Whether you call it eggplant, aubergine, grape, plum, amethyst or deep lavender, just be sure to call it...as much as you can. This fall, purple is as ubiquitous as high gas prices and presidential campaign commercials.
Use of the color purple dates back to 1900 B.C., when it was produced from the mucus of a variety of marine mollusks. Since it took so many shellfish (about 12,000!) to extract a measly 1.5 grams of the pure dye, it earned a reputation as being rare and expensive: only the rich and powerful could afford it. Of course, the synthetic dye industry eventually made purple accessible to the lowly masses, but it never lost its majestic appeal.
Burberry, Amethyst Glass Cluster Necklace, $1995 Available at Burberry.com
Madison Marcus, Heaven Belted Dress, $328 Available at ShopBop.com
Moschino Cheap and Chic, Belted Dress with Flounce Hem, $950 Available at ShopBop.com
Proenza Schouler Purple Sequined Top, $825; Purple Sequined Skirt, $850 Available at The Webster Boutique (305-674-7899), Miami Beach
Catherine Malandrino, ¾ Sleeve Dress with Pleated Bodice, $545 Available at ShopBop.com
Tibi, Silk Jacquard Square Neck Dress, $335 Available at Horse Boutique (410) 626-9726
OPI, Lincoln Park at Midnight Available at OPI.com
Chanel, Glossimer “Moonlight” lip gloss, $26 Available at Chanel.com
