Inspired by Pantone: radiant orchid

“An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguilling charm.”

Pantone official press-release 2014

Once upon a time purple was a very exclusive shade to wear. Only the most rich and powerful could afford the fabrics dyed in a solution made from the mucus glands of the murex. The tropical snail, according to the legend, was discovered by a dog that belonged to the beautiful nymph Tyrus. The dog bit the strange creature and his mouth turned purple. A true fashionista, the nymph declared that she’d only sleep with her dog if all of her clothes were dyed the same colour as the tongue of her beloved pet.  A slightly different story suggests that the dog was Hercules' and accompanied both him and Tyrus and since Hercules ask the nymph to marry him, she said she's only agreed to accept Hercules as her lover if he gave her a purple robe. Whichever one is true, everyone got what they wanted and the Tyrian dye was born.

It required 250000 molluscs to extract an ounce of dye, so the production process was very time-consuming and costly - by the third century BC Tyrian purple was worth more than gold and particularly admired by Romans, the murex shell even appeared on the very earliest Tyrian and later Roman coins.

For hundreds of years it was only the Emperor who wore the “the shade of triumph”, while senators were allowed to add a stripe of purple to their togas.

By the 15th century when the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople, the original recipe for the dye was lost until 1856 when a French zoologist Felix Henri de Lacaze-Duthiers noticed how fishermen dying their clothes with a shellfish ink, which prompted a few experiements. In 1909 the formula was finally discovered by Paul Friedlander, an Austrian chemist who not only recreated the original dye, but also noticed that it was similar to an extract from an Indian pea plant. The new shade had more blue undertones and was eventually named royal purple (and worn mainly by Royalty)

Similar to violet, purple isn’t, in fact, the colour of the visible spectrum, and despite its origins, not something created in nature, but rather a shade that exists in art and is a combination of red and blue in different proportions.

So mesmerising, purple has been one of the most fascinating colours of fashion. The designers including Alberta Ferretti, Anna Molinari, Frida Giannini, Diane von Furstenberg, Alber Elbaz, Peter Copping and John Galliano often used it in their collection and the purple trend has been topping the trend charts every other season.

In 2014 it came back in a shade of Radiant Orchid, a slightly softened hue with a touch of pink glow. It is said to suit sensitive and compassionate people, artists and free-spirited dreamers of the world who are able to inspire others without expecting much in return.

Whether it is the story that speaks to you or you simply adore the colour, here are some of my favourite things celebrating Radiant Orchid. Personally, I think I will start with a pair of shoes…

Where to buy: 1. Cashmere V-neck sweater, Uniqlo (£49), 2. Colour Design Infinite 24-hour eye shadow in Vibrant Violet, Lancome (£15), 3. Shimmering lip gloss in Sparkle Fuchsia or White Gold Topaz, YSL (£18), 4. Purple hobo bag, Stella McCartney (£775) 5. Pure colour nail polish in Purple Passion, Estee Lauder (£14.50), 6. Nail polish in Cabaret, Ciate (£9), 7. Fracas de Robert Piguet perfume & roll-on gift box, Robert Piguet (£55), 8. Anna silicone & cubic zirconia bracelet, Natasha Goldenberg X EK (£180), 9. Amethyst, 18-karat gold and hand-woven cord polka bracelet, Astley Clarke Biography (£85), 10. Paisley-print summer dress, Zimmermann (£114), 11. Ltd edition nail polish in Grape Ice, Clinique (£10), 12. Pop rabbit key & coin pouch, Marc by Marc Jacobs (£65), 13. Pink topaz earrings, Nikki Baker (£162), 14. Serenity candlesticks, set of 2, Orrefords Totem (£27), 15.  Emilie sandals, Miss KG (£65), 16. Leather make-up bag, Jigsaw (£29), 17. Three-stone gold plated earrings, Isharya (£172), 18. "Glove" sling back sandals, Balenciaga (£303), 19. Milk chocolate coin, Harrods (£5.50), 20. Sophia sunglasses, Illesteva (£185), 21. Pashmina shawl, Forzieri (£133), 22. Converse in Purple Ox, Converse All Stars (£27), 23. Nuit EDP, Laughter (£45), 24. Woven crystal candle, Agraria (£42), 25. Pointed toe pumps, Alice + Olivia (£226)

Photo source: Anne Vyalitsyna in Fantasie editorial, Numero #135 August 2012 (photography: Warren Du Preez & Nick Thornton Jones, styling: Franck Stambro)

References: The secret astrology of the bible by Michael Ledo,  QI the book of the dead byJohn Lloyd & John Mitchinson