Deep Purple FW12 (L-to-R): Simon Spurr, Burberry Prorsum, Balenciaga, Salvatore Ferragamo, Acne Studios, Canali
Toronto, September 26, 2012 - Every season has one colour that dominates the fashion runways of New York, London, Milan, and Paris. Call it eggplant, aubergine, plum, deep violet, or just plain purple – this is the must-have FW12/13 colour for men. The actual colour is one variant or another of the original Tyrian purple. This is the colour purple from which the name purple is derived. It’s a colour that has traditionally been a symbol of royalty when the raw dye was extracted from a mollusk found on the shores of the city of Tyre in ancient Phoenicia (present day Lebanon). Only the wealthy could afford this extremely expensive dye and hence, it was the de facto colour of royal garments. Alexander the Great, the Emperor of the Seleucid Empire, the Kings of Ptolemaic Egypt, and of course the Roman Emperors all wore deep imperial purple.
Lucky for us and those poor mollusks, dyeing options evolved. We too can now drape ourselves in the royal colour this season. From suits, sweaters, trousers to accessories, it’s all the rage guys. Pair deep shades of purple with greys, dark browns, creams, beige, black, blue, or for a nice pop try olive. Not feeling the bold purple suit or evening coat? Try something modest such as a purple solid or patterned tie, scarf, or shoes. Above and below are some great selections from FW12 collections. Have fun with it.
LANVIN PURPLE COMBO SNAKESKIN IPAD CASE
PAUL SMITH PURPLE CHAGALL OXFORD SHOES
BEN SHERMAN CAMDEN TONIC PANTS
BILLTORNADE PURPLE VELVET ANTHON BLAZER
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN LONG PURPLE EVENING COAT
RAG & BONE DARK PURPLE VAIL SWEATER
BILLTORNADE NAVY & PURPLE SWAN SHIRT
SALVATORE FERRAGAMO REPEATING GANCINI TIE
