Why it’s time to dress on the bright side
More than three quarters of us pack our wardrobes with safe neutral shades – but wearing rainbow colours can have a dramatic impact on how you feel, says fashion psychologist
What’s your favourite colour? It’s a classic get-to-know-you question we’ve been asking since our days in the playground.
But when it comes to our wardrobes, research shows we’re much more likely to play it safe with neutral shades than wear the rainbow.
A study from Stitch Fix UK found 79 per cent of people wear primarily neutral colours such as black, grey and beige. What’s more, only 20 per cent want to put on brighter colours and be braver with their fashion choices.
But colour can have a profound effect on how we feel – and also impact the way other people perceive us and behave towards us.
When you wear red, orange or yellow, your sympathetic fight-or-flight nervous system becomes activated, boosting awareness and enlivening you.
As a result, you feel more sociable, extroverted and energetic. On the other hand, short-wavelength colours such as blue and green have the opposite effect, activating the parasympathetic system and telling you to relax.
People gravitate to muted colours because they’re less individualising – they don’t rock the boat and are generally considered easier to style.
However, wearing a more expansive colour palette can allow you to embody the various positive traits that each colour brings. Here’s our guide to how rainbow colours will make you feel – and when to wear them.
Red
WHEN it comes to clothing, red is considered the colour of champions. Its physiological effects make you better, faster and stronger.
A study of the 2004 Olympics found athletes wearing red won more events than those wearing blue.
Psychologists suggest this effect is down to one of two things: red giving people more confidence, or red striking fear into the hearts of opponents. That last part makes sense considering the fact red makes people look more dominant and aggressive. Colour psychology research also paints red as the colour of sexual power.
Not only does red clothing appear to enhance desirability, it’s also the winning lipstick shade if you want to meet someone at a bar. Best tImes to Wear red:
When exercising
When you need to be assertive
When on a hot date
ORange
ORANGE makes us feel energetic and animated.
It’s generally considered to be a bright, happy and uplifting colour, but it’s one you won’t often see when
walking down the street. Given its substantial stimulating effect on the sympathetic nervous system, a head-to-toe orange look is inadvisable as it can quickly become overwhelming.
A 2018 study found repeated exposure to the colour orange can make it harder for people to engage in tasks requiring concentration.
So orange isn’t for serious business, it’s strictly for fun.
People associate it with playfulness and vibrancy, and they consider it a welcoming and friendly colour.
Best times to wear orange:
When you want to get in touch with your inner child
When you want to stand out from the crowd
When you want to boost your mood Yellow
PEOPLE consider yellow a happy colour, associating it with cheerful objects like sunshine and sunflowers. As a result, it evokes feelings of optimism and joy.
When you’re feeling shy or have to go to an event and meet new people, it can be easier to wear a conversation-starter rather than trying to start one yourself. If that’s what you’re aiming for, then try wearing yellow.
Yellow grabs the attention and encourages feelings of extroversion and friendliness, helping you to step out of your comfort zone.
Despite these positive associations, yellow is still a Marmite colour when it comes to clothing. When wearing yellow, you have to own it – or the colour will own you. Best times to wear yellow:
when you want to make a memorable first impression
when you want to get noticed
whenever you want to encourage a positive vibe
Green
AS GrEEn sits right in the middle of the colour spectrum, it’s often associated with balance.
Depending on what type of person you are, green can be the colour of relaxation or motivation. For instance, people with a high need for achievement are often more attracted to green.
Even if you’ve been stuck inside all day, staring at a screen, wearing green can remind you of the outdoors.
So it can help you to relieve stress, think positively and inspire creativity.
Green also has an “optimism bias”, so when you wear it people are more likely to see you in a favourable light, because the colour allows you to exude
positivity. Best times to wear green:
when you are feeling boxed in
when you have a tight deadline
when you need to be creative
Blue
BLUE is commonly associated with the sea and sky.
On beach holidays, the mere sight of a clear sky and sprawling ocean is enough to quiet the mind.
That’s why blue is a great colour for relaxation. While blue is linked to positive beliefs, like communication, trust and security, it’s also associated with sadness.
Blue’s ability to place us in a state of deep concentration can also make us overthink and subsequently “feel blue”.
On the other hand, wearing blue can make you more efficient.
It’s been proven to reduce the number of errors people make by up to 20 per cent because it positively supports cognitive performance.
Blue’s ability to sharpen your focus may explain why managers hiring staff consider it to be the best colour to wear to an interview. Best times to wear Blue:
when you need to solve problems
when you need to self-soothe
when you have a job interview
PurPle
PUrPLE dramatically impacts our parasympathetic nervous system and has a more calming effect than blue or green. Shades such as lavender have become synonymous with relaxation because purple lowers our blood pressure and heart rate and has a sedating effect on the body.
Purple’s ability to put us into an optimum state of relaxation makes it the perfect colour to wear when meditating, practising mindfulness or connecting with your spirituality.
As such, it’s associated with the supernatural and mystery, and also with feelings of comfort, security and peace.
In the past, purple was reserved for the aristocracy due to the rarity and cost of purple dye. While purple dye has since become much more affordable, it’s still considered a stately and dignified colour. Best times to wear purple:
when you want to connect to your spirituality
when you feel you need to alleviate feelings of insecurity
when you want to feel luxurious
● Extracted by Mernie Gilmore from Big Dress Energy: How Fashion Psychology Can Transform Your Wardrobe and Your Confidence by Shakaila Forbes-Bell (Piatkus, £16.99)