Purple Aesthetic | Junk Journal Stuff

Purple actually refers to a quite wide range of colours between red and blue, which means a purple aesthetic can work well when combining elements of these colours as well as variations on itself at different points in the spectrum. It is very closely associated with the colour violet; historically, “violet” was used for redder shades, and “purple” for those with more blue in them. I’m a sucker for purple because I love doing space or magic-themed spreads, and I love adding more muted lilac or lavender into vintage layouts for a discreet but welcome injection of colour against sedate backgrounds.

“If you want to make a statement, wear purple.”
Baron Davis

The word purple is descended from the old Greek porphura, named after the famous Tyrian purple dye which was so extraordinarily expensive in ancient times that it was associated almost solely by the imperial ruling class; Roman, Byzantine and even Japanese emperors all often wore purple. This history is so strong that purple – especially the darker shades – is still thought of as a rare and royal colour today. Roman Catholic bishops still wear purple robes, which may be part of the reason why purple is also related to piety, mystery, and even magic, although if paired with pinks it is seen as more feminine and even erotic. Purple pairs well with a lot of colours – red and blue most obviously, but also green, yellow, and even orange.

Purple Themes & Meanings

integrity and honesty
dignity
piety and theology
mystery and magic
spirituality and the occult
tradition
wisdom
devotion
power and royalty
wealth and luxury
rarity and artificiality
individualism
vanity, pride and extravagance or grandeur
ambiguity or ambivalence
mourning
midnight (or general night time) as well as scenic skyscapes, and space imagery
popular with occult or pagan-type vibes as well as fantasy (witches, wizards, warlocks etc)
often associated with lavender fields so crosses into cottagecore or Provençal-style themes too