Do you actually drool over a luscious purple handbag? Purple is such a gorgeoous color and it has a very distinctive heritage. Dating back to early history, purple fashion has traditionally been reserved for royalty, particualry in Eastern cultures. Purple was said to be the favorite color of Egypt’s famed Queen Cleopatra, and in Thailand, the color purple is reserved for widows in mourning. Purple is the traditional color of Lent, the most sacred season in the Christian calendar. Even in modern days, people wearing purple are treated with reverance and respect. So it’s no surprise that we go ga-ga for purple – it’s actually a deep part of our culture and heritage. Even in modern day America, purple represents passion and it’s just plain fun.

It’s too bad we reserve purple for special occasions. There is a famous poem that begins “When I am old, I shall wear purple”, implying that purple is not an appropriate color for everyday work-a-day lives and needs to be saved until we have earned the right to wear such a daring color. But that stigma is becoming “old hat” as more designers are turning to brilliant hues of purple to breathe life into our everyday wardrobes and fashion accessories.

The first few years of the new millenium saw the fashion world go nuts over pink. From toddler dresses to executive blouses, the color of choice was pink. But pink is becoming “so last year” as purple slowly replaces it as a fresh new take on color, making it a great time to trade in your hot pink purse for a fresh new purple handbag. Many of the most popular designers, such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada and Coach are showcasing purple bags and purses, but your new bag doesn’t have to cost a king’s ransom. Try a Tignanello bag for great quality without the skyhigh price tag.

There are so many different shades of purple, it’s almost impossible to define the color. To be certain, purple is a secondary color that results from a combination of two of the primary colors, red and blue. The resulting shades can range from a pale lilac to a deep plum, with variations of lavendar, violet, and pmegranite along the way. So with so many variations of purple available, how do you choose the perfect purple handbag for your outfit?

A Few Rules For Wearing Purple

For those bold enough to wear purple, it’s important to remember a few guidelines. First of all, purple should be the accent or focal point of your outfit meaning that if you are wearing a purple dress, you probably don’t want to carry a purple handbag. That’s just too much of a good thing. Trying to mix and match purple accessories is a very tricky endeavor, as there are enough shades and hues of purple to fill an entire rainbow, and the odds of matching your purples is slim. Your beautiful purple handbag already has enough color, so try to keep the rest of your outfit neutral.