What do Your Clothing Colors Say About You?
When a woman wants to be noticed her first inclination is to wear something red. When a man wants to convey a message of power, he reaches for his red tie. Why is that so?
The reason is simple: Colors sometime convey certain messages. Whether it’s the color of the clothes you design or the color of a product’s packaging or the color you choose off your Pantone color system to help create a company’s identity, color has the potential to make a definite impact.
Pink is not just for girls
For years men refused to wear pink because the stereotypical opinion was that pink represented femininity. It’s an association that starts literally from birth: blue for boys and pink for girls. Fortunately, that’s no longer the prevailing opinion and today even the manliest men dare to wear pink.
For a long time, black was the color people wore only while mourning the loss of a loved one. Dressed in black from head down to toes, others knew without a doubt that the person in black had suffered a recent loss. Black was also the color of choice for the “bad” guys on screen, making it easy for viewers to know which men to cheer on.
Black is anything but basic
Today however, black is perhaps the most versatile color of all. The “little dress” wouldn’t have nearly the impact if it wasn’t for the color black. And because it’s so forgiving, black hides a multitude of weight problems, too. Black is also the preferred color worn by creative types. Take a look at what you’re wearing right now and chances are some or all of your clothing is black!
Colors such as navy blue and gray relay the message of conservatism. If you don’t believe this, take a look around next time you’re in a financial institution. These traditionally conservative colors exude an image of credibility, trustworthiness, and confidence; all of which are important when you’re letting someone else manage your finances.
The color purple tends to be associated with royalty, wealth and sophistication; lighter-colored blue with casualness and white has traditionally represented purity.
While there’s no doubt clothing color can make a statement, times – and perceptions – are changing. Clothing color is starting to break out of its traditional mold and is becoming more an expression of individualism than tradition. So go ahead, grab your Pantone color system and dare to express your individualism!