Purple is a color that evokes royalty, creativity, and mystery. Throughout history, purple dye was rare and expensive to produce, so only wealthy and powerful people could afford to wear the color purple. Even today, purple connotes luxury, ambition, and imagination. So what do you call someone who is particularly fond of the color purple? There are a few descriptive terms for purple devotees.
Lover of Purple
The most straightforward way to describe someone who loves purple is simply to say they are a “lover of purple.” This gets across their passion and appreciation for that rich, regal shade. Whether they delight in purple clothing, interiors, flowers, or gemstones, a purple lover embraces the color in some way in their life.
Purplist
“Purplist” is a more playful term for a purple enthusiast. Adding the suffix “-ist” denotes someone who admires, studies, or collects something. For example, a cyclist rides bikes, a botanist studies plants, and a philatelist collects stamps. So a purplist loves all things purple and surrounds themselves with violet and orchid hues. Purplists may dye their hair purple, drive a purple car, and decorate their home in their favorite color.
Violetta
“Violetta” is a fancy, melodic way to describe a woman who adores the color purple. Violetta sounds like an opera singer’s stage name or the princess of a faraway land. The name Violetta comes from the word “violet,” a flower and shade of purple. Calling someone Violetta evokes femininity, delicacy, and purple’s floral overtones. It may suit a woman who wears purple dresses and hats, favors violet pastries, or cultivates violets in her garden.
Orchidaceous
The adjective “orchidaceous” means resembling or related to orchids, showy purple flowers. Calling someone orchidaceous suggests they enjoy purple’s rich, ornate qualities. Orchidaceous connotes an aesthetic preference for intricate, saturated jewel tones over pale or washed-out purples. An orchidaceous personality may include dramatic fashion choices, bold makeup looks, and striking interior design schemes heavy on purple accents.
Mauve Meister
A “mauve meister” refers to someone well-versed in different purple shades, mostly on the lighter end of the spectrum. Mauve is a soft, delicate purple tint named after the mallow flower. A mauve meister appreciates the subtleties between pale purples like lilac, lavender, and wisteria. They have an expert eye for coordinating and matching different mauve tones. This discerning purple connoisseur knows how to create tranquil, soothing environments using pale violets.
Amethyst Admirer
An “amethyst admirer” is a fan of the luminous purple gemstone amethyst. Amethysts range from pale lilac to deep violet. They often have a regal allure, decorating crowns and jewelry fit for royalty. An amethyst admirer may collect amethyst jewelry, incorporate raw amethyst geodes in their home decor, or believe in the stone’s meditative and healing properties. The vivid saturation and mystical energy of amethyst enthralls these purple devotees.
Grape Grapefruit
“Grape grapefruit” is a quirky phrase for someone obsessed with very vivid, almost neon purple hues. It compares these electrifying purples to the artificial grape flavoring of candy, drinks, and fruit snacks. A grape grapefruit passionately seeks out bold, bright, juicy purples. Their style may include clothes in shocking electric purple shades. This energetic, youthful personality views purple as a fun pop of color.
Plum Preferer
A “plum preferer” favors rich, deep purple hues with red undertones like plum, eggplant, and prunes. These plummy purples have an elegant, mature vibe compared to brighter or lighter purples. A plum preferer may fill their wardrobe with wine-hued clothing, drink plum wine, and cultivate plums and purple figs. Their affinity for plums reflects their taste for sophistication punctuated with a touch of sensuality.
Porphyrophile
A “porphyrophile” refers to someone enamored with porphyry, an imperial reddish-purple stone. Porphyry was prized in ancient Rome and used in art, architecture, and jewelry to represent power and divinity. The word “porphyrophile” contains “porphyry,” denoting their passion for this regal purple stone, plus “-phile,” meaning lover. Porphyrophiles surround themselves with purple-hued porphyry artifacts, crushed porphyry stone, and porphyry prints and patterns.
Purple Pupil
A “purple pupil” sees purple as the supreme color and tries to master mixing, matching, and decorating with it. Like an eager student, a purple pupil studies and experiments with different shades and palettes to become an expert in their favorite color. They apply purple eyeshadow flawlessly, find the perfect purple wallpaper, and discover new purple foods like ube and purple sweet potatoes. The purple pupil hopes to earn a Ph.D. in purple.
Violet Vendor
A “violet vendor” sells violet-colored items, from flowers to clothes to jewelry. They proudly peddle their purple wares at farmers markets, craft fairs, and online stores. These small business owners have found a profitable niche retailing everything purple to fellow violet aficionados. A floral violet vendor provides purple flowers for weddings and events. Others deal in hyacinths, pansies, violets, and flowering kale. Some sell hand-dyed purple yarns, clothes, or candles.
Purple Proselytizer
A “purple proselytizer” seeks to convert everyone they meet into adoring the color purple as much as they do. Like enthusiastic evangelists, these purple people preach the many merits of their favorite hue. They point out beautiful purple sunsets, birds like purple martins, or health benefits of purple foods. The passionate purple proselytizer gives out violet tchotchkes as gifts and urges people to paint their walls lilac. Their devotion to purple knows no bounds.
Lavender Lover Synonyms
Lavender refers to a soft, pale purple shade, lighter than lilac. Here are some additional creative terms for someone passionately devoted to lavender:
- Lavender Enthusiast
- Lavender Fanatic
- Lavender Devotee
- Lavender Aficionado
- Lavender Addict
- Lavender Fan
- Lavenderphile
These nicknames capture the ardor someone can have for the gentle, soothing color lavender.
Reasons People Love Purple
What drives someone’s obsession with purple? Here are some motives behind purple passion:
- Purple is associated with royalty, luxury, ambition, and creativity.
- Dark purples like plum evoke sophistication and intrigue.
- Light purples like lilac and lavender represent femininity and tranquility.
- Purple brings to mind imagination, individuality, and a magical quality.
- The rarity and expense of purple dye gave it prestige historically.
- Purple is connected to mysticism, spiritualism, and the supernatural.
- People are drawn to purple when it flatters their skin or hair tone.
- Purple has many lovely plant and flower associations like violets, lavender, and orchids.
In color psychology, people who love purple may be unconventional, artistic, sensitive, or have a strong intuition.
Historical Significance of Purple
To understand purple’s appeal, it helps to know its august history. Here are some key facts about purple’s past:
- For centuries, purple dye was extremely rare and costly to produce. It became associated with immense wealth and status.
- In ancient times, citizens forbidden from wearing purple included priests, magistrates, and Roman senators.
- Ancient Phoenician cities like Tyre and Sidon were famed for producing purple dye from sea snails.
- Cleopatra loved purple. She sailed with sails and banners dyed purple, a color of royalty.
- Byzantine emperors required elite dignitaries to wear purple-striped garments.
- Medieval kings and queens wore purple robes and gowns, and sat on purple thrones.
- British aristocrats wore purple after Queen Victoria abolished sumptuary laws restricting its use.
- Roman Catholic clergy wear purple vestments during Advent and Lent.
- British nobility ranks like earls and dukes traditionally wore robes with purple accents.
- In Thailand and India, purple symbolizes mourning, while in Europe it denotes royalty.
This rich history helps explain purple’s enduring connotations of luxury, status, and creativity.
Purple in Nature
Purple has many striking counterparts in the natural world that make it appealing:
| Purple Flower | Purple Food | Purple Gemstone | Purple Animal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lavender | Eggplant | Amethyst | Purple emperor butterfly |
| Lilac | Purple sweet potato | Sugilite | Violet-tailed sylph hummingbird |
| Violet | Purple carrot | Iolite | Purple finch |
| Iris | Purple cauliflower | Purple coral | Purple frog |
| Hyacinth | Purple asparagus | Charoite | Purple martin |
Nature contains an abundance of purple inspiration, from flowers to rare sea creatures. This reinforces purple as a color connected to beauty and uniqueness.
Purple in Fashion and Design
In fashion and interior design, purple never goes out of style:
- Many famous fashion designers like Yves Saint Laurent, John Galliano, and Alexander McQueen have used purple extensively.
- In spring and summer, light purples emerge in chiffon dresses, lace blouses, lavender shorts, and lilac coats.
- Deep plummy purples come into fashion for fall and winter, in rich velvets, jewel silks, and regal gold-accented gowns.
- Vibrant purple hair first emerged as a punk statement in the 1980s. Today, vivid purple hair dye represents self-expression.
- For interior design, purple gives a royal flair in deep hues, while pale purples provide an airy, tranquil retreat.
- Purple rooms help inspire creativity, contemplation, and spirituality.
- Vintage purple velvet furniture adds ornate elegance to a room.
In decor and style, purple commands attention, conveys luxury, and demonstrates originality.
Purple’s Attributes and Associations
What is it specifically about purple that attracts so many fans? Here are the top qualities associated with purple:
| Qualities |
|---|
| Royalty |
| Luxury |
| Ambition |
| Creativity |
| Magic |
| Mysticism |
| Imagination |
| Individuality |
| Wisdom |
| Intuition |
| Extravagance |
| Independence |
| Eccentricity |
| Dignity |
| Spirituality |
Purple evokes this alluring blend of luxury and creative energy – exactly why it enthralls so many purple lovers.
Conclusion
People who adore the color purple have plenty of reasons for their passion. Purple represents creativity, mysticism, royalty, and luxury across cultures and eras. Its rarity historically gave purple prestige and exclusivity. Purple also has many rich plant and gemstone associations that make it visually striking. For individualists seeking to make a vivid style statement, purple delivers in fashion and home décor. There’s just something magnetic about purple that draws people to it. So whether you call them a purplist, orchidaceous, violet vendor, or grape grapefruit, purple connoisseurs share a special love for their regal, spirited hue.