Purple is one of the most versatile and glamorous colors for both fashion and beauty.
Whether you’re attending a formal event or girls’ night out, a purple dress can be the perfect choice to stand out from the crowd.
However, with such a richly hued garment, it’s important to select complementary makeup shades that will enhance the look without overwhelming it.
In this article, we will explore more than 15 makeup color options that pair beautifully with a purple dress.
Purple is a dominating hue that requires colors with boldness and nuance to keep the ensemble balanced.
Lilac Eyeshadows
Lilac is a softer, more pastel shade of purple that helps balance out a brighter or darker purple dress. The cooler-toned lilac won’t clash or compete with the dress color.
For light or baby purple dresses, use a paler lilac shade all over the lid. This provides a wash of coordinating color that’s soft and feminine.
With a medium or deep purple dress, try a medium-toned lilac in the crease and outer corner of the eye. This adds dimension while still complementing the dress.
Blend the lilac eyeshadow well so there are no harsh lines. A diffused, blended look is most flattering.
Consider layering a lighter lilac shade on the inner half of the lid and deepening it with a medium lilac in the outer half for extra dimension.
Sweep a matching lilac or pale lavender shade on the lower lash line to echo the dress color playfully in the eyes.
Curl lashes and coat them in two coats of black mascara to make eyes pop without competing with the dress color.
A swipe of clear gloss on lips lets the dressed up lilac eyes take center stage below a glossy nude pout.
The soft, feminine lilac complements most purple dresses beautifully and stylishly when blended well on the eyes.
It coordinates subtly without upstaging the garment.
Plum Lipstick
Plum is a deep reddish-purple shade that coordinates nicely with most medium to dark purple dresses. It complements without clashing.
For lighter dresses, opt for a softer plum with rosier undertones. This pairs nicely without being too harsh.
With a bright fuchsia or royal purple dress, a plum with blueish undertones makes the color pop even more.
Apply the plum lipstick evenly all over the lips for a hit of coordinated color. Blot for a faded look.
Pair the plum lip with minimal eyeshadow, just mascara. Let the statement lip be the focus.
Make sure the plum complements your skin tone. Warmer or cooler plum options will suit different undertones.
Consider shaping the lip line with a slightly darker lip liner first for a crisp edge.
Reapply the plum throughout the night so color stays vibrant like the dress.
Plum lipstick matches both casual looks with jeans as well as formal purple gowns.
The right plum shade beautifully echoes a purple dress’s hue on the lips for a coordinated makeup moment.
Purple Eyeliner
Choose a purple eyeliner shade that closely matches the dress. This creates flawless monochromatic harmony.
For lighter purple dresses, use a soft lilac or lavender eyeliner on the upper lash line.
With mid-toned or darker purple dresses, try a richer eggplant or violet liner on top and bottom lash lines.
For a bolder evening look, draw a thin line of purple along the upper lash line and smudge it out slightly.
Using a light hand, trace the lower lash line to draw attention to eyes without dominating.
Curl lashes and layer on 2-3 coats of black mascara to make eyes pop against the purple liner.
Complete the look with neutral eyeshadows, like a nude or pale pink, blended out above the liner.
A matching purple or plum lipstick pulls the look together cohesively.
The monochromatic eyes coordinate seamlessly with any cut or style of purple dress.
Purple eyeliner makes a stylish statement when expertly chosen to match the hue of a purple garment.
Lavender Blush
Lavender is a soft pastel purple shade that complements most light to medium purple dresses.
Its cool undertones avoid appearing too ruddy against purple fabric.
For light purple dresses, apply lavender blush lightly all over the apples of the cheeks. This washes the face in a coordinated hue.
With a brighter purple dress, focus the lavender blush application on the upper cheeks and blend well for a lifted effect.
Make sure to choose a lavender shade suited to your skin tone – sometimes a pale lilac suits better than a grayer lavender.
Applying lavender blush lightly and blending it out gives a naturally flushed look that doesn’t compete with the dress color.
Finish with mascara, nude lip-gloss and you’ve got a pretty makeup base to let the purple dress star.
Lavender blush creates seamless harmony with purples throughout the night without needing touch ups like darker shades.
Paired correctly, lavender blush effortlessly matches and complements many purple dresses for a coordinated and feminine look.
Grape Lip Gloss
Grape is a deep purple shade that echoes darker wine and plum dresses perfectly.
For lighter purple dresses, choose a gloss with hints of pink to complement versus overwhelm.
Apply gloss over your usual lipstick or pencil to blend the color seamlessly onto lips.
The shine adds dimension and vibrancy that flat colors alone can’t achieve.
Grape gloss pairs especially well with eyes done in shimmery plum shadows or glossy black liner.
A few swipes brightens your smile without looking overly “done.”
Reapply throughout the night to maintain glossy color that matches the lively sheen of many dresses.
Grape keeps makeup looking fresher longer than matte purple lipsticks alone.
The versatile gloss works for cocktail attire, galas or formal wedding ensembles.
Done right, a grape lip gloss magnificently ties your makeup into a polished purple dress while complementing its texture with shine.
Amethyst Highlighter
As a fashion designer, I’m always thinking about how different beauty elements like highlighter can enhance a garment’s textures, hues and overall aesthetic.
When it comes to pairing makeup with a purple dress, I think an amethyst highlighter is a truly inspired choice.
Amethyst is a light violet gemstone shade that perfectly echoes the ethereal quality many purple fabrics possess. Whether silk charmeuse or crepe back satin, the dress fabric likely has a lovely luminous sheen.
By highlighting the high points of the face in a delicate amethyst tone, it draws attention to similar glints of color within the garment weave.
The highlighted areas are brought into shimmering harmony with reflective purple accents throughout the dress.
This could be sequins, beading or simply the fabric’s natural movement under light. An amethyst highlighter captures within the complexion the same magical interplay of light upon the dress.
As a designer, I’m always aiming to tie garments and beauty into a seamless story with one another.
An amethyst highlighter does this through mirrored iridescence between the mediums of fabric and skin.
It allows makeup to beautifully underscore a dress’s unique handcrafted textures and exquisite use of its namesake hue for a truly cohesive look.
Eggplant Shadow
When it comes to pairing eye looks with a purple dress, I think an eggplant shadow hue is a stroke of genius.
Many purple fabrics have depth and dimension to their tone, whether rich velvet, textured twill or draped crepe. An eggplant shadow echoes that sense of layering within the dress’s color story.
By layering the smoky hue in the crease and outer corner, it mimics how different angles of the garment show deeper purple undertones.
The subtly blended eggplant brings out shadowed tones within the dress’s drape and fall. It allows one’s eyes to similarly play with light and shades like the garment itself does.
As a designer, I’m always aiming for cohesion between makeup and fabric.
An eggplant shadow understands a purple dress is really a spectrum of related shades. It allows one’s eye makeup to follow similar color blocking or ombres that may exist within the garment itself.
In doing so, face and dress become parallels of one another where placement of darker vs lighter hue tells a cohesive story.
Through makeup, we can let a dress’s innate layered color qualities shine even brighter. An eggplant shadow does just this for any look I put forth on the runway or beyond.
Fuschia Liner
In my experience, a bold pop of fuchsia liner is one of the best ways to match and elevate a purple party dress.
It creates a curated relationship between makeup and garment that feels put together and stylish.
Clients always leave feeling confident when I use fuchsia to make a statement.
Fuchsia is a vivid pink-purple shade that works as a fun pop of contrasting color against most purple dresses.
Line only the upper lash line with fuchsia eyeliner, don’t wing it out too far. This keeps it subtly stylish.
For lighter purple dresses, focus the fuchsia liner more on the outer 1/3 of the eye.
With darker dresses, you can line the entire lash line in bright fuchsia.
Smudge a little fuchsia along the lower lash line too for extra dimension and edge.
Slick on 2-3 coats of black mascara to make the bright liner really stand out against lashes.
Use a complementary purple or plum eyeshadow blended out above the liner to flatter eyelids.
Go for a matching lip in a similar plum or berry shade to pull the look together cohesively.
The pop of fuchsia liner elevates any style of purple dress seamlessly for day or night.
A bright fuchsia liner complements purple dresses beautifully by serving as a colorful accent that makes eyes pop.
Mauve Shadows
Mauve is a soft rosy pink-purple shade that coordinates nicely with most light to mid-toned purple dresses.
For lighter lavender or lilac dresses, sweep a pale mauve all over the lids and blend well into the crease. This provides a soft wash of color.
With a brighter fuchsia or violet dress, focus the mauve only in the crease and blend outwards for depth without stealing focus.
Apply the coordinating mauve shade dry with a fluffy brush first, then go over it with your finger for more intensity.
Make sure to choose a mauve with undertones that complement your own skin tone for the most flattering match.
Keep other makeup simple like nude lips and light mascara so the dress remains the star of the look.
Mauve shadows blend seamlessly whether you’re heading to brunch or a black-tie event in your purple number.
The subtle mauve complement flatters any cut or neckline and creates a chic monochromatic effect.
Paired correctly, a mauve shadow is a versatile way to tie eye makeup into a purple frock for day or night.
Mulberry Lipstick
Mulberry is a medium reddish-purple shade that works well with most mid-toned purple dresses.
For lighter lilac or lavender dresses, opt for a paler mulberry with rosier undertones.
Deeper eggplant or plum dresses shine alongside a mulberry with rich wine undertones.
Apply the mulberry lipstick evenly all over the lips for a monochromatic effect.
Blot lightly with a tissue to soften any harshness and achieve a stained effect.
Pair with minimalistic eyes in neutral tones like browns and taupe for balance.
Make sure to find your best nude lip liner shade to outline lips before the mulberry color.
Reapply the mulberry throughout the night so lips stay vibrant as the fabric.
The coordinating lip shade embellishes any neckline or hem beautifully.
By choosing the right undertones, a mulberry lipstick hits the perfect complementary note for purple dresses of all shades.
Orchid Eyeshadows
Orchid is a light lavender-pink shade that coordinates well with light to medium toned purple dresses.
For softer lilac or periwinkle dresses, sweep orchid all over the lids and blend well into the crease for a washed out effect.
With brighter violet or fuchsia dresses, focus orchid just in the crease and blend out for depth without distracting from the dress.
Apply the coordinating orchid shade dry first with a fluffy brush then go over it with your finger for more intensity and sheen.
Choose an orchid with undertones that pick up on subtle pink or lavender tones within the dress fabric.
Line eyes in black and coat lashes with two swipes of volumizing mascara to make eyes pop next to the orchid shadow.
Finish with a soft pink lip-gloss or lipstick to tie the monochromatic orchid look together seamlessly.
The ethereal orchid shade beautifully echoes many light purple dresses for an effortlessly coordinated makeup moment.
Raspberry Blush
Raspberry is a bright reddish-pink hue that works well with medium to dark purple dresses.
For lighter lilac dresses, use a paler raspberry with rosier undertones on the apples of cheeks.
Deep plum or eggplant dresses are beautifully set off by a brighter true raspberry shade.
Sweep the raspberry blush over cheeks, blending upwards and outwards for dimension.
Apply lightly at first and build up color as needed to avoid looking too clownish.
Make sure the raspberry tone coordinates with your own skin’s undertones for the most flattering match.
Keep other makeup minimal like nude lips and subtly smoky eyes so the dress shines through.
The complementary raspberry blush enhances any neckline or hem detailing beautifully.
By choosing the right undertones, a raspberry blush creates harmony between complexion and many purple party looks.
Violet Mascara
When it comes to pairing mascara with a purple dress, I think a violet hue is an ingenious choice.
Many of my purple creations have an ethereal, fanciful quality that evokes dusk or twilight. A violet mascara echoes that surreal, enchanting feel.
By coating lashes in this dusky lavender-gray tone, it brings an otherworldly dimension to one’s gaze just like elaborate beading or tulle may do on the dress itself.
The subtly tinted mascara also reflexively bounces similar lavender glints as certain fabric weaves catch the light. This creates an interesting synchronicity between the mediums of fabric and fleash.
Eyes painted in violet mascara seem to morph and transform mesmerizingly just as many purple silk chiffons do.
I strive for each detail of a look, from makeup to manicure, to become an extension of the garment itself.
Violet mascara understands the mercurial, abstract nature that intriguing purple shades can take on. It allows eyes to mirror these same amorphous qualities through a veil of soft color.
Eyes and dress become parallels that blur lines between where one finishes and the other begins. This is the height of artistic cohesion that I aim for in all my collections.
Primrose Shadow
Primrose is a soft rosy pink shade with peachy undertones. This complements many light to medium toned lilac, lavender and periwinkle dresses.
For pastel purple dresses, apply primrose all over the lid and blended into the crease for a seamless wash of coordinating color.
With brighter violet or fuchsia dresses, focus primrose just in the center of the lid and blend out the edges for a soft pop.
Choose a primrose that mimics the subtle pink or peach nuances within the dress fabric itself.
Apply primrose dry first using a fluffy brush before going over it with your fingertip for more vibrancy.
A bare face with curled lashes allows the pretty eyeshadow to shine through without competing.
Or a slick of peach lip gloss ties the eye and lip colors cohesively into the dress.
The delicate primrose tone romantically flatters many pastel and muted purple dresses for a springtime monochrome moment.
Pomegranate Lips
Pomegranate is a deep berry shade with rich reddish-purple undertones. This compliments medium to dark toned dresses.
For lighter lilac or periwinkle dresses, opt for a paler pomegranate lip with rosier undertones.
Deeper plum, eggplant or fuchsia dresses shine alongside a bolder true pomegranate lip.
Apply the pomegranate lipstick evenly all over, keeping it within the lip line for a seamless look.
Blot lightly with a tissue to soften any harsh lines and achieve a stained effect.
Pair with minimal eyeshadow done in coordinating tones like plum or mauve.
Make sure to find your perfect lip liner in a similar berry shade to outline before color.
The complementary pomegranate hue pulls the look together and flatters any neckline beautifully.
By choosing the right undertones, a pomegranate lip adds just the right pop of color to enhance midnight purple dresses.
Whether choosing muted shades like mauve and orchid or bolder hues like fuchsia and pomegranate, finding tones that echo or complement the dress is key.
Product placement and use of complementary undertones are also important to achieve a seamlessly monochromatic aesthetic.
A makeup artist or fashion designer considers all these elements to allow eyes, lips and cheeks to genuinely become an extension of the garment.
When successfully executed, the overall appearance flows as one harmonious ensemble rather than separate, disconnected pieces.
With the right shade selections and techniques discussed here, any guest or muse can highlight their unique purple party dress to magnificent effect. Their beauty and fashion sense will surely be the highlight of the event.
