Dear Millennial Pink

Shand Thomas
Aug 25, 2017 · 2 min read

Dear Millennial Pink,

So, you did it. Congratulations. You rose above all the other colors, past the once popular off-white and the seasonal oxblood to become the color of an entire generation. It’s a feat few have accomplished and that makes this small club of ours an exclusive group- kind of like ex-presidents or ex-Spice Girls. As the oldest member of the generational colors, I, Baby Boomer Beige, welcome you.

It is also my obligation to warn you.

Right now, it’s all fun and games. You’re being made into hats, dresses, maybe even a motivational pillow or two. You’re being painted on walls and nails alike. With the invention of social media, you’re being shared with the world in ways that I couldn’t have dreamed of when I was a young color. Enjoy this moment in the sun Pinkie, because one day it’s gonna turn on you. Just like it did for me.

My generation was once young like yours. People were coming back from war and they had so much sex and so little contraception that they made a massive generation of people. It was wild. There were babies everywhere. And those babies needed a color to represent them ALL.

They tried more traditional colors first. Standards like your blues, your reds, and your non-threatening yellows. Then they moved onto more “tantalizing” colors like bright orange and lime green. But there were so many babies being born that all that dye was getting expensive- so they settled for me- beige. Me. Can you believe it? I couldn’t. An entire generation was represented by ME. I was on baby blankets and bed sheets, walls, carpets, even sedans! My generation was the future and I was the color to usher them there.

It was fun for a while, but trends move on. More “exciting” colors and generations come along. Gen X Grey was a huge hit and made me look boring and like I cared too much. As my generation came into power, we were rightfully mocked by the younger. Today, we are deservedly, everyone’s favorite punching bag. When we punched back, calling your generation selfish and childish, it was really our own insecurity about not being the top color anymore. We took a cue from one of our more orange-hued members and it was wrong of us. I’m sorry about that. It’s tough being the bland one on the wheel.

So let me leave you with this advice Millennial Pink. Enjoy it while it lasts. Soak in teen girls showing up in matching you. Relish in being used in makeup trends. Heck, you might even end up as a hair-dye. Just know, that these are the days that you’ll remember. Soon you’ll be the color they forget.

Best,

BBB

)

Shand Thomas

Written by

Young writer, seasoned name explainer

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