Psychology of clothing: what color decides?

The colors we choose for our clothes can affect us more than we may think. Colors have a big impact on our everyday lives; they can make us feel better or change how other people see us. Comprehending the psychology of color in apparel can assist us in making more deliberate decisions that align with our goals and personality.

Colors are more than just design elements; they have subtle effects on our feelings and actions. Wearing blue, for example, may help you stay focused and serene, while wearing red may make you feel more energised. We can gain a deeper understanding of how different hues affect our interactions and self-expression by studying the psychology of color.

We’ll look at how color affects your emotions, self-esteem, and the impressions you give in this article. Whether you’re dressing for a formal event or simply choosing an outfit for the day, understanding the effects of different colors can help you make the most of their power to accomplish your objectives.

Black: "black hole"

What associations do you have with this color? The color of the earth, the color of the night, "black hole". It is also the color of mourning (that is, open grief), borders (this is the color used to designate the contours of the drawing). It is also associated with the unknown and fear, anxiety. This is the most contrasting shade. It is convenient to use for drawing contours. This makes it literally a symbol of boundaries for a modern person. Therefore, someone who wants to “draw a line”, fence themselves off from the world and be a “person in a case”, often chooses the black color of their “case”.
Black absorbs light and heat, does not reflect, but absorbs light (and color) waves.

The use of this color in art therapy can allude to a deterioration in vitality, emotional stability, or strength. When someone is in the "black mode," they are probably not trying to give, but rather are taking in heat and energy from the environment and building it up.

In addition, the enduring perception of a "little black dress" is linked to sexuality and the notion of flawless style. This outfit’s attractiveness can be explained in terms of how people perceive color. The color black evokes imagination because it is connected to boundaries, closure, mystery, and occasionally danger (darkness, night, unknown). However, as the name makes obvious, this black "case" is "small," meaning it leaves enough of the body’s surface exposed (arms, legs). It is very appealing to contrast openness and closure, secrecy and frankness.

Green: "green light"

Permission is frequently connected to this color. We have been familiar with the counting rhyme since we were young: "Red, stop! Yellow: Hold on! Go, green! ". For the majority of us, "green, so you can" is encoded in our "subcortex." All of the traffic lights on the city’s (and surrounding cities’) highways serve as daily confirmation of this conviction. This is the color for direction signs, medical signs, emergency exit signs, and safety signs (crossings).

Grass, leaves, vegetation, and "greenery" are the second consistent associations with green. The color green is consistently linked to the emergence, growth, and development of life as well as the appropriation of territory through territorial development.

"A person in the "green period" can endeavor to establish a new territory (a new profession, a different position in the family, or a higher step in the career), just as grass covers the ground and leaves cover the trees.

Diverse tones of green lead to unclear connections. For instance, combining gray or light brown with green yields the color "khaki," which is also referred to as "protective." It is obvious from the names—"protective" and "khaki"—that someone who favors these colors feels the need for camouflage, defense, or protection. He wants to "merge with the landscape," not draw attention to himself. Brighter tones of the same hue frequently evoke negative connotations; for instance, "swamp mud," "green melancholy," or just "swamp."

It happens that a person chooses a subjectively unpleasant shade for his clothes. For example, during one of the art therapy sessions, clients a., when I asked to show unpleasant colors, she confidently chose khaki. She explained that for her it is associated with a "swamp" and "stagnation". At the same time, A. was wearing trousers of a rich "bottle" color that exactly matched this shade. I suggested that she depict the image that arose on paper and comment on the drawing. It turned out that the "swamp" in her mind is a nutrient medium from which flowers grow.
At present, A. is mastering a new profession that is interesting to her. She easily recognized the symbol of the "swamp" as her current job, which feeds the girl, but does not arouse much interest. A. understood: at the moment, the "swamp" color symbolizes support and stability for her, the possibility of professional development in a new field. That is why the visually not entirely pleasant A. color was allowed into her wardrobe.

Blue: "blue sea"

The color blue is thought to be the most "calm," stable, and equilibrium-returning hue. Since it is the color of the sea and the sky, stability, serenity, and in-depth contemplation are likely associated with it.

When a person needs to calm down and distance themselves from vivid feelings and experiences, they might feel more of a need for this color.

Additionally, blue is frequently linked to intelligence. It is no accident that this shade is linked to the pseudoscientific term "indigo children," which describes exceptionally gifted children with higher intellectual (and other) abilities. Road information signs that read "parking," "pedestrian crossing," "descent," and "stop" are typically blue in color. However, blue is also a chilly color that connotes emotionlessness, coldness, and detachment.

Blue is also the color of water, and therefore it is a symbol not only of the seas, rivers, oceans, rain, but also of tears, which means it is the color of sadness and sorrow. During one of the art therapy sessions, a young woman r. persistently drew transparent vessels filled with blue – decanters, glasses, jugs, explaining that it was water. When I asked her to draw this water, she completely painted the sheet blue, and drew a small figure in the center – herself. After looking at her drawing, R. cried. She recognized her melancholy in the blue "fog", which completely "overwhelmed" her. At this time, R. was going through a breakup with her loved one, but outwardly remained absolutely calm and balanced. The blue color, which she preferred in clothes, became for her a way to maintain balance in an emotionally difficult situation, while simultaneously being an expression of sadness and longing for her loved one.

Red: "fire flower"

Red is one of the most noticeable colors of the spectrum. It is the color of warmth, fire, love, life, energy. In Orthodoxy, red is considered a symbol of the Resurrection – the victory of life over death. But at the same time, the Orthodox culture, which is part of the cultural context around us, recognizes the duality of this color, also considering it the color of blood and suffering, the color of Christ"s sacrifice. The color of fire and blood evokes associations with powerful elements, it is the color of directed energy, at the same time – a symbol of love, sex and aggression.
A bright red dress is an unambiguous sexual challenge (or appeal) addressed to a partner (real or potential).
In addition, this color symbolizes confidence and intention to act. If a person has a need to demonstrate his power, strength, he will give preference to this color.
In addition, this is a warning color. In nature, animals and insects that have a bright red color seem to say – “don’t come near, it’s dangerous!”. In our, “human”, warning or prohibitory road signs, red is also mostly used (it is most noticeable and visible from a long distance).

A person who consistently wears or accessorizes in this vibrant color is probably driven to make significant changes in their life. Although "people in red" can occasionally reach their destination quickly, they always genuinely alert other travelers or random bystanders to this by wearing red.

Yellow: "warm sun"

With yellow, everything seems simple – it is the color of warmth, sun, joy, chickens and summer. It evokes a feeling of carelessness and optimism, it is a kind of quintessence of life. But at the other pole of this color are not the most pleasant associations: lies, betrayal and madness. "Yellow house", "yellow newspaper", "alarming" yellow flowers in Margarita Bulgakov, sickly yellow skin color and so on.
Why is it so? Yellow is one of the brightest colors. It is associated with life and change, and therefore, is deeply dual in nature. Big changes imply "shaking up" values, giving up old habits, coming out of the shell. People who prefer yellow seem to say that they are ready for drastic changes. And such readiness sometimes causes not only support, but also condemnation of others, and even internal conflict.

Interesting fact: yellow is rarely used by itself in design because it is so vivid. Black and yellow can occasionally work together as the most limiting and contrasting colors.

One of the most striking warning color combinations in nature is yellow and black, which is seen in bees, wasps, bumblebees, and snakes. In the "human" world, this color combination is used for signs that indicate increased danger and a threat to life, such as "biological danger," "threat of radiation," and t. d. A cause for reflection for individuals who dress in these hues.

Blue: "the color of the sky"

Blue is one of the "lightest" and purest shades. It is a mixture of two colors: white and blue, but in its pure form it is present in the spectrum. It is the color of the sky, pure spring water, a light breeze. It is associated with something light, airy, almost weightless.
Blue has an important meaning in Orthodox culture. It symbolizes the infinity of the sky and in icon painting is considered the color of the Mother of God, who combined the earthly and the heavenly.
In Russian, there are many expressions associated with this shade: “blue dream”, “plate with a blue border”. Blue is a metaphor for hope, faith in the good, it is the color of a fairy tale and the fulfillment of desires. It calms, evokes a feeling of security. “Blue thief” is a charming type who is difficult to be angry with, “blue helicopter” will definitely bring a wizard.

People who are experiencing latent irritation frequently choose this color because it calms them down and lowers their aggression level; for them, it’s important to "lower the temperature" and relax.

The association of blue with the "ideal" is its opposite pole. Sometimes you have to work hard to live up to your dreams. For this reason, blue can occasionally be associated with snobs and perfectionists. Recall Malvina, the "blue-blooded girl with blue hair" who represented "high" aristocratic origin.

Knowing the psychology of color and attire can help us better understand how we express ourselves and manage our emotions. Colors have symbolic meanings and elicit reactions that impact our emotions and senses. We can improve our ability to express ourselves and even influence how other people see us by selecting colors that are in line with our intentions and feelings.

Wearing vibrant colors like red or yellow can energize and uplift our spirits, while soothing hues like blue or green may help us feel centered and calm. Making better wardrobe decisions and matching our clothes to our emotional needs and aspirations can be facilitated by being aware of the psychological effects of various colors.

In the end, color is more than just an ornamental aspect of apparel; it’s a potent force that can influence our relationships and experiences. We can use color to improve our mood and send the right message to the world if we pay attention to the colors we choose.

We can influence our emotions, mood, and how we are perceived by others by the colors we wear. While blues and greens can evoke a sense of calm and trust, bright hues like yellow and red frequently evoke energy and confidence. By knowing the psychology of color, we can intentionally choose our clothes to reflect our desired feelings and appearance. It’s a straightforward but effective tool that has the ability to affect our social and personal lives.

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