Pink Aesthetic

Technically just a very light shade of red, the colour pink is actually named after a flower, dianthus plumarius – it was first used as a colour named back in the 17th century. A pink aesthetic comes in a lot of tones and shades from bright pastel to dusky rose, with varying saturations and tints depending on desired mood. It is generally seen as a hyper-feminine colour these days, which is quite funny as in the 1920s it was considered a masculine shade! I’m not a huge fan of pink but I love a good dusky or richer vintage-style pink, which can pair wonderfully with brown or anything else where you want to push in an extra layer of slightly more delicate cosiness.

“My parents told me I’d point to a bed of flowers and say ‘Pink. Pretty,’ before I knew any other words.”

Joni Mitchell

Even if the word pink didn’t come into regular use until the 1600s, the colour has been referenced since ancient times, with Greek and Roman poets frequently using it to describe the dawn sky; in fact the Latin term roseus literally means “rosy” or “pink.” It wasn’t very popular colour in the Middle Ages, with the nobility preferring bolder shades of red to show off their wealth, but it did show up in some religious art. Pink really took off when pastels became popular in 18th century Europe, and was unisex until the marketplace made pink a “girly” colour around the 1940s. A mainly pink aesthetic is still considered inherently charming, soft, and sweet, but while combining it with white symbolises innocence and chastity, pink and black is generally seen as an erotic combination!

Pink Themes & Meanings

• charm and innocence
• politeness
• cuteness
• childhood and playfulness
• femininity
• romance (mostly chaste romance)
• politeness, empathy and sensitivity
• sweetness (both in manner and taste, for example cakes and pastries)
• nurturing (especially maternal femininity)
• youth and good health
• bolder and brighter pinks can create a sense of urgency
• darker pinks can be a symbol of lust, especially when paired with black or purple

Example Pink Aesthetic Journal Ideas

Pink Aesthetic Examples in Nature

More Pink Aesthetic Examples

Example Shades & Variations of Pink

Example Complementary & Combination Colours