The word "pink"
The journey undertaken by the colour pink has been complex and multifaceted, covered under the swath of culture and time- from a simple colour on the palette to a portentous expression of varied meanings. From the perspective of pink, the meanings are numerous: femininity and romance on one hand; politico-social and rebellious connotations on the other.
The earliest mentions of the colour pink may be traced back to literature in the ancient period. In roughly 800 BCE, on the literary canvas of Homer's "Odyssey," the words "rosy-fingered dawn" are used to signify the breaking of day. In his own work, Lucretius, the Roman poet uses the word "roseus" to refer to the dawn, showing us that there was appreciation of the beauty in that colour quite early on. During the High and late Middle Ages, bright, vivid reds, for example, crimson, were in vogue among the more dignified of society, and by the 18th century, pink had started to be used as an expression of that very nobility and luxury, it was used among both male and female nobles alike. During the 13th and 14th centuries, Italian painters such as Cimabue and Duccio sometimes portrayed Christ the Child in pink robes, associating this particular tone with divinity and purity. (Gupta)
Pink in fashion
In the 19th century, perceptions of pink underwent a massive change. Because of Victorian values, pink became more and more associated with youth, innocence, and femininity. While girls were some of the tough ones dressed in pale pinks, boys were dressed in blue, chaining the roots of what persists today.
The 20th century is marked by the transition of pink from a colour of innocence into one of glamor and sophistication.