Millennial pink—that ubiquitous shade of pale pink seen everywhere and on everything for the past few years—will always hold a special place in our hearts. But it appears as though it might finally be taking a backseat to shades a bit brighter, bolder and more celebratory. As the world slowly (but surely) begins to open up again, there is one hue in particular that I, and the rest of the PureWow fashion team, have been seeing pop up everywhere from the street style stars of fashion month to TikTok as an answer to the softer hue: bright pink.
Unlike its calming, pale predecessor, bright pink is much louder and more audacious. It calls more attention to itself, but not in an obnoxious or garish way. Last year was all about hot pink, but in 2022, just about any stand-out version of the color will do, whether you prefer a deeper magenta, cheery bubblegum or Barbie's signature shade. I first started noticing the trend when I spotted a bright pink suit at Anthropologie and had that gut "oh, I need that" reaction that only happens when you stumble upon a sleeper hit piece. It's the feeling tons of shoppers got upon finding this pink Zara slip dress which then went viral on TikTok. Before I knew it, bright pink was everywhere I turned. And there’s even data to back up the seemingly Baader-Meinhof phenomenon (aka, when something you’ve only just learned about or noticed starts showing up everywhere you look).
According to the global shopping platform Lyst, searches for pink clothing and accessories showed a major uptick during Paris Fashion Week, and they’ve only been increasing since then. And while it’s unclear what the true origins are for the new wave of “all pink everything,” we aren’t surprised by the trend at all. Why, you ask? Well, to start, the cheerful hue looks good on looks good on just about every skin tone and works for any age range. And unlike other hot 2022 trends, like cut-outs, corset tops or wide-leg denim, bright pink can be made to fit any sense of style or any size/body type. Just toss a bubblegum-colored baguette bag over your shoulder or clip on a pair of hot pink statement earrings and you’ll fit in with the trend just as well as someone else sporting head-to-toe fuchsia. Add to that the fact that the world is beginning to slowly but surely open back up right as spring is entering full bloom, and it only makes sense we’d want to brighten our wardrobes, and our spirits, with a buoyant pop of color.
Whatever the reason, bright pink is here to stay and to liven up your year. So we rounded up 17 of the best bright pink dresses, tops and accessories to add a much-needed and trendy splash to your wardrobe.
