PINK MOVES INTO THE MASCULINE MAINSTREAM
By Kelly Grannan

Pink has traditionally been the representative color of ultra-femininity - until now.

Although pink is considered one of the hottest colors on the market for women's fashion and accessories, retailers are noticing a shift in the buyer's gender. Men of all ages have been spotted wearing pink recently in the United States, leading style experts to predict overall change in the history of men's fashion.

Men's craze for the color initially hit with an unexpected impact as they began to purchase pink tennis shoes in the women's departments. Now retailers are taking advantage of the trend by offering the color in men's shoes, shirts, hats and more.

"The pink UT stuff is selling really well," said Evan McGehee, an employee at the Foot Locker at Lakeline mall. He also noticed that although nobody buys the laces or the Converses anymore, pink shirts are increasingly popular.

This trend can be traced back to pimps in the 1960s and '70s especially, known for flashing their bright suits and fedoras of purple, baby blue and, of course, pink. More recently it has carried heavily into hip-hop and urban wear, demonstrated by celebrities such as Cam'Ron, who sports pink minks, a pink cell phone and even a pink Range Rover. Also seen flaunting the pastel shade have been OutKast's Big Boi and hip-hop fashion gurus Sean "P-Diddy" Combs and Russell Simmons.

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