July 2003 Newsletter

Creative Colour

“The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorise.” These words come from the movie Steel Magnolias. With the exception of the chameleon and some marine creatures we are the only creatures who commonly alter our appearance for the situation we are in or expecting to enter. There are many ways we can manipulate a situation and our choice of colour in clothing is one of them. Wearing colours can distinguish your mood, set the scene for an event and even elicit memories. Every time I see a certain combination of stripes it will take me back to my school uniform and those years I spent in that uniform. Knowing what you are planning to do with your day can have an impact on the colours you will wear.

Last month I covered the basics in Black, white, Grey, Blue and Red. This month I am going to explore the colours which are more commonly used as accents and to create some contrast in your wardrobe. Remember the lighter a colour is it will become softer and have less impact. The more depth of colour the more formal it is and the brighter a colour is the higher the contrast with you and the other colours you are wearing. Bright colours are great for standing out from the crowd, for being seen and getting heard. They are not for the faint hearted or the shrinking violet.

Brown

Brown is a great conversation starter. It has you appearing welcoming and interested in all you are about to hear. It is a great colour to wear after days of intense action and heady drama as it will bring you back to earth. No pun intended. It gives you an air of compassion. On the down side you can appear safe, boring and unsophisticated. It is a great colour to inspire people to open up to you. So wear it when you want to hear the other person’s point of view. It has become an almost staple colour for women especially in fashion. It is still not a great colour for men. The only men who can wear it well are the younger men who give it a very stylish modern air. On older gentlemen it just does work as well. It can give you a very dowdy, out of touch look. Think men’s suits in the depression.

Violet

Violet, mauve and purple are all from the same family yet give very different results when worn. Purple is strong and imperial. Being that the colour was once reserved for royalty it still has a decidedly rich air to it and looks magnificent in a velvet dress at night. Violet and mauve are softening and an easy contrast with a darker suit. Mid tones of these colours are ideal for television reception. So they are ideal for any on camera work. They are diplomatic colours and project a great deal of confidence and original thinking. If you notice the Queen and her dear departed mother often wore these colours as do many wives of dignitaries. Once again these are not colours to wear when you want to blend into the background.

Pink

Pink is a truly feminine colour and can range from the sweetest of baby pinks which seem to be worn by both men and women ( the men primarily wear pale pink shirts or have the colour in a tie) to a very strong and aggressive hot pink. However when it is worn it does denote a softness to the individual. I am not inferring that men in pink are soft or unmanly but they would not been seen making a harsh corporate take-over in their pastel pink shirt. I have noticed that pink shirts for men are making a big comeback and they play a big part when men are trying to win the appreciation and recognition of women as someone who understands their needs. They are often seen at the races or in a more creative, modern field. Pink gives the wearer a look of softness and accessibility but beware it can convey an image of being pathetic and unimportant. It will soften a harsh suit and looks wonderful in social occasions such as weddings, parties and fashionable events like the Spring Carnival. Ladies, it may help you get a great divorce settlement but will not help you discuss your promotion or any other subject when you want to be taken seriously.

Green

Green has a long association with the earth and earth products so gardening companies, naturalists and wild life workers tend to wear a lot of green. Green is the colour of green peace and the camouflage colour employed by the military for ground battles. It is due to these associations that green is still a relative new comer to the corporate market. It is gaining popularity in its darker shades but the whimsical limes and chartreuses are still only appearing in small quantities. Wearing green can have a calming effect on you after days of hectic racing around. Save it for the days when you want to project a quiet image and not rock the world. Pale mints and light greens can have a calming influence on you and those around you.

Yellow

Yellow is the colour of the sun, it is fun, frivolous and brightens your day. It is great when you are working with children or as a safety colour. It is the best colour I know of to put with black in signs but can be awkward to wear in the corporate sector. Wearing yellow will give you a lift and certainly have you standing out from the crowd but just how far out you will want to be wary of. You may appear too whimsical and individual for the tastes of many employers. As I said the deeper a colour is the more formal it will be and that is true of yellow. The deep yellow is gold and highly visible as an accent colour and accessory. It is most prominent in jewellery and in many cultures is mandatory to be worn and visibly seen. Locally the colour gold has found a strong hold with men as a tie. This has become almost a must have for all men; the dark suit, blue shirt and yellow/gold tie. Just be careful that you are wearing a modern tie, shirt or suit in this instance as that look is starting to date as surely as the black suit, white shirt and red tie are for every day wear. Always remember that yellow will have you standing out from the crowd so don’t wear it when you want to fade into the background.

Orange

Orange is another colour that is not hugely seen in the corporate market. Orange is closely related to red in that it ignites your energy but rather than inciting passions and convictions in your ideas it will give you a more superficial, ditzy appearance. It is a hard colour to wear and autumns are the most suited to successfully wearing orange to work. It is a wonderful colour to be noticed in and great to wear if you need to be visible. Think road workers and anyone who has to wear safety clothing for visibility. Burnt Orange is the most soothing of the oranges and the most commonly acceptable. Once again burnt orange is a deeper colour and it’s depth creates a more formal and acceptable shade to wear. Be wary though, orange can make you do silly, impulsive acts and if you are dieting just forget it.

THE GOOD LIFE – PENINSULA STYLE
I am pleased to say I have a column in this new magazine which will be appearing on the Mornington Peninsula as of this month. To all my clients local to the area look out for it and I really would appreciate some feed back from you on items of interest you would like me to discuss.

To all other readers please share with me ideas for stories of interest which you would like me to include in future newsletters.

MAKE-UP MADE EASY classes are run from my work room or I can bring them to you if you have a large enough group. Call me on 9596 9124 for more information

The September Make-Up Made easy class is filling fast. The first class was a wonderful success and we are already looking at ways to add value to this class by adding extra sessions for the ladies to attend.

Remember don’t keep me a secret and share me with your friends.
These articles may be reprinted with consent from the author

Return to top of page