Here’s how men can wear Pantone Colour of the Year 2023: Viva Magenta

Each year, Pantone Color Institute releases a shade to engage designers and colour fanatics in a dialogue around hues. At the start of December, Pantone released the colour of the year 2023: "Viva Magenta". A tint that is symbolic of life and a celebration of power. The colour is being described by Pantone as "An unconventional shade for an unconventional time" and rightfully so.

The shade was selected by Pantone experts who study fashion and design trends to devise colour palettes. Later, the shade was interpreted by the AI tool Midjourney into stellar visuals which portray the rebellious spirit of Magenta. Pantone described the AI interpretation as "an endless new ecosystem to be explored, called the ‘Magentaverse'".

While Pantone intends to write a new narrative drenched in Magenta, the shade has managed to tickle the imagination of stylists. Kareen Parwani, celebrity stylist and head fashion stylist at Sony networks unravels her interpretation of the shade, "Magenta has been a signature Valentino colour for a number of years. With Pantone releasing Viva Magenta as their colour of the year, 2023 looks embellished with a vibrant palette. The colour is absolutely versatile, it's going to create fun ripples in the fashion industry."

Mid-day Online spoke to fashion designers and stylists in Mumbai on how to manifest the colour into attires. For men who like to dress up well and stay up to date with trends, here is how you can incorporate the colour in your wardrobe.

Monochromatic garbs
Magenta has a pulse that is standalone in spirit. Urvashi Lele, a self-taught fashion designer has a unique vision to design womenswear for men's wardrobes. On styling magenta in a monochromatic scheme, she shares, "Colour in menswear doesn't need to be about making a statement that diverts from the norm, I think we're ready to make it the norm itself! Besides the classic flashes of colour in socks, ties, and pocket squares, magenta is the perfect colour to work up that monochrome outfit. There's no such thing as too much, T'is the season for maximalism after all. Draping Magenta in a silk shirt and trousers with an oversized jacket will add a bold outline to the confidence of the wearer. If going full monochrome is not your cup of tea, then add a pair of chunky or sleek white trainers to make the outfit pop."

Sandeep Gonsalves, Director and Co-Founder of the designer label Sarah & Sandeep draws our attention to Ranvir Singh who nailed the monochrome Magenta look recently. "As India's fixation with Bollywood celebrity looks continues, Magenta will continue to be a popular statement colour from the lot. Don't hesitate to go bold with a full monochrome suit and amp up the look with leather shoes and conceptual bags to complete the look."

Casual wear
For men who believe in self-expression and sporting a rebellious spirit, Magenta presents a plethora of possibilities. "Pairing cleaner T-shirts with denim or neutral shirts with magenta chinos/bottoms always works for a more laid-back vibe. One can never go wrong with a pair of fun sunglasses: All hinting towards your newly crafted vision of personal style", highlights Gonsalvez.

For those looking to sprinkle their date nights with a pinch of Magenta, Urvashi recommends, "I'm fantasising about that shy red denim jacket with a shearling collar to get playful for a casual night. Spice it up with a gold watch and a pair of your favourite jeans. This look is perfect for not just date nights but also for dinner with co-workers." Urvashi is the founder of a gender-neutral label called Maison Audmi.

Kareen Parwani makes predictions for casual styling by reflecting upon iconic labels that revamped the ramps with Magenta. "We saw Masoom Minawala rock it this year at the Cannes film festival and can't help but think how this is going to trickle down to the casual street style! I think the forthcoming fall collections are going to emasculate floral-print blouses from Dôen, luxurious light-wash jeans from Khaite, and sleek leather skirts or dresses!"

Trendsetters
Red carpets have been sporting magenta for years and show no signs of slowing down. It would be interesting to see how designers reimagine the shade to manifest Viva Magenta for 2023. "Beginning with soft pastels of magenta, paired with sunshine yellows, we will witness the comeback of laser cutting, tassels, and dramatic ruffles. Fendi channelled '90s grunge with its high-low mix of embellished slip skirts, teamed with sporty jackets - with what is set to be some of the best sweatshirts of the season, hence proving luxe athleisure being huge in the upcoming seasons", shared Kareen who styled the crew at 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Gonsalvez elaborates, "The colour represents fearlessness, assertive self-expression, and relentless strength. Contemporary make-up, and bolder graphic design will harbour a very warm reception to the new wave of life post-pandemic. Men's wardrobes can embrace bolder silk prints & coloured leather accouterments replacing other muted substitutes."

Vibrant Bottoms
It's definitely a creative challenge for fashion designers to play with such a unique and bold colour that Magenta is. It's crucial to style the shade with complementary hues that don't overshadow the radiance of the colour. "Wearing bold reds, bright pinks and vibrant bottoms can be tricky. One solution to underline the bright shade would be to pair it with nude or beige silk blouses. Ace the look with statement shoulder bags!" shares Urvashi who displayed her iconic collection at New York Fashion Week recently.

Accessories
Along with the bold ensembles will emerge statement accessories to complete the look. Gonsalves recommends, "Sunglasses and watches in neutral shades will make the colour pop and turn out to be a cool style quotient. Also, don't underestimate the power of chunky sneakers that embody fierce grace and an element of fun."

While sneakers and watches are cool, Kareen expands the horizons with archetypal pairings "By using accessories in hues of cream will create a single focal point on the dynamic shade that Viva Magenta is. A crimson red Bandi with an Indian kurta will create an exuberant look. For those who can pull it off, get your hands on magenta socks for subtle boldness. Throwing in a bright muffler or just an embellished overcoat is another hack to sport the audacious shade of red."

Colours to style with Magenta
The maximalist colour demands the complete attention of the onlooker. Kareen suggests that pairing the colour with whites, creams, and blacks will always be a safe resort. For those who wish to experiment, they may do so with iconic colours like sunshine yellow, cerulean blue and leaf green.

Will Magenta overtake the ramps? She forecasts, "With the regular appearance of bold, big, and amplified abstract patterns on the runways, this strong shade has emerged as a new vision for the upcoming seasons. Exporters picking up the cue from these bold and powerful prints will take refuge under many printing techniques which can endow them with results leading to gorgeous street style".

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