Why Color Is So Important In Fashion
Color is the first thing other people notice about us, and its impact is immediate and long-lasting. Our fashion color choices say a lot about the image we are trying to portray and how we feel about ourselves. So what does color tell people?
Within seconds of meeting you, others will respond to the 'color messages' flashed by your clothes. It is a fact that different colors can make people feel a certain way. It has even been determined by medical science that color can influence the viewer's hormones, blood pressure and body temperature. Color also has an impact on:
- Your apparent shape;
- Your apparent weight;
- Your apparent personality;
- Your emotions;
- Others emotions.
Other important considerations are how appropriate the color is for the location, occasion, time of year, your age and of course, your natural coloring.
We are all influenced by color every day, whether we realize it or not. If we're having a bad day and not feeling good about ourselves, we tend to automatically choose clothes in dull neutral colors like black, gray or brown because they match how we're feeling. Just as when we're happy and feeling great we will go for something a bit brighter.
Have a look in your wardrobe and see how many different colors you own. Do you have a veritable rainbow of outfits? Or are there just 1 or 2 colors that you wear a variation of all the time? You may find you are stuck in a color rut. Knowing this, why not experiment with the colors you wear and surround yourself with.
The first rule is to always be guided by what suits your natural coloring – that is your skin tone, eye color and hair color. Once you know your best range of colors, you can choose different colors for different occasions.
Sometimes a certain combination of colors will create the affect, rather than each color individually. Colors produce different reactions when put together in different color combinations and when used in different fabrics. For example, a red jacket worn with a white shirt to a business meeting exhibits confidence and power, but a red jacket worn with a lacy red top may be interpreted as you having other things on your mind besides this business meeting.
So which colors are appropriate for what situations? Which colors can help you portray a certain image?
Here is a list of colors for woman that are ideal for a whole range of occasions:
- Blue-based red s: Suggests intelligence and femininity.
- Yellow-based reds : Energetic color that keeps conversations going (Men are inherently attracted to yellow-based reds – a great color for a first date)
- Purple : Stirs the senses and generates passion – great for creative endeavors
- Turquoise : puts other women at ease, encourages them to open up
- Lipstick red : implies strength and authority
- Medium blues : a calming color that allows interactions to go smoothly
- Browns : non-threatening, stable, supportive and reliable (great for meetings with colleagues or clients)
Remember, the most important thing is to choose colors that are a good fit for your natural coloring. There is no point choosing a color that suggests creativity and confidence if it also makes you look washed out or sick.
Wearing your best range of colors can have a huge impact on your wardrobe and your confidence. The right colors can make your skin tone appear more even, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and dark circles and make you look brighter and healthier. While on the other hand wearing a color which isn't so good for you, can make you look tired, dull and even ill. A color analysis with a professional image consultant will show you exactly which range of colors are best for your clothing, makeup and accessories.
Once you know your best color range, you can experiment with color, choosing different colors to portray a different image or to have a certain impact on others.
Our fashion color choices tell the world a lot about us. Knowing how to use color to your advantage can change the way you dress and boost your self-confidence.