Talk about COLOR....
Artists have always appreciated the powerful effect color has on the psyche. Psychologists, too, have tapped into this resource for an effective method to influence moods and behaviors. Ancient cultures, such as the Egyptians and Chinese, have practiced chromotherapy (using color to heal) for thousands of years. And, I know from my own experience, when I wear certain colors it definately effects my mood and attitude, sometimes consciously and other times subconsciously. Winters in Maine can be really long and sometimes take a toll on our emotional outlook. An easy and instantaneous way to combat the winter blues is to infuse your wardrobe with COLOR!
What you wear not only helps you feel a certain way, but also can give a strong impression about you to others - especially people you've never met. So, the next time you're dressing for a job interview, a date or to meet your future mother-in-law remember the subconscious impact color has. Here's a general guide to colors and their meaning.
- RED is all about energy and vitality. It can also indicate anger. And of course it's associated with sexuality as well. Pink, though, can provide a sense of being cared for; it's more about nurturing and maternal love.
- ORANGE is stimulating, good for times when we just can't seem to get started with something. Its lighter version, peach, may combat exhaustion due to stress.
- YELLOW is good for mental activities like reasoning and analysis. It can promote self-confidence and is helpful in situations when you need to be more optimistic.
- GREEN tends to make most people think of nature, since so much of the natural world is green. It's about connections - with nature, or with our fellow humans. It's also good for general stress, since it can help balance emotions.
- BLUE is soothing and relaxing. It can stimulate creativity. Light blue can denote quiet, and dark blue can be sedating. But too much dark blue can be depressing.
- PURPLE is related to imagination, intuition, and insight. In some situations it can also be very peaceful.
- WHITE is definitely about peace. But it's also associated with purity, which makes it good for "cleansing" - which could mean purification, or maybe just clarification.
- BLACK may make some people think of depression, but it doesn't have to. It's a very dramatic color. And, like other dark colors, it can be slimming. Black can denote mystery and sometimes people use it to blend into the background or "hide" from people. In this sense, it can be a very protecting color.
- GRAY is a common color for business suits, and in those instances it can indicate independence, self-control, and self-confidence. But some color specialists think it's also about ambiguity and indecision; after all, it isn't black, and it isn't white, either.
- BROWN is the color of earth, and it can be just as "grounding." It's good for introducing stability to an otherwise insecure situation. But too much of it can take stability to its extreme - stagnation.
Although clothing is the most obvious way of using color to change your mood, you don't have to bathe in color to achieve the effect. A scarf, a shell or even jewelry can accomplish the same result.
