You have an important event. What will you wear? What do you want to say about yourself? Do you do it with colour? If so, what do the colours say?
Red is a very physical, passionate colour, communicating strength, warmth, energy, but also it can be aggressive and violent. It is the longest wavelength, and appears to be nearer than it is, so it grabs our attention. This is why it is useful in traffic lights and alerting people to danger.
Blue is intellectual, serene, calm, logical and cool, yet can appear cold and unfriendly. It is viewed as a colour of the mind, whereas red gives a physical reaction, blue gives us a mental one. Blue objects do not appear as close to us as red ones. In Catholic Christianity, blue is the colour of the Virgin Mary, as one of her names is the Queen of Heaven and the sky is blue. Blue coloured streetlights can lead to a reduction in crime.
Yellow is a colour of friendliness, creativity and optimism. It is a long wavelength and very stimulating. It is one of the strongest colours. It should lift our mood and make us more confident, but it is a delicate balance and can tip over into anxiety and depression.
Kermit the Frog sang the song ‘It’s not that easy being green’, but green is a wonderful colour. It is a colour of balance, harmony, the environment and peace, yet can also be interpreted as bland and boring. It is in the centre of the colour spectrum, which is why it is called the psychology of balance. The human eye can detect more shades of green than any other colour.
Violet / purple is a spiritual colour, communicating vision, truth and contemplation. It is the shortest wavelength, making it even more special. It has associations with time, space and the cosmos. It is associated with royalty, but too much purple can make something seem brash and cheap so be careful.
Black can appear sophisticated and glamorous, for example evening wear of Black Tie or the little black dress. Black can also be oppressive and unsettling, creating barriers. It is all colours, totally absorbed. It is the absence of light as no wavelengths are reflected. Like the owl in the children’s story, many are afraid of the dark. But black means business.
White is a positive ‘colour’, representing purity, hygiene, simplicity. White is a total reflection, reflecting the full force of the spectrum in our eyes. In Western cultures, brides often wear white to symbolise purity. Painting a room white can help rooms appear larger and more spacious, but it can also seem sterile and cold, lacking personality. Think of hospitals. Do you find white calming or boring?
The ancient Egyptians and Chinese used chromotherapy, using colours to heal. Today Colorology is an alternative treatment. Red is used to stimulate the body and mind and to increase circulation, Yellow is thought to stimulate the nerves and purify the body, Orange is used to heal the lungs and to increase energy levels, Blue is believed to soothe illnesses and treat pain and Indigo shades are thought to alleviate skin problems.
Next time you choose colours, think about what you are saying to the world around you.
Mrs Amy Hostler, Teacher of Psychology and Business Studies, Sixth Form Enrichment and Innovation Assistant, BSc (Hons)
