Showa era
Khaki & Deep Lyons Blue +1
Plate 236 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Khaki, Deep Lyons Blue, Purple Drab.
#84565b
red · 1 palette
Purple Drab
About Purple Drab
Purple Drab is a mid-tone, near-neutral red tone. Its hex value is #84565b — that is
RGB 132, 86, 91, or HSL 353°, 21%, 43%.
It holds 6.1:1 contrast against white, so Purple Drab works best for body text, headings, and UI labels. (On white it scores 6.1:1; on black 3.5:1.)
Across Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations, Purple Drab appears in 1 combination — most often paired with Khaki and Deep Lyons Blue.
Colours that go with Purple Drab
From a standard colour wheel, Purple Drab anchors these four classic schemes. Each swatch is computed from its exact hue, so every hex is a real, usable pairing.
Complementary
#84565b #56847F
the hue directly opposite — the highest-contrast pairing, good for a single bold accent.
Analogous
#84565b #845672 #846856
the two neighbours on the wheel — a calm, cohesive scheme that feels effortless.
Triadic
#84565b #5B8456 #565B84
two hues an even third of the wheel away — balanced and lively without clashing.
Split-complementary
#84565b #568468 #567284
the two colours either side of the complement — the contrast of a complement, softened.
How to use Purple Drab
Purple Drab is a mid-tone, muted tone (HSL 353°, 21%, 43%), which makes it a versatile mid-tone for accents, buttons or blocks. For text it passes WCAG AA for body text against a light background (6.1:1) — safe for paragraphs, buttons and labels. When you do set type on it, use light lettering. Pair it with its complement (#56847F) for a focal accent, or with its analogous neighbours (#845672 and #846856) for a quieter, harmonious feel.
Palettes with Purple Drab
Purple Drab appears in 1 combination from the archive.
From the archive
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