‘Babygirl’ pink is the ultimate power colour – here’s how to wear it

Mere days into 2025, and it’s already apparent that pink has had more comebacks than Oasis and Donald Trump combined. One might think the long and drawn out build-up to the Barbie movie would have sounded its death knell, but then Wicked came along, with Ariana Grande giving a masterclass on how to wear pale pink in the same effusive way that Margot Robbie persuaded us to wear fuchsia.

Those of us whose invitations to the Oscars and the Globes have mysteriously been lost in the post, however, may be heartened to know that pink’s latest comeback is much less about how to make an impact on the red carpet as how to wear it in the far more relevant arena that is the world of work. Poised to do for office attire what Grande and Robbie did for event dressing is Nicole Kidman, whose new film, Babygirl, sees her wearing a tailored jacket of such seductive sugar pink specificity as to immediately make all other hues feel old-fashioned and wrong.

If Babygirl is an erotic thriller about sex and desire, it’s also a paean to the strange and forbidden allure of tailoring. A tailored suit might be designed primarily to bestow ease and efficiency on the wearer, but put the right suit on the right person, and the impact can be far greater. If you’ve ever had an improbable, unfathomable crush on a man or woman in a suit, you’ll understand. And if you haven’t, Babygirl will certainly provide some food for thought.

Kidman plays Romy, a married tech CEO who starts a whirlwind affair with her twenty-something intern (Harris Dickinson), and whose fondness for icy pastel tailoring further emphasises her power and status. “We really wanted to show the amount of control she had in how she presents herself,” Babygirl’s costume designer Bart, one half of duo Kurt and Bart, said, explaining how he arrived at Kidman’s corporate look. “Part of that was [her colour] palette. Even though she’s this super calculating and controlling executive, she has this hyper-feminine, but really neutral presentation. It’s tone-on-tone and very pale colours. There’s a level of remove.”

But Kidman’s character is far from the first woman to have harnessed the power of the pastel pink suit. It’s equally popular among newsreaders (Fiona Bruce), TV presenters (Susanna Reid) and royalty (the Princess of Wales). Much of the shade’s popularity among public figures can be attributed to the fact that pink signals neutrality. Being a colour free from political affiliation, it’s also a popular choice among political commentators. Those glued to TV coverage of the UK’s general election last July may recall how pale pink jackets dominated the screen, worn by news anchors and commentators including Laura Kuenssberg, Harriet Harman and Nadine Dorries.

According to the colour consultant, stylist and author Jules Standish, pale pink has a special significance in the working arena. “This shade of pink makes people feel instantly at ease in your presence, as it conveys an image of kindness, compassion and empathy,” she notes. “Your colleagues are likely to gravitate towards your sense of calm, and will feel naturally comfortable working with you. Wearing pale pink will also encourage others to view you as a sensitive, supportive member of the workplace; someone who is non judgemental and friendly, but with a playful side.”

This would certainly explain pale pink’s popularity among female politicians and business leaders. Much as Margaret Thatcher wore pussy bow blouses as a counterpoint to her image as the Iron Lady, powerful women have likewise harnessed the soft power of sugar pink. It’s likely why Italy’s far-Right leader, Giorgia Meloni, wore a pale pink trousersuit to the G7 summit last July, echoing a choice made by Nancy Pelosi on an official visit to Taiwan in 2022. This itself recalled a pale pink trousersuit worn by then-First Lady Hillary Clinton to a United Nations conference in Beijing in 1995.

Pink may be a politically neutral colour, but it has always been politicised. Originally viewed as a colour for boys (an article from a US trade publication in 1918 describes pink as “a more decided and stronger colour, suitable for the boy, while blue, more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl), this idea was turned on its head by the 1940s. It was then when baby girls started to wear pale pink and little boys wore pale blue, mirroring the colours worn by their parents. Pale pink was also once dismissed as a shade for commoners. A passage in The Great Gatsby has Tom Buchanan refuting that Jay Gatsby could be an Oxford man by saying “Like hell he is! He wears a pink suit.”

One hundred years later, pale pink’s standing has never been higher. As the new season’s collections tentatively ease themselves into the shops like the first vestiges of spring, it’s already clear that it is set to be a pivotal hue. For those tempted to give their bleak January wardrobes a sugar hit, there’s no time like the present.

“I am a secret fan of pink, somewhat surprisingly given that I spend most of my time in black,” says Kay Barron, fashion director of Net-A-Porter and bestselling author of How To Wear Everything. “There is something about pale pink that softens without being saccharine. Gucci and Gabriela Hearst are perfect examples of how to achieve this effect through impeccable tailoring that is sharp rather than sweet.”

Crepe trousers, £315, Theory

Floral applique blazer, £195, & Other Stories

As for how to get the look without looking as though you’re on the campaign trail, she suggests mixing it up a bit. “If you are nervous about wearing an entire pink suit, swap out a grey blazer for a pale pink one, and wear with a white shirt and the grey trousers - still smart, but the confidence it exudes offers a different kind of power. You could also wear a pale pink blazer with your favourite well-worn straight-leg denim – a pale blue wash would work well.”

Cotton shirt, £165, DB x Wyse

Whether you’re a girlboss, a babygirl or simply a working woman with no time or stomach for such frivolous terms, it’s time to embrace soft pink power dressing – hot young intern, not included.

How to wear icing sugar pink in the workplace

According to Jules Standish, combining pale pink with the following colours or neutrals can communicate different psychological messages. Here’s how:

Pale pink and dark grey

Gives pink a practical, professional and elegant appeal.

Double face wool cashmere jacket, £565, Theory; Wool blend trousers, £135, Cos

Pale pink and navy blue

Ideal for a more corporate look, combining pink’s fun-loving nature with good communication and trust, and inspiring confidence in the wearer.

Oversized blazer, £335, The Frankie Shop; Straight leg trousers, £99.95, Massimo Dutti

Pale pink and black

An authoritative and no-nonsense business attire.

Knitted polo shirt, £118, Reiss; Tailored trousers, £97, & Other Stories

Pale pink and green

Green’s balancing properties give pink a refreshing, uplifting strength.

Cashmere cardigan, £225, N.Peal; Cashmere t-shirt, £350, & Daughter

Pale pink and red

A strong, dynamic duo. Neighbours on the colour chart, they convey love, passion and a drive to get the job done, but in a caring manner.

Khaite Jersey dress, £870, Net-a-Porter; Slingback pumps, £65, Charles & Keith