Pretty Likes Purple

When I was a child, I went to a family friend's clown college graduation. (I'm not afraid of clowns so this was not a traumatizing event). Our friend was a hobo clown called Boxcar Ernie. He taught me how to make balloon animals. (I even have a purple balloon pump. Yes, have, not had.) This balloon dog bookend (Modcloth, $39.99) is just the right mix of silly and cute. They also come in orange, but the purple is obviously superior.

I love purple, but wearing it everyday or wearing an entirely purple outfit can be a bit much. (Though that doesn't stop me). To really make purple stand out, it's helpful to have an eye-catching signature piece like this vintage costume ring fashioned from a fabulous Amethyst Glass Banquette surrounded by little faux pearls. This is the kind of ring you could wear everyday and still have people notice it. It costs $45 at Stone Hill Collectibles .

Elizabeth Taylor's passing has reminded us all of those extraordinary violet eyes--a rare and exquisite eye color. Thankfully, we live in a time when we don't have to leave such luck to nature. We can, at least for a little while, have violet eyes too with violet contact lenses. Pictured: Dual Tone Violet Colored Contact Lenses, Best Colored Contacts. $29.99

Elizabeth Taylor was a woman of rare beauty. Her allure, her glamour, her fire and her piercing, violet eyes will never be forgotten.

I'm not really a fan of snake skin or snake skin prints. It's not my style. Plus, I really like snakes, and a snake skin bag just seems a little cruel. I don't have one, but I'm not allergic to them so they are actually a potential pet (as apposed to everything that is furry or feathered). If purple snakes really exsisted--as this Diane von Furstenburg purple snakeskin tote ( Saks Fifth Avenue, $295 ) suggests, that might completely make up for my lack of fuzzy companions.

Well, Punxsutawney Phil didn't exactly predict purple, but he did predict an early spring, which means these Floral Fandango Heels ($188 from Anthropologie) may be trotting down the street soon (even though it feels like it will ever stop snowing here in Metro Detroit). Sadly the Michigan groundhog, Woody the Woodchuck (woodchucks and groundhogs are the same) didn't have the same good news. She (yep, Woody is a she) said we'd have six more weeks of winter, and she has been right 9 out of 12 times. Phil has only been right about 30% of the time. If you're putting your faith in Woody, these purple suede boots ($75.78 on Zappos) maybe a better buy right now.

You see a commercial for Ally Bank and think to yourself, "The debit card is purple. I should totally switch banks!"