The Controversial Color That'll Make Any Outfit Look Expensive

As a rule of thumb, if you're on a tight budget and you want your outfit to look polished and conceivably expensive, the easiest route to go is wearing neutrals. Black, brown, white, beige—you get the point. These versatile hues are the effortless go-tos that always get the job done. That being said, if you live for a splash of color, then this isn't exactly the most exhilarating advice one can receive. Don't fret just yet though. Thankfully, there's a spring color that not only looks consistently expensive but also satiates your love for all things bright and cheery: pale purple.

For the last several seasons, a saturated purple has been at top of mind in large part thanks to Balenciaga's slew of offerings in the radiant tone. However, this spring it seems a sun-stained, paler version of the royal color is going to be a trend worth wearing. Influencers and editors alike wore the elegant color throughout fashion week, and brands at both sides of the price spectrum are offering staples and trend-forward separates in the milky hue.

That said, the color purple can be a bit controversial: A large portion of people don't even own anything purple and struggle with how to wear the hue. To help those that aren't quite sure about the spring-y shade, we rounded up ways to style it and shopped out the best budget-friendly picks to get the look.

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(Image credit: Shutterstock)

It doesn't get much cooler than a pale purple leather coat (except if you add white sunglasses and a leather scarf into the mix).

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(Image credit: The Style Stalker)

Style your pale purple top with a going-out skirt (preferably embellished with sequins) and a pair of chunky sneakers for a street style–inspired look.

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(Image credit: The Style Stalker)

Balance a purple-on-purple ensemble with a trench coat and white sneakers for a cute weekend brunch look.

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(Image credit: The Style Stalker)

The pajama dressing trend is always a good idea, especially when it comes by way of purple silky slacks.

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(Image credit: The Style Stalker)

Pale purple and yellow go together like two peas in a pod, as witnessed above.

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(Image credit: The Style Stalker)

If you live somewhere where a jacket or coat is still necessary during spring, consider an outerwear piece in a pretty shade of purple to lighten the aesthetic.

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(Image credit: ANDREW MORALES/WWD/Shutterstock)

Accidental Icon's Lyn Slater proves a non-basic trench is a very, very good idea.

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(Image credit: The Style Stalker)

A pale purple bag to make all of your other bags jealous.

Up next: Our market editor test drives spring's biggest color trends.

Nicole Kliest
Freelance Contributor

Nicole Kliest is a freelance writer and editor based in New York City who focuses on fashion, travel, food, wine, and pretty much anything else that's amusing to write about. After graduating from Pepperdine University with a bachelor's in journalism and creative writing, she started her career back in 2010 as Who What Wear's photo editor and throughout the last decade has contributed to publications including Fashionista, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, The Zoe Report, PopSugar, Fodor's Travel, and several others. She also copywrites and has worked with clients such as Frame, Sea, 3x1, Intelligentsia, and others to develop brand voices through storytelling and creative marketing. She's very passionate about the ways we can improve our sustainability efforts in the fashion industry as well as cultivating content that's diverse and inclusive of all people. When she's not checking out the latest restaurant opening in her West Village neighborhood or riding her bicycle along the West Side Highway, she can be found scheming her next trip somewhere around the world. (Up next is Vienna.)