Clothing colors…is it a fad, a fashion statement, or a gesture of honoring?
I wrote a post on yellow color called My Yellow World, which at the time the Thais were wearing bright yellow shirts every Monday to celebrate the King Bhumibol’s 60th anniversary on the throne in 2006 and they continued to wear yellow every Monday for the last 2 years. I never knew the reason as to why yellow color, but I know that if you were born on a Monday then Yellow in Buddhist tradition represents Monday and this hit home for some of us…for those that were born on a Monday.
I now know the reason as to why the Thais choose yellow color, it was because their beloved King Bhumibol was born on a Monday, and according to ASIA news, yellow has become a national Monday dress code for civil servants and the daily color of choice for politicians and TV newscasters. Countless other Thais voluntarily wear yellow to publicly express adoration for the king.
I spoke to my dad last weekend and he said that pink is in now, for the Thais that is because when they saw the King Bhumibol checked out of a hospital in a pink blazer, he made a fashion statement that resonated around Thailand.
According to ASIA news,
…pink shirts instantly became this season’s must-have item, and crowds are mobbing the shops that sell them. In recent public appearances, Bhumibol has sported a range of pastel sport coats, changing his style after decades in dark suits and setting new trends with each outing.
As the country gears up to celebrate Bhumibol’s 80th birthday Wednesday with fireworks and fanfare, many Thais are honoring their beloved monarch by dressing like him.
“Now the T-shirt craze is green,” The Nation newspaper said in a front-page headline after the king stepped out in a pale sea green-colored blazer. Days later, when he opted for baby blue, the paper forecast “a run on blue shirts.” …
Pink is making inroads for a more pressing reason.
Royal astrologers determined this year that pink was an auspicious color for the king’s health. On that advice, a pink royal crest was designed for Bhumibol’s 80th birthday.
Pink shirts bearing the crest hit markets earlier this year but sales took off after Bhumibol wore the color to leave a Bangkok hospital on Nov. 7, after three weeks of treatment for heart and other ailments. Read the rest of the article here.
To some of us, pink color means many things. I’ve seen pink ribbon magnets on car bumpers, which stands for breast cancer pink ribbon, and it is to create breast cancer awareness and to help raise money for the cure.
According to color psychology, pink is the most romantic color; it’s more tranquilizing. Sports teams sometimes paint the locker rooms used by opposing teams bright pink so their opponents will lose energy. Pink is also the color of universal love, it’s a quiet color comparing to red. Lovers of beauty favor pink. A pink carnation means, “I will never forget you.” But most people still think of pink as a feminine, delicate color, the color for little girls. Does that mean women prefer pink? Not really, I don’t own anything pink, and I think it takes a real man to wear pink, but some of you might think differently.
However, for the Thais, pink is the color to show support and honor for their beloved King.
The last couple of years pink is the fashion color over here for men. I’ve seen shades of pink, purple, and aubergine colors on men’s shirts and ties. Many actors and news broadcasters would wear pink shirts or ties, even the politicians. Some of my classmates also wear pink shirt (from light to dark) to school. It’s about fashion here and not about being feminine.
I love yellow so I’m sad to see that fading away. I’ve heard about this change since the King came out of the hospital since I was talking to my cousin and she was going to be supporting that color the next morning (Monday) for work.
But what I was really commenting for was to commend you on a great post. It reads like you spent a lot of time researching it. It makes this English major happy.
Darly, at where I work and live, men are not as adventurous in their wardrobes as big city folks. They are more traditional I think.
Hi SJ, thank you for the compliment, reading (research) is something that I like to do and I’m glad that you enjoy reading my post.