Everyone’s hoping the year 2022 brings some respite from the pandemic updates and an ever-mutating Coronavirus that refuses to leave the face of the planet.
The new hope from Pantone’s annual colour prediction for 2022 is ‘Very Peri’, a dark blue-purple hue. The colour is described as a “dynamic periwinkle blue hue with a vivifying violet-red undertone”, which blends “the faithfulness and constancy of blue with the energy and excitement of red”, according to Pantone.
Incidentally, the newly invented shade signifies “futuristic feelings”, something celebrities like Lady Gaga, Zendaya and Kamala Harris are already endorsing. And while agreeing that Very Peri is a colour of “creativity”, fashionistas believe it shouldn’t be confused with purple or violet.
According to designer Rina Dhaka, “Aside from being a tone used in the high-contrast games popular among Gen Z, the shade also has roots in the natural world and in wellness, with lilac, lavender, and periwinkle plants offering a new coolness. Very Peri also appears in a lot of beauty and fashion trend forecasts this year. I would like to see it as a solid, high gloss, sequined and for patchwork to bring out the utopian contrast.”
Mood board for 2022
A jewel tone, with depth and equal brightness, Very Peri is a colour pretty enough to suit everyone in all fashion. In fact, without following the world’s fashion trends and not digging into any forecast, designer Mrunalini Rao tells us that she’d unknowingly created two collections this year, which were dominated by this beautiful colour. “From bridal to prints and fusion wear, we have this colour ruling the season and it is our hot-seller,” adds Mrunalini. “Just the colour speaks so much that a well-tailored sheath dress also could look so stunning. A couple of outfits I would like to see in this shade for the next season include a chic and clean jumpsuit and a short dress with exaggerated sleeves.”
Feature accent
Interestingly, many makeup artists are also inspired by this shade for the coming season, experimenting with shades of Very Peri to create new trends. Designer Anand Bhushan recommends using this colour as an accent in the wardrobe. “It’s a beautiful and an exotic colour that’ll take the beauty industry by storm for sure. I certainly see a lot of lip shades, eye palettes and bronzers in this shade coming in the future,” he predicts.
Accessory wise
Beauty experts believe Very Peri — which symbolises the changes we’ve all been experiencing around environment concerns and a shift in social values is the happiest and warmest of all the blue hues. Neha S Aroraa, founder of the Mauve Unitx, believes the new colour inspires us to move beyond isolation and uncertainty of the pandemic.
“Very Peri can easily be paired with an array of warm or cool colours such as lilac, deep purple and lavender as well as muted reds and greens for a show-stopping effect,” opines Neha. Then sharing some recommendations, she adds, “For a fun and casual look, play around with different textures and finishes including accessories dipped in gold, silver, pearl and faux fur.”
Styling suggestions
Very Peri goes wonderfully with a wide variety of colours, particularly with bold emeralds and diamonds, which add a pop to any outfit, believes Neha. Sharing some quick tips, she adds, “Outfit options could be off-shoulder dresses in Very Peri, paired with chandelier earrings in beautiful hues of regal emeralds. For those who avoid experimenting, an easy way to introduce Very Peri is to style it with the black or white pieces in your wardrobe and pair them with bangles or a wrap necklace. Another outfit option is a pantsuit with bold statement jewellery with statement earrings or pearl necklaces. Go for a satin slip dress with jewellery crafted in pearl. You can also choose to go all out and find all of the periwinkle items in your closet and pair them with minimal ‘evil-eye’ pearl jewellery to contrast your look.”
