Purple is easier to wear than you think.

Fashion insiders say that fall favorite dark purple is practically a neutral — and just about any purple, even a flashy violet, goes with the standby colors of black and gray. Purple also is a color that can be worn boldly on a sweater or coat, or more subtly on a scarf or a shoe — and still have a noticeable impact.

"With any strong color, how to wear it depends on your personality," says People StyleWatch editor in chief Susan Kaufman. "You can wear it as a dress, but then I wouldn't recommend purple shoes. If you're committed to black, then wear a splash of purple on your foot or bag. On top, you wear it with jeans or another classic color."

She adds, "I wouldn't mix it with chartreuse unless you really want to make an impression."

Nicole Phelps, executive editor at Style.com, offers this advice: "The thing to avoid is mixing and matching too many colors. My rule is one bright color before you go out."

If you normally shy away from brights, Phelps says you should ease into purple as an accent to black or gray.

Catherine Beaudoin, general manager of online shoe shop Piperlime.com, thinks a purple shoe is at its most sophisticated when it's a deep color or in a textured material such as suede or crocodile skin (real or faux) and worn with black trousers or a black skirt. Camel and purple also are a good combination, she says.

"What we're finding — and this is true often when it's an edgier trend that people aren't sure they're going to wear forever — we're getting a lot of bite on the less expensive version," says Beaudoin. "People are buying Nine West, Na Na. It's more of a fun purchase than an investment purchase."

However, she says, she thought her own purple shoes were an impulse buy, but it turns out she's wearing them all the time.