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Make a statement with shocking pink


Shocking pink was made famous by Elsa Schiaparelli. Follow her lead to add high-fashion impact to your home decor.

Hot pink’s legendary legacy

Fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli is often remembered for two things: her famous rivalry with Coco Chanel and her signature colour ‘Schiaparelli pink’, more illustriously known as ‘shocking pink’.

This iconic colour first appeared in 1936 on the packaging for her first fragrance, Shocking, before it was showcased on the catwalk in her 1937 autumn collection.

Pair with jewel tones for eye-popping colour

Ever since 1937, ‘shocking pink’ has been the go-to term to describe the deliciously daring pink hue that sits between fuchsia and magenta, a colour Schiaparelli once described as “all the light and the birds and the fish in the world put together”.

This hot hue works wonderfully as an accent colour, especially when paired with contrast colours such as emerald, cobalt and tangerine.

Add to neutral interiors for a softer look

For those who’d like to make a more subtle colour palette, try adding pink accessories to a neutral space, such as fuchsia cushions on a charcoal sofa or a magenta rug on top a timber floor.

If in doubt, follow Schiaparelli’s lead by trusting your instincts – if you love it, it’s right!

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