'Haute Pink' Is the New Black

As economic woes plague the country, fashionistas are turning to bright, cheery colors—most notably hot pink, the Wall Street Journal reports. Even in New York, those who once wore only black are buying fuchsia ties and designing magenta kitchens. With men who might balk at the traditionally feminine hue, one hotel exec who planned a hot-pink restaurant calls the shade “mangenta.”

“Our best sell-throughs are not coming from black. They’re coming from bold, vibrant colors and patterns,” said a Saks exec. And it’s not just couture: Pink is showing up everywhere, from sofas to iPhones. The trend is likely linked to the need for hope in a bleak time: “I don’t mean to sound obvious,” says a Harper’s Bazaar editor, “but there’s a whole optimism thing going on here.” (More fashion stories.)