diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 257509c..b19b1ae 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -76,15 +76,17 @@ not for the public pages. See `docs/design-principles.md` for the design.
     database (never overwrites existing pages).
   - `frontend/src/` — the Vue editor and public-page entries.
     - `main.js` — Vue editor app entry, mounts PageEditor/SiteEditor.
-    - `pagerite.js` — public page entry; imports the shared style and runs
-      fetch-navigation, scroll-reveal and code copy buttons.
+    - `pagerite.js` — public page entry; runs fetch-navigation, scroll-reveal and
+      code copy buttons. The backend links the shared CSS as two separate
+      stylesheets (base and theme) so they can be swapped or augmented.
     - `assets/` — shared styles and data files built by Vite and served hashed
-      under `/_/assets/`: `style.css`, `pygments.css`, `banner.svg` and
-      `fonts/` (self-hosted Fraunces/Literata/Fira Code variable woff2). The
-      `::view-transition*` block at the end of `style.css` (from
+      under `/_/assets/`: `pagerite.css` (base layout + conservative variables),
+      `themes/purple/theme.css` (the purple/dark theme override), `pygments.css`,
+      `banner.svg` and `fonts/` (self-hosted Fraunces/Literata/Fira Code variable
+      woff2). The `::view-transition*` block at the end of `pagerite.css` (from
       termotohtori.fi) is fragile — do not tweak.
     - Vite builds ES-module `.js` outputs; the backend renders `<script
-      type="module" defer>` for them.
+      type="module">` for them (module scripts defer by default).
   - The database file is `pagerite.kanta` in the cwd (`PAGERITE_DB`
     overrides); gitignored. Do not delete it without asking.
 - `scripts/fastapi-vue/` — helper scripts from the fastapi-vue template
diff --git a/docs/design-principles.md b/docs/design-principles.md
index afe36ea..1803627 100644
--- a/docs/design-principles.md
+++ b/docs/design-principles.md
@@ -132,9 +132,11 @@ evolves.
 
 ## Styling
 
-- A single shared `frontend/src/assets/style.css` covers the server-rendered
-  pages and the Vue components. Vue may add per-component styles on top where
-  needed.
+- The base stylesheet `frontend/src/assets/pagerite.css` provides the layout,
+  typography and interaction rules with conservative CSS variables. A theme layer
+  (`frontend/src/assets/themes/purple/theme.css` by default) overrides those
+  variables and adds the visual styling. Vue may add per-component styles on top
+  where needed.
 - Fonts, the shared stylesheet, pygments styles and the default banner SVG
   live under `frontend/src/assets/` and are emitted as hashed assets under
   `/_/assets/` (Fraunces for headings, Literata for body, Fira Code for code —
diff --git a/frontend/src/PageEditor.vue b/frontend/src/PageEditor.vue
index 486b71b..01523b2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/PageEditor.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/PageEditor.vue
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ onUnmounted(() => {
   height: 100vh;
 }
 
-/* Docked-overlay positioning lives in the global style.css (.editor-host /
+/* Docked-overlay positioning lives in the global pagerite.css (.editor-host /
    .editor-root.overlay) since the host element is created by main.js. */
 
 .toolbar {
diff --git a/frontend/src/SiteEditor.vue b/frontend/src/SiteEditor.vue
index 41866ad..19601e8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/SiteEditor.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/SiteEditor.vue
@@ -640,7 +640,7 @@ onUnmounted(() => {
   height: 100vh;
 }
 
-/* Docked-overlay positioning lives in the global style.css (.editor-host /
+/* Docked-overlay positioning lives in the global pagerite.css (.editor-host /
    .editor-root.overlay) since the host element is created by main.js. */
 
 .toolbar {
diff --git a/frontend/src/assets/style.css b/frontend/src/assets/pagerite.css
similarity index 96%
rename from frontend/src/assets/style.css
rename to frontend/src/assets/pagerite.css
index aa1bb64..4309e07 100644
--- a/frontend/src/assets/style.css
+++ b/frontend/src/assets/pagerite.css
@@ -1,16 +1,17 @@
-/* Shared styles for server-rendered pages and Vue components. */
+/* Base structural and functional styles for Pagerite pages and editors.
+   Color choices are intentionally conservative CSS variables so themes can
+   override them without fighting layout or interaction rules. */
 @import url("./fonts/fonts.css");
 @import url("./pygments.css");
 
 :root {
-  color-scheme: dark;
-  --bg: #12101c;
-  --surface: #1b1830;
-  --text: #e8e6f2;
-  --muted: #9a94b8;
-  --accent: #00d4c8;
-  --accent2: #7c5cff;
-  --line: #ffffff1a;
+  --bg: #ffffff;
+  --surface: #f5f5f5;
+  --text: #1a1a1a;
+  --muted: #666666;
+  --accent: #0056b3;
+  --accent2: #003d80;
+  --line: #0000001a;
   /* Width of the docked editor panel (used both here for shifting the page
      and in the Vue editor's own styles). */
   --editor-w: min(46rem, 50vw);
@@ -45,10 +46,6 @@ body {
   flex: 1;
 }
 
-::selection {
-  background: var(--accent2);
-}
-
 /* Full-width banner: image header with the brand and nav overlaid. */
 #banner {
   position: relative;
@@ -87,12 +84,7 @@ body {
   text-decoration: none;
   margin: auto 1.25rem 0;
   padding-top: 1.5rem;
-  background: linear-gradient(90deg, var(--accent), var(--accent2));
-  -webkit-background-clip: text;
-  background-clip: text;
-  color: transparent;
-  text-shadow: none;
-  filter: drop-shadow(0 0 0.1rem #000);
+  color: var(--text);
 }
 
 /* Nav overlaid at the bottom of the banner */
@@ -433,7 +425,6 @@ pre {
      past them by its own padding. */
   margin-left: -0.8rem;
   margin-right: -0.8rem;
-  background: #ffffff09;
   border-radius: 4px;
   position: relative;
 }
@@ -595,7 +586,6 @@ footer {
    FRAGILE: do not tweak; the view-transition pseudo-tree is picky. */
 ::view-transition {
   perspective: 1000px;
-  background: #000;
   inset: 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/assets/themes/purple/theme.css b/frontend/src/assets/themes/purple/theme.css
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..647ffb6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/assets/themes/purple/theme.css
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+/* Purple theme: overrides the conservative base variables and adds the
+   more elaborate visual styling (dark palette, gradient brand, etc.). */
+
+:root {
+  color-scheme: dark;
+  --bg: #12101c;
+  --surface: #1b1830;
+  --text: #e8e6f2;
+  --muted: #9a94b8;
+  --accent: #00d4c8;
+  --accent2: #7c5cff;
+  --line: #ffffff1a;
+}
+
+::selection {
+  background: var(--accent2);
+}
+
+#brand {
+  background: linear-gradient(90deg, var(--accent), var(--accent2));
+  -webkit-background-clip: text;
+  background-clip: text;
+  color: transparent;
+  text-shadow: none;
+  filter: drop-shadow(0 0 0.1rem #000);
+}
+
+pre {
+  background: #ffffff09;
+}
+
+::view-transition {
+  background: #000;
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/main.js b/frontend/src/main.js
index d2713f0..e265084 100644
--- a/frontend/src/main.js
+++ b/frontend/src/main.js
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-import "./assets/style.css";
-
 // Pagerite editor entries. Two separate apps, mounted in their own
 // dynamically created host divs inside the static document:
 // - PageEditor ("page" mode): pen next to an article heading — Markdown
@@ -8,6 +6,11 @@ import "./assets/style.css";
 //   (previewed into the real banner) and the site structure tree.
 // The standalone /_/admin shell (#app in the DOM) mounts PageEditor with the
 // page selected by location hash, as a no-dynamic-import fallback.
+if (import.meta.env.DEV) {
+  import("./assets/pagerite.css");
+  import("./assets/themes/purple/theme.css");
+}
+
 import { createApp } from 'vue'
 import PageEditor from './PageEditor.vue'
 import SiteEditor from './SiteEditor.vue'
diff --git a/frontend/src/pagerite.js b/frontend/src/pagerite.js
index 52f72d7..05e7d8c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pagerite.js
+++ b/frontend/src/pagerite.js
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-import "./assets/style.css";
-
 // Fetch-navigation: swap dynamic regions (#nav, #main) instead of full
 // page loads. Real <a href> links are used throughout, so this is pure
 // progressive enhancement - without JS every link does a normal load.
@@ -7,6 +5,11 @@ import "./assets/style.css";
 // Also: scroll-reveal effects and code copy buttons. These need no
 // support from the article itself and are re-applied after each swap.
 (() => {
+  if (import.meta.env.DEV) {
+    import("./assets/pagerite.css");
+    import("./assets/themes/purple/theme.css");
+  }
+
   const REGIONS = ["page-banner", "nav", "sidebar", "main"];
   const reduceMotion = matchMedia("(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)");
   let editorModule = null;
@@ -191,7 +194,7 @@ import "./assets/style.css";
       runScripts(document.getElementById("main"));
       applyEffects();
     };
-    // Rotating cube page transition (see the FRAGILE block in style.css);
+    // Rotating cube page transition (see the FRAGILE block in pagerite.css);
     // mirrored when navigating back through history. Navigation within the
     // same top-level section crossfades instead, in either direction.
     if (document.startViewTransition && !reduceMotion.matches) {
diff --git a/frontend/vite.config.js b/frontend/vite.config.js
index ccaf725..c1346e3 100644
--- a/frontend/vite.config.js
+++ b/frontend/vite.config.js
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ export default defineConfig({
       input: {
         main: fileURLToPath(new URL('./src/main.js', import.meta.url)),
         pagerite: fileURLToPath(new URL('./src/pagerite.js', import.meta.url)),
+        pagerite_base: fileURLToPath(new URL('./src/assets/pagerite.css', import.meta.url)),
+        pagerite_theme: fileURLToPath(new URL('./src/assets/themes/purple/theme.css', import.meta.url)),
       },
     },
   },
diff --git a/pagerite/views.py b/pagerite/views.py
index c8ce293..b3086f1 100644
--- a/pagerite/views.py
+++ b/pagerite/views.py
@@ -25,12 +25,73 @@ from pagerite.markdown import has_h1, render
 SITE_NAME = "Pagerite"
 BUILD = Path(__file__).with_name("frontend-build")
 
+# Shared CSS built as separate entries so the backend can link base and theme
+# independently. Order matters: base first, theme overrides it.
+_SHARED_CSS = {
+    "src/assets/pagerite.css": "pagerite",
+    "src/assets/themes/purple/theme.css": "pagerite-theme",
+}
+
+_manifest_cache: dict | None = None
+_asset_cache: dict[str, tuple] = {}
+
+
+def _manifest() -> dict:
+    global _manifest_cache
+    if _manifest_cache is None:
+        _manifest_cache = json.loads((BUILD / ".vite/manifest.json").read_text())
+    return _manifest_cache
+
+
+def _shared_css_urls(vite_url: str | None) -> list[str]:
+    """URLs for the base and theme stylesheets.
+
+    In dev the JS entries import these files, so Vite injects them; the
+    backend does not link them, avoiding the HMR-wrapped module output.
+    """
+    if vite_url:
+        return []
+    manifest = _manifest()
+    return [f"/{manifest[key]['file']}" for key in _SHARED_CSS]
+
+
+def _editor_css_url(vite_url: str | None) -> str | None:
+    """URL for the editor-specific stylesheet (Vue component styles).
+
+    This is linked by the public-page edit pen so the editor styles are
+    loaded before the editor JS dynamic-import resolves.
+    """
+    if vite_url:
+        return None
+    manifest = _manifest()
+    entry = manifest["src/main.js"]
+    shared_files = {manifest[key]["file"] for key in _SHARED_CSS}
+    for css in entry.get("css", []):
+        if css not in shared_files:
+            return f"/{css}"
+    return None
+
+
+def _editor_page_css_urls(vite_url: str | None) -> list[str]:
+    """All CSS URLs for the standalone admin editor page."""
+    if vite_url:
+        return []
+    shared = _shared_css_urls(None)
+    editor_css = _editor_css_url(None)
+    return [*shared, editor_css] if editor_css else shared
+
 
 def _layout(urls: list[str], modules: list[str] = ()) -> Template:
-    """Page layout template with standard asset URLs and ES-module scripts."""
-    doc = Document(E.Title, lang="en", _urls=urls)
+    """Page layout template with standard asset URLs and ES-module scripts.
+
+    Stylesheets use ``blocking="render"`` so the browser waits for them before
+    showing the page, avoiding a flash of unstyled content.
+    """
+    doc = Document(E.Title, lang="en")
+    for url in urls:
+        doc.link(rel="stylesheet", href=url, blocking="render")
     for src in modules:
-        doc.script(src=src, type="module", defer=True)
+        doc.script(src=src, type="module")
     return Template(
         doc
         .header(
@@ -45,7 +106,7 @@ def _layout(urls: list[str], modules: list[str] = ()) -> Template:
             E.main(E.Main, id="main"),
             id="content",
         )
-        .footer(None),  # kept empty for now; zero-height (see style.css)
+        .footer(None),  # kept empty for now; zero-height (see pagerite.css)
     )
 
 
@@ -169,13 +230,13 @@ def _edit_attrs(path: str, mode: str = "page") -> dict:
     (the pen on the banner) edits the banner and site structure. They are
     buttons, not links: editing is an action, not a navigation.
     """
-    scripts, styles = _editor_assets()
+    scripts, _styles, editor_css = _editor_assets()
     return {
         "type": "button",
         "class": "edit-link" if mode == "page" else "edit-link banner-edit-link",
         "title": "edit",
         "data-editor-src": scripts[-1],
-        "data-editor-css": ",".join(styles),
+        "data-editor-css": editor_css or "",
         "data-editor-mode": mode,
     }
 
@@ -272,40 +333,51 @@ def _page_assets() -> tuple[list[str], list[str]]:
     Dev mode loads the entry from the Vite dev server; production uses
     the Vite build manifest to resolve the hashed asset names.
     """
-    if vite_url := os.environ.get("PAGERITE_VITE_URL"):
-        return (
-            [f"{vite_url}/src/pagerite.js"],
-            [],  # Vite injects the imported CSS in dev
+    vite_url = os.environ.get("PAGERITE_VITE_URL")
+    if vite_url:
+        return [f"{vite_url}/src/pagerite.js"], _shared_css_urls(vite_url)
+    if "page" not in _asset_cache:
+        manifest = _manifest()
+        entry = manifest["src/pagerite.js"]
+        _asset_cache["page"] = (
+            [f"/{entry['file']}"],
+            _shared_css_urls(None),
         )
-    manifest = json.loads((BUILD / ".vite/manifest.json").read_text())
-    entry = manifest["src/pagerite.js"]
-    # Manifest paths already carry the _/assets/ prefix (assetsDir).
-    styles = [f"/{css}" for css in entry.get("css", [])]
-    return [f"/{entry['file']}"], styles
+    return _asset_cache["page"]
 
 
-def _editor_assets() -> tuple[list[str], list[str]]:
-    """Script and CSS URLs for the admin editor (main entry).
+def _editor_assets() -> tuple[list[str], list[str], str | None]:
+    """Script URLs, page CSS URLs, and editor-specific CSS URL.
 
-    Dev mode loads the modules from the Vite dev server; production uses
-    the Vite build manifest to resolve the hashed asset names.
+    The standalone admin page uses all CSS URLs; the public-page edit pen
+    only needs the editor-specific URL because the shared CSS is already
+    linked on the page.
     """
-    if vite_url := os.environ.get("PAGERITE_VITE_URL"):
+    vite_url = os.environ.get("PAGERITE_VITE_URL")
+    if vite_url:
         return (
             [f"{vite_url}/@vite/client", f"{vite_url}/src/main.js"],
-            [],  # Vite injects the imported CSS in dev
+            _shared_css_urls(vite_url),
+            None,
         )
-    manifest = json.loads((BUILD / ".vite/manifest.json").read_text())
-    entry = manifest["src/main.js"]
-    styles = [f"/{css}" for css in entry.get("css", [])]
-    return [f"/{entry['file']}"], styles
+    if "editor" not in _asset_cache:
+        manifest = _manifest()
+        entry = manifest["src/main.js"]
+        _asset_cache["editor"] = (
+            [f"/{entry['file']}"],
+            _editor_page_css_urls(None),
+            _editor_css_url(None),
+        )
+    return _asset_cache["editor"]
 
 
 def render_editor() -> str:
     """Render the admin editor shell: a mount point for the Vue app."""
-    scripts, styles = _editor_assets()
-    doc = Document(f"Admin – {SITE_NAME}", lang="en", _urls=styles)
+    scripts, styles, _editor_css = _editor_assets()
+    doc = Document(f"Admin – {SITE_NAME}", lang="en")
+    for url in styles:
+        doc.link(rel="stylesheet", href=url, blocking="render")
     for src in scripts:
-        doc.script(src=src, type="module", defer=True)
+        doc.script(src=src, type="module")
     doc.div(None, id="app")
     return str(doc)