Color plays a very important role in our lives. It not only makes a fashion statement, but it can also possess healing properties. Color can be one of our greatest assets, or strongest liabilities, for sending subliminal messages about ourselves. Wearing the right colors can make us look alive, energetic and exciting while wearing the wrong colors can make us look sickly and ashen.
So much has been written about being a summer, winter, fall or spring that we have lost sight of the fact that all colors exist in all seasons. I hear women say things like "I am a...and I don't look good in..." The truth is that just because one shade of green makes you look bad does not mean that every shade of green will do the same. Since all colors exist in all seasons, just keep looking for the shade that corresponds with your most flattering "season" of color.
While men do not have as many colors to choose from in business attire as women, they do have the same challenges when it comes to business casual and casual attire.
Here is a simple way to find your own good colors. In natural daylight with a clean face (no makeup), place a bright white towel across your shoulders. Pull clothes from your closet and move them along the side of your face, finishing under your chin. Be sure to pay attention to what is happening to the skin tone in your lower jaw and neck area. A good color for you will appear as a pink cast and give your skin a pleasing appearance, somewhat like a healthy glow. A bad color tends to make your skin have a yellow cast, as if you are not feeling well. If you have any clothes that fall into the bad category, replace them with a more flattering color or at least wear them with a scarf or jacket in one of your good colors. You can wear any color on your body as long as the color nearest your face is a good color for you.
In addition to flattering our hair and skin tones, colors can also complement our mood or personality. Wearing specific colors can help us project certain attributes about ourselves. Throughout history various cultures have come to associate different colors with certain characteristics. Using the following information can help you influence the way you will be perceived by most people in our modern, western society.
Red represents force of will, strength, vitality, courage, power, passion and energy. This is truly the color of a well-tailored power suit for women and a tie for men. Choose this color when you want to get attention. This is a take action color.
Green is associated with healing, teaching, balance, health and growth. It can create a sense of freedom, balance, harmony and love. Wear this color when you are in a teaching mode. It will create the impression of coming from the heart.
Purple is associated with intuition, perception, awakening, self-respect and tolerance. Wear this color when you wish to bring about a sense of tranquility.
Blue is associated with communication, patience, tact, devotion, and trust. Wear this color when you want to show that you are trustworthy and dependable. Navy is a great color for job interviews.
Yellow is associated with mental power, luminosity and joy. It can create determination. Wear this color when you want to absorb or learn new things. Earth tones can fall into this category as well. This is also a take action color.
Orange represents creativity, optimism, sociability and artistic qualities. Wear this color when you are feeling creative or to generate optimism.
White is associated with protection, truth, honesty, illumination and a sense of being highly motivated. Wear this color when you wish to motivate or send a message of being honest.
Black is a power color and should be worn if you wish to present yourself as the authority in a situation. It is an authoritative, career color. If you want audience participation or interaction, you should avoid outfits that are all black. It is easy to build a wardrobe around black because it goes with everything and can easily be brightened up with other colors. It is also a great color for traveling since it does not show dirt.
Eclectic colors such as parrot green, cobalt blue, raspberry, bright yellow, etc. should be worn when you want electricity flowing in your life -when you want to be electric or "on".
Try to use some of these color concepts around your home or workplace as well as in your wardrobe. Remember that you can use colors as accents to help create the environment which you are trying to achieve for yourself in any given moment. Colors have a special power to influence us on many levels. Chosen carefully they not only help us look our best but help enhance our individual traits or create a mood that is conducive to learning, socializing or brainstorming. With a little practice, you can knowingly choose to create your life "in living color".
Debbie Darling, ©2013 The Presentation Pros
So much has been written about being a summer, winter, fall or spring that we have lost sight of the fact that all colors exist in all seasons. I hear women say things like "I am a...and I don't look good in..." The truth is that just because one shade of green makes you look bad does not mean that every shade of green will do the same. Since all colors exist in all seasons, just keep looking for the shade that corresponds with your most flattering "season" of color.
While men do not have as many colors to choose from in business attire as women, they do have the same challenges when it comes to business casual and casual attire.
Here is a simple way to find your own good colors. In natural daylight with a clean face (no makeup), place a bright white towel across your shoulders. Pull clothes from your closet and move them along the side of your face, finishing under your chin. Be sure to pay attention to what is happening to the skin tone in your lower jaw and neck area. A good color for you will appear as a pink cast and give your skin a pleasing appearance, somewhat like a healthy glow. A bad color tends to make your skin have a yellow cast, as if you are not feeling well. If you have any clothes that fall into the bad category, replace them with a more flattering color or at least wear them with a scarf or jacket in one of your good colors. You can wear any color on your body as long as the color nearest your face is a good color for you.
In addition to flattering our hair and skin tones, colors can also complement our mood or personality. Wearing specific colors can help us project certain attributes about ourselves. Throughout history various cultures have come to associate different colors with certain characteristics. Using the following information can help you influence the way you will be perceived by most people in our modern, western society.
Red represents force of will, strength, vitality, courage, power, passion and energy. This is truly the color of a well-tailored power suit for women and a tie for men. Choose this color when you want to get attention. This is a take action color.
Green is associated with healing, teaching, balance, health and growth. It can create a sense of freedom, balance, harmony and love. Wear this color when you are in a teaching mode. It will create the impression of coming from the heart.
Purple is associated with intuition, perception, awakening, self-respect and tolerance. Wear this color when you wish to bring about a sense of tranquility.
Blue is associated with communication, patience, tact, devotion, and trust. Wear this color when you want to show that you are trustworthy and dependable. Navy is a great color for job interviews.
Yellow is associated with mental power, luminosity and joy. It can create determination. Wear this color when you want to absorb or learn new things. Earth tones can fall into this category as well. This is also a take action color.
Orange represents creativity, optimism, sociability and artistic qualities. Wear this color when you are feeling creative or to generate optimism.
White is associated with protection, truth, honesty, illumination and a sense of being highly motivated. Wear this color when you wish to motivate or send a message of being honest.
Black is a power color and should be worn if you wish to present yourself as the authority in a situation. It is an authoritative, career color. If you want audience participation or interaction, you should avoid outfits that are all black. It is easy to build a wardrobe around black because it goes with everything and can easily be brightened up with other colors. It is also a great color for traveling since it does not show dirt.
Eclectic colors such as parrot green, cobalt blue, raspberry, bright yellow, etc. should be worn when you want electricity flowing in your life -when you want to be electric or "on".
Try to use some of these color concepts around your home or workplace as well as in your wardrobe. Remember that you can use colors as accents to help create the environment which you are trying to achieve for yourself in any given moment. Colors have a special power to influence us on many levels. Chosen carefully they not only help us look our best but help enhance our individual traits or create a mood that is conducive to learning, socializing or brainstorming. With a little practice, you can knowingly choose to create your life "in living color".
Debbie Darling, ©2013 The Presentation Pros
FIND OUT MORE IN MY BOOK "DRESS TO LOOK YOUR BEST."
