Purple is such a vibrant color – it is similar to pink and blue at the same time. We know what it looks like but do we know the answer to the question “What does purple symbolize”?
Not many people decide to wear purple clothes or incorporate this color into their interiors. But those who do never regret it.
When I was younger, my aunt always played the “Purple Rain” song by Prince, and I imagined unique purple drops falling on the city. It looked… royal. Fun. Different.
As a girl obsessed with colors (probably thanks to Prince, too), I also love purple and decided to examine this color a little bit more deeply.
I want to answer the question “What does purple symbolize?” when it comes to the most popular shades of this color.
The Royal Purple
I’ve heard many times that purple is a royal color. You could place it among such shades as gold, silver, or emerald. But what’s even more interesting is that every shade of this color has something of royalty.
I do not know any other color that is so unique in that way. So we have the primary answer to our question – What does purple symbolize?
The association with royalty originates in history, for example, the gowns of kings were sometimes purple so it makes sense. Does purple still, in times of not so many kings and queens (I know you are one for sure;)) symbolize royalty?
Yes, it does. But its meaning expanded over the years so it symbolizes way more than only royalty. And its full meaning might surprise you.
What Does Purple Symbolize?
The most common associations with purple are:
- royalty and luxury
- spirituality
- power and ambition
- pride
- independence
Oh wow, what strong words! It seems like purple is the color for the elite.
Of course, there is more to say about purple than that – because there is more than one shade.
What I find curious is that purple does not appear that often – whether it is in nature or outfits. I mean, how many people wearing purple did you see today? I saw 0.
Or, wait. *putting on a purple beret* Now it’s 1.
There are so many purples out there and some of them are more royal than others.
And as with any other color, its shade dictates the primary meaning. Let’s explore them all!
Lavender
It is one of the softest shades of purple and its name has origin in a flower.
Lavender, as a flower, is used to infuse the pillows to get a better sleep. Maybe that’s why the meaning of lavender purple is spirituality.
There is something magical and calming in this shade and you cannot help it – you sense its flowery smell.
This shade of purple is sweet and pastel so even if you decide to paint your whole house this color, it will still be balanced.
What does purple represent in this shade right after spirituality? Royalty, of course. So a prom dress in this color can make you look like a majestic princess for sure!
Eggplant
Oops, you might have to call the English Police again – because I am not sure if I should use the word eggplant or aubergine.
But the shade is the shade and you know which one I mean, right? 🙂
Maybe for the sake of this article let’s stick to “eggplant” – no offense, but it is easier to pronounce for a non-English speaker than “aubergine”.
So eggplant is such a lovely shade and trendy and always will be, in my opinion.
This deep shade represents luxury and power. It has such a vibe, doesn’t it? It is so dark, mysterious, and indeed looks powerful.
So all the queens out there – this one is for you!
Violet
Do all shades of purple have such lovely names? It seems so!
It has a calm energy, yet still has its power. I mean, imagine a tulle dress in this shade. Lovely, isn’t it?
Violet seems like a perfect balance between gentle lavender and strong eggplant. It represents spirituality just like lavender but also ambition.
The sphere of mind and spirit is complicated, yet very subtle but this shade can express it all.
Plum
One of the darkest and the most classic shades of purple. This one represents pride and independence.
If we say that a jealous person turns green, should we start saying that a proud person turns… purple?
Plum dresses can boost any woman’s confidence especially when your beauty type is autumn.
It is strongly pigmented (or should I say pigmentted? ;)) and has this powerful aura – this color does not need much company to be visible.
Heliotrope
I admit, that I did not hear about this shade at the beginning of my colorful fashion journey. It is not a popular one – it is close to neons, yet not fully. It is vibrant and aggressive, yet might seem annoying.
Well, I want to reverse its curse and tell you that in this case the answer to “What does purple symbolize” means ambition.
It is strong, heavy, and visible – yup, exactly like ambition 🙂
So, girl, if you want to look like a girl boss – invest in some purple clothes.
What Does Purple Symbolize in Clothes?
If you’re wearing any shade of purple, just like I’ve made it very clear with this article, then you are looking like a CEO.
Okay, sounds like a joke, but it is not fully at least. Because of such strong adjectives that purple represents, clothes in this color will give you the girl boss energy.
Let me tell you – wearing purple requires bravery. You’re communicating to the world – I’m confident, I’m ambitious and I am not afraid of this color.
If pink is made for princesses, then purple is certainly created for girl bosses. 🙂
What Does Purple Symbolize in Interiors?
Darker shades of purple like plum or eggplant always give this vibe of luxury and abundance while the brighter shades can have a calming effect on us.
There is this dreamy aspect of purple that makes us all feel like kings and queens of our imagination.
Purple can serve well as a main color just as well as the accent one.
It is not a popular choice for interiors and I honestly do not know why. Or maybe I do – purple is not a classic color so if you want to use it, you must be willing to stand out.
Purple Rain
It does make sense why I fell in love with this song, doesn’t it?
I hope I helped you understand purple better and that you’ve got your answer to “What does purple symbolize?”.
I also hope that I’ve given you the appetite to wear more purple. And if you do not know where to start… well, if you’ve been reading my blog for a while then you know what I’ll say.
Start from the beret. 🙂
Which shade of purple is your favorite and why? Feel free to sprinkle some purple rain in the comments.
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