This weekend, I am attending the Annual Boston Caribbean Fashion Week Fashion Show. When I think about this event, I envision it looking like the image I created above, vibrant hues of blue and yellow cascading down the runway with attendees looking like a school of rainbow fish!
There have been so many studies done that analyze the human reaction to various colors. Inevitably, people’s reaction to black is drastically different than their reaction to yellow.
So, how influential is color?
Let me try to answer in a few questions: Can you name the colors in the Olympic rings? What color is UPS’s logo? Hillary Clinton chose to wear a white suit during her Democratic National Convention speech. What image is synonymous with white? Did you say Angels? Nice work! I bet you answered all of the questions pretty quickly.
A world in black and white, well would feel just that, black and white. But a world infused with color evokes so many dimensions of emotions, from happy to hopeless or serene to severe. Color in our wardrobes also often reveals our personalities. Someone who chooses to wear grays and muted tones tend to be more introverted and prefer not to stand out in a crowd. Those in bold colors are often extroverts who like the spotlight.
Before deciding what to wear to your corporate event, job interview, date night or when selecting colors for your corporate logo, website and collateral; first consider how each color is perceived:
Red: Exciting, Passion, Love. Grabs your attention! Be careful, can also be viewed as distracting, and angry.
Orange: Creative, Exotic, Warm. Use to add a pop of color to an outfit or website.
Green: Peaceful, friendly, renewal. Stability and prosperity.
Blue: Confident, cool, trustworthy, calm. The most common color for interviews.
Yellow: Cheery, bright, optimism and fun. Use to add excitement and newness.
Purple: Grandeur, luxury, spiritual, imaginative, royalty.
Brown: Down-to-earth, Comfortable, stable, dependable.
Black: Sophisticated, bold, powerful. Be careful, can also be associated with death.
White: Pure, angelic, simple. A crisp white shirt/blouse shows strength and confidence.
Gray: Professional, elegant. Can also appear bland and disinterested.
Pink/Pastels: Friendly, approachable. Careful when wearing to a meeting, can also be viewed as lacking in authority.
A world without color, is a world without description and depth. When I think of the Caribbean, I don’t see black and white. I see islands of gorgeous aqua oceans, warm, cream colored sand and lush green bushes with bursts of bright pink florals waving hello each time I walk by.
I’d love to hear: How does color influence your world?
Book today: The Psychology of Color: How Color Impacts the Workplace. Call me at 617-877-4680.
