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| A favored gray "uniform" for home role (Monochrome Color Scheme) |
I planned the next post I would write would be on the design element, "line". However, I realized as soon as I saw the blog in print there was just too much left unsaid about "color" before we could realistically move on. I could elaborate on other ways color can be used to draw the eye in the direction we want, or to camouflage areas we wish to be overlooked, etc., but the subject that I neglected and needs attention is in the psychological arena.
My first realization of the importance of first impressions and their effect on employment was when my aunt (a stewardess with Pan American Airlines) gave me a booklet written by someone in their employment division about the importance of the first interview and how significant the first impression would be. (I believe this book was the seed planted to sprout my lifelong interest in industrial and organizational psychology.) The color of the uniforms was well thought out by all of the airlines. Deep blue, after all, suggests expertise, competence, and trust
All of this history ingrained in me the importance of a person's appearance in interfacing with the outside world. These early examples ripened me for pursuit of a degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology with an emphasis on Gerontology when I was required to return to college to keep my position at Lockheed. (I focused on Gerontology because I knew that more and more older women would be entering or remaining in the work world.)
Appearance counts; not just in getting a job, it matters every day and with every person you interface with during the day. Color is one of the most important tools you have in setting an intended "first impression". All colors provoke unconscious insights into your personality and project and image of who you really are. Color sets a mood, a powerful tool of expression. You can intentionally create a desired impression simply by choosing the right color to promote an emotional response. After all, because you will initiate some response by the color you are wearing, you might as well make it the one you want! Remember Reese Witherspoon in "Legally Blonde"?)
There are several color stylists that will assist a woman in choosing her appropriate "colors"; most of these are based on complexion, hair color, eyes, or some combination. If a mature woman wishes to use color to her greatest advantage, she should consider wearing specific colors in her palette to send subliminal messages when in specific roles. I have included in this post broad generalizations of the messages each color usually projects:
Red-An energizing color; usually associated with excitement. It is also a very powerful color to wear in certain business circumstances. It should also be well thought out; it can react negatively because of its sexual reference.
Orange-An "in your face" color that says notice "me". Worn, it attracts immediate attention, even more than red.
Pink-Soft, feminine, romantic. Use accordingly
Purple-So rare in nature that for centuries it could only be worn by royalty. Few people do not look good in some shade of this color, yet it is not commonly worn by many. This makes it an ideal color for one who wishes to look sophisticated, elegant, and out of the common way.
Blue-The most commonly chosen favorite color. Some shade of blue looks wonderful on everyone. This color inspires trust and honesty in almost everyone.
Yellow-the hardest color to wear. Many skin tones cannot wear it at all. It does inspire happy emotions in most people, but it is difficult for our physical eye to process.
Green-The most common color in nature; it is soothing and pleasant to the eye; suggests good health. Unfortunately, many people cannot wear most shades of green. If you can, find a shade that flatter you and wear it; it promotes pleasant interaction with others.
Black-known for its enduring sophistication; used with pastels, it denotes a pleasing elegance, used with bright colors, usually denotes creativity and drama. Used with white, a most uptown elegance; make sure the combination does not overpower.
Brown-A color of nature; best used when wanting to project a dependable and trustworthy image. It can also be difficult for some people to wear certain shades. It is also one of the best colors to demonstrate creativity because of the infinite variety of combination. (any opposite colors on the color wheel will produce a shade of brown. (except grey, which is a combination of black and white)
White-The color of purity and perfection. It can also suggest coldness and technology. Best used carefully when making an impression.
Grey-The color of concrete, distance, and remoteness. In its darker shades it can also portray dullness. It also portrays dignity, neutrality, stability, intelligence, and wisdom. It's use portrays to me the highest level of potential sophistication, especially when blended with the more silvery tones. It is unequivocally my favorite neutral
Well, this post will conclude my thoughts on why delving into the importance of the colors in our wardrobes is worth two posts. I hope the information was helpful to those of you who have not considered the importance of color in the clothing you are now wearing. For those of you who know even more about it than me, I hope it will serve as a useful reminder.
Happy Styling...........Geneva
My first realization of the importance of first impressions and their effect on employment was when my aunt (a stewardess with Pan American Airlines) gave me a booklet written by someone in their employment division about the importance of the first interview and how significant the first impression would be. (I believe this book was the seed planted to sprout my lifelong interest in industrial and organizational psychology.) The color of the uniforms was well thought out by all of the airlines. Deep blue, after all, suggests expertise, competence, and trust
All of this history ingrained in me the importance of a person's appearance in interfacing with the outside world. These early examples ripened me for pursuit of a degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology with an emphasis on Gerontology when I was required to return to college to keep my position at Lockheed. (I focused on Gerontology because I knew that more and more older women would be entering or remaining in the work world.)
Appearance counts; not just in getting a job, it matters every day and with every person you interface with during the day. Color is one of the most important tools you have in setting an intended "first impression". All colors provoke unconscious insights into your personality and project and image of who you really are. Color sets a mood, a powerful tool of expression. You can intentionally create a desired impression simply by choosing the right color to promote an emotional response. After all, because you will initiate some response by the color you are wearing, you might as well make it the one you want! Remember Reese Witherspoon in "Legally Blonde"?)
There are several color stylists that will assist a woman in choosing her appropriate "colors"; most of these are based on complexion, hair color, eyes, or some combination. If a mature woman wishes to use color to her greatest advantage, she should consider wearing specific colors in her palette to send subliminal messages when in specific roles. I have included in this post broad generalizations of the messages each color usually projects:
Red-An energizing color; usually associated with excitement. It is also a very powerful color to wear in certain business circumstances. It should also be well thought out; it can react negatively because of its sexual reference.
Orange-An "in your face" color that says notice "me". Worn, it attracts immediate attention, even more than red.
Pink-Soft, feminine, romantic. Use accordingly
Purple-So rare in nature that for centuries it could only be worn by royalty. Few people do not look good in some shade of this color, yet it is not commonly worn by many. This makes it an ideal color for one who wishes to look sophisticated, elegant, and out of the common way.
Blue-The most commonly chosen favorite color. Some shade of blue looks wonderful on everyone. This color inspires trust and honesty in almost everyone.
Yellow-the hardest color to wear. Many skin tones cannot wear it at all. It does inspire happy emotions in most people, but it is difficult for our physical eye to process.
Green-The most common color in nature; it is soothing and pleasant to the eye; suggests good health. Unfortunately, many people cannot wear most shades of green. If you can, find a shade that flatter you and wear it; it promotes pleasant interaction with others.
Black-known for its enduring sophistication; used with pastels, it denotes a pleasing elegance, used with bright colors, usually denotes creativity and drama. Used with white, a most uptown elegance; make sure the combination does not overpower.
Brown-A color of nature; best used when wanting to project a dependable and trustworthy image. It can also be difficult for some people to wear certain shades. It is also one of the best colors to demonstrate creativity because of the infinite variety of combination. (any opposite colors on the color wheel will produce a shade of brown. (except grey, which is a combination of black and white)
White-The color of purity and perfection. It can also suggest coldness and technology. Best used carefully when making an impression.
Grey-The color of concrete, distance, and remoteness. In its darker shades it can also portray dullness. It also portrays dignity, neutrality, stability, intelligence, and wisdom. It's use portrays to me the highest level of potential sophistication, especially when blended with the more silvery tones. It is unequivocally my favorite neutral
Well, this post will conclude my thoughts on why delving into the importance of the colors in our wardrobes is worth two posts. I hope the information was helpful to those of you who have not considered the importance of color in the clothing you are now wearing. For those of you who know even more about it than me, I hope it will serve as a useful reminder.
Happy Styling...........Geneva
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