowns with purple-colored sashes, trims or trains. Those looking for statement-making accessories will find artfully rendered purple accents at a variety of price points. Sergio Rossi is selling sky-high suede pumps in deep purple at Neiman Marcus, and Badgley Mischka is offering purple satin high-heeled sandals with airy ruffles on Shoes.com. Jewelry is another way brides can glow in purple warmth. Nordstrom is selling Kate Spade large crystal drop earrings in amethyst alongside a matching bib necklace.

If brides prefer a subtle hint of purple, there’s no shortage of makeup options to finish off their looks. Applying purple eye shadow on the inner or outer lids can make them pop, says Betty Kennedy, who runs a makeup and hair services firm in the Los Angeles suburb of Sherman Oaks. She notes there’s also a push for darker, plum-colored lips. The key to wearing purple makeup is the skin tone, she says.

“Purple and wine eye shadows bring out blue eyes, and blondes and brunettes tend to look really good in purple,” Kennedy says. “Purple doesn’t work so much on darker skin.”

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