This article appeared in
Southern Vanity, June/July 2005
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The Pigment Principles,
Part Two
Now that summer is upon us, the sun is directly overhead
and the bright colors we wear in this season look their best
because the sunlight is shining directly overhead. Bright
colors look natural during this time of the year. That’s
why fuchsia, spring green and bright yellow look at out of
place in the winter; the sun is lower in the sky, nature does
not have flowers blooming in the landscape, and those bright
colors almost look muddied ... back to the summer,
where we are!
There are an abundance of shades of green to choose from;
lime green, soft apple green, deep forest, olive, and list
the goes on. Bright lime green looks best on young people
with clear complexions. The brightness of lime reflects light
and draws attention to our skin so that if you have blemishes,
strong lines, etc., on your face, they will be more evident
when you wear brights. Apple green is popular right now because
so many people look soft, confident and calm when they wear
it. Olive and deep forests greens add to a person’s
aura of stability and dependability.In business or when you
entertain, wearing green is great for introducing a new,
invigorating idea, plan or product. Greens can be tricky
to wear because of the yellow combined with the blue.
Yellow does not work with all skin tones especially
if you have been sick, had a headache or an upset stomach.
When our PH is out of balance from not feeling well, more
bile is released in our system which can make the skin appear
more yellowish. If you wear yellow or a yellow green color
when you are “under the weather”, more people
will notice that you don’t feel well because the yellow
clothing will draw attention to the extra yellow tone of your
skin. Yellow as a color is so bright;
everyone notices the color and you in it. If you want
to make a dramatic entrance, yellow makes it easy to be noticed
right away. We associate yellow with bright, cheerful, sunny
days. If you are working with a project that has lost its
steam, wearing yellow when you try a new approach will make
for a high-energy impact. So, wear yellows when you are healthy
and feeling great because everyone will see you coming!
Orange communicates that you are in the
mood to play. You will notice more people wearing orange in
the warm months when we are particularly active in outdoor
sports. Orange also revs up an audience and people who are
attending all types of games or outdoor activities. If you
wear orange in a conservative office setting, however, people
might respond inappropriately. Wearing orange, you will be
taken more seriously in business if your line of work is “fun
in the sun”, sports or the fashion industry. Orange
is best at the company picnic rather than inside in the boardroom.
Pink emits youth, energy and enthusiasm.
People tend to feel younger when they wear all shades of pink.
The brighter the pink the more attention you draw to yourself.
This is great if you are leading a meeting, or find yourself
the center of attention at a function. The soft shades of
pink help others see you as reassuring. If you are going to
be dealing with a person who is upset or you are the one delivering
bad news, soft pink will keep them calmer and will not provoke
them emotionally. If you have to conduct an exit interview,
wearing pastel pink could keep a volatile situation from escalating
into emotional fireworks. If you have to fire someone, don’t
wear red!!
Purple lets people know you “think
outside the box”, see yourself as unique and don’t
believe you are obligated to follow the mainstream.
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