Purple outfits are an excellent way to bring a touch of elegance and femininity to your wardrobe, whether you’re dressing for a formal evening or a casual day of errands.

Purple is a bold color choice, which can make it a bit more challenging to style, but it’s all about finding the right shades and styles for you. When you get it right, purple is one of the best colors if you’re looking to create a more elegant look.

Having trouble finding purple clothes that work for you? We’ve put together 12 purple outfit ideas to help inspire you.

Purple Outfit Ideas for Every Day
Color Psychology: What Does Purple Symbolize?
Can Anyone Wear Purple?
What Colors Pair Well with Purple?
Accessorizing Purple Outfits: Our Top Tips
Find Purple Clothes That Suit Your Style

Purple Outfit Ideas for Every Day

While purple is a strong color that makes a statement, it’s appropriate for just about any occasion. From casual days to formal events, here are some of our favorite purple outfit ideas.

For the Office

Office wear should be professional but comfortable. Combining tailored pants with a purple long-sleeve shirt and flats is one of our favorite business casual looks. You can even choose the shade of purple based on your skin tone and what fits you best. Go with a deep plum color for a more elegant look, or opt for a lighter lavender tone for a more subdued ensemble.

When you want to dress up for a day at the office, you can go for a slightly more sophisticated look with a purple midi skirt, purple blazer, and a neutral shirt. A nice pair of heels will complete the look, or you can wear flats if you’re prioritizing comfort.

Combine business and casual with tailored pants, a simple shirt, and a purple cardigan. Bold purple tops are an excellent way to make a statement without overdoing it. Choose simple cardigans with a fine knit to maximize your elegant look, and complete the outfit with a pair of flats.

For Casual Days

Whether you’re out to brunch with friends or running errands, you can’t go wrong with the classic combination of your favorite jeans, a white shirt, and a purple cardigan. For a comfortable, casual look, pair this outfit with flat shoes, like plain white sneakers.

It’s hard to beat a lightweight dress during the summer, and there are plenty of options if you’re looking for fun purple dresses in various shades and prints. Knee-length dresses are effortless and flatter various body types. Slip on sandals and a pair of shades for a complete warm-weather look in seconds.

If you’re looking for something a bit bolder, try a pair of cropped pants in a neutral color with a purple print top and flats. You can match your cropped pants to your top if you can find a matching shade or print, but this outfit gives you the perfect chance to create some contrast if that’s the vibe you’re going for. Any casual shoes are appropriate for this ensemble.

For Travel

Travel clothes are all about comfort and functionality, and layered chiffon tops are one of our favorite comfort pieces. Throw on a comfortable tank top underneath your layered chiffon piece and finish the look with a comfortable pair of pants in a fabric that allows for easy movement. This outfit also works with jeans if you prefer them.

Sometimes, it’s nice to have something simple to wear so you can get ready quickly. If you’re looking for a convenient travel outfit, a purple convertible maxi dress with your favorite flats or sandals is perfect. Loose-fitting dresses strike a balance between comfort and elegance, so you can travel in style without sacrificing comfort.

For a cozy travel outfit, try a pair of purple lounge pants with a plain charcoal tee and a purple jacket. Make sure the shades or prints complement each other to avoid an overwhelming ensemble. Finish it off with your most comfortable footwear.

For Formal Events

Floor-length dresses are appropriate for any formal event, and you may be able to wear a sophisticated cocktail dress depending on the dress code. To complete the formal look, pair your purple dress with elegant heels in a neutral cream color and a small clutch.

Women tend to gravitate toward dresses for formal events, but a purple jumpsuit is also a great way to make a strong statement. Jumpsuits give you a modern edge that’s appropriate for most formal events, but it’s important to check the dress code before you choose an outfit.

Women can also wear more traditional dress clothes for many formal events. Instead of throwing on a dress or suit, try pairing a skirt or pants with a blouse and blazer for a sophisticated, classic look that’s perfect for work events. Your blouse should be a subdued complementary color, like camel or sage. A pair of patent loafers or basic heels offers a refined finishing touch.

Color Psychology: What Does Purple Symbolize?

Colors can have a significant impact on how people perceive you and how much attention you draw. Purple is known as the color of royalty and sophistication. This began with Tyrian purple, a natural purple dye that was scarce and required significant effort to produce hundreds of years ago.

While purple might not have the same rarity it once did, it’s a powerful color that draws a lot of attention. Darker purple clothes are often associated with sophistication and power. Lighter shades of purple can give off an air of ambition and confidence.

Like other colors you can use to brighten your wardrobe, purple is a fun shade that can give you a unique style. But beyond its romantic, feminine side, it can also be a professional, understated color. Whether you’re wearing a lighter lavender shade or a rich dark purple, it’s appropriate for any occasion.

Can Anyone Wear Purple?

Purple clothing can complement any skin tone, but it’s all about finding the shade of purple that works for you.

Cool skin tones tend to pair better with some of the lighter, cooler shades of purple, such as lavender, lilac, periwinkle, royal, and amethyst. For warmer skin tones, you want to stick to shades of purple like mauve, plum, eggplant, orchid, and magenta.

Purple shades for cool undertones vs. warm undertones

You should also consider your hair color when you’re putting together purple outfits. Darker shades of purple, like plum and eggplant, are typically more flattering on brunettes, while people with lighter hair might prefer lavender, lilac, and other cool, light purple shades.

What Colors Pair Well with Purple?

Complementing bold colors like purple can be difficult. So, what goes with purple clothes?

Complementary neutrals are an excellent choice if you don’t want to add too much color to your purple outfit. Examples of complementary neutrals that pair with purple include cream, camel, olive, charcoal, and brown.

If you want to add a splash of color to your outfit to complement the purple, you have several choices. Lighter colors like rose and peach pair well with purple, or you can go for something like sage, teal, or burgundy for a stark contrast.

There are also a handful of colors you should typically avoid wearing with purple clothes. Bright yellow, neon green, bright orange, and some shades of brown and red don’t complement purple well, so avoid pairing these colors with purple.

Accessorizing Purple Outfits: Our Top Tips

Accessorizing purple outfits starts with determining the shade of purple you want to wear. Dark purples look best with brushed brass and yellow gold, with gemstones like garnet and rose quartz being popular gemstone choices.

For dusty and bright purples, you want to stick to rose gold and yellow gold. Rose quartz and smoky quartz are popular gemstone choices for dusty purples, while opal and coral pair well with bright purples.

It’s also important to dress appropriately for the occasion. Don’t overdo it with statement jewelry at a casual event, but make sure you have appropriate accessories when you’re attending formal events like galas.

You can use this chart to find the best jewelry to pair with your purple outfit:

Find Purple Clothes That Suit Your Style

A well-styled purple outfit can make you seem confident and powerful, but it’s important to apply these expert tips to ensure you nail the ensemble.

If you’re looking for purple clothes that suit your specific style, we’re here to help. Chico’s has a wide selection of purple clothing in different shades, styles, and prints, and we’re regularly adding new arrivals to our collection. Find the perfect purple pieces to add to your closet today.

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