The History of Pink
Shades of pink…with Elsa Schiaparelli’s Shocking vintage ads
Pink Through the Ages
Few colors have traveled through time with as much transformation and charm as pink. Once a modest tint of red, pink has blossomed from natural pigment to cultural symbol, finding its way into art, fashion, and even the language of roses and lipsticks.
The Origins of Pink
The earliest pinks appeared in nature long before pigments — in the petals of wild roses, peonies, and carnations. The word pink itself first entered the English language in the late 17th century, derived from the Dutch pinkster, meaning “small” or “little,” and related to the frilled flower known as the pink (Dianthus). Artists of the Renaissance and Baroque eras created pink hues by mixing white lead with red ochre or carmine — the latter derived from crushed cochineal insects imported from the New World.
Two paintings of Madame de Pompadour by François Boucher, 18th century
In the 18th century, pink began to take on its modern associations. Rococo painters such as François Boucher and Jean-Honoré Fragonard favored soft pinks to depict powdered cheeks, silken gowns, and romantic landscapes. This was the era of “rose Pompadour,” a porcelain shade named after Madame de Pompadour, the influential mistress of Louis XV, who adored the hue and inspired the Sèvres porcelain factory to create it in her honor.
A costume with salmon pink silk suit and mint green cape and court gown, both 18th century
Pink in Fashion and Society
By the 19th century, pink had become a fashionable statement for both genders — contrary to today’s associations. Men wore salmon, rose, and blush-colored waistcoats and cravats, while women’s gowns ranged from palest shell pink to vibrant fuchsia. Queen Victoria’s portraits often featured her daughters in rosy hues, reinforcing its image as both tender and refined.
The 20th century, however, saw pink redefined through bold innovation. Elsa Schiaparelli, in the 1930s, introduced “Shocking Pink”—a daring, electric magenta inspired by a Cartier gemstone. It became a signature color of her surrealist fashion house and a symbol of fearless femininity. Postwar America embraced “Ballet Slipper Pink” and “Dusty Rose,” while the 1950s brought pink into the domestic palette—think of pink kitchens, Cadillacs, and Marilyn Monroe in that iconic satin gown in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Charlotte Tilbury’s ‘Pillow Talk’ and Revlon’s ‘Pink in the Afternoon’
Pink in Roses and Lipstick
The rose remains the eternal ambassador of pink, carrying meanings of grace, admiration, and joy. From the rosy blush of the “Queen Elizabeth” rose to the deeper cerise of the “Gertrude Jekyll,” pink blooms have long symbolized affection without the ardor of red.
Similarly, pink lipsticks—from Revlon’s 1952 ‘Cherries in the Snow’ to Estée Lauder’s ‘Rose Petal’—became shorthand for elegance and charm. The latter is said to be one of, if not the, best-selling pink shade in lipstick history and it’s still available today.
The two examples in the photo above are the more recent and very popular, ‘Pillow Talk’ by Charlotte Tilbury - (a somewhat nude pink) and next to it is Revlon’s ‘Pink in the Afternoon.’ That particular shade is said to be a match to what Audrey Hepburn wore in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s,’ but there’s debate as it was created after the movie was made and ‘Pink in the Afternoon’ is actually more of a play on words to another Hepburn film, ‘Love in the Afternoon.’
Famous Shades Through History
Rose Pompadour (18th c.) – A refined porcelain pink used in Rococo décor and gowns.
Cochineal Pink (16th–18th c.) – Created from carmine dye imported from Mexico; prized in European textiles. Cochinal can be used for an array of shades from red to cranberry to magent-ish depending upon what material it is used upon (silk, cotton etc). It’s also used in food and cosmetics coloring. The color comes from the Cochineal insect, dried, then ground.
Schiaparelli’s Shocking Pink (1937) – A vibrant magenta that revolutionized fashion color. From lipstick, to perfume packaging to garments, it was became a signature color for the famed designer.
Ballet Slipper Pink (20th c.) – Soft and powdery, inspired by the satin pointe shoes of classical dancers and the flat ballet slipper as well.
Millennial Pink (2010s) – A muted blush that reimagined pink for a new generation: gentle, nostalgic, and gender-neutral.
A Timeless Color
Pink’s story is one of reinvention—at once historic and modern, delicate yet defiant. From the bloom of an 18th-century rose to a 21st-century fashion statement, pink remains a color of warmth, imagination, and individuality. It reminds us that history’s palette is never static, and that beauty often resides in the subtle shades between red and white.
A ‘Mamie Pink’ bathroom. Photo by Mike Shaw, Wikipedia
One last look…
If you, or anyone you know has a house that was built in the 1950s and it still has the original pink tiles or bathroom porcelains, there’s a good chance that it is in the shade of ‘Mamie Pink.’ Inspired by President Eisenhower’s wife, who loved the shade, pink bathrooms become on trend during that decade:)
The photo shown above is from a house, not in the US, but in Scotland- however, same bathroom era, same color. However, at the link below you can see Mamie Eisenhower’s actual bathroom, a short 35-second tour…
Mamie Pink Bathroom
And that’s Pink…or as the Editor in the movie, Funny Face say’s, Think Pink!