Wear the Right Color
Learn how color can work best for your new civilian work wardrobe.
by Rita P. Gworek
The human eye can detect more than 6 million colors. Did you ever stop to think about those colors and how they affect you and those around you? Did you realize that you could influence others by the colors you choose to wear?
There is a psychology to color. You can use color to evoke a positive response during an interview or you could receive a negative reaction if you do not know how to use it to your advantage.
Companies spend millions of dollars testing colors and how people respond to them. Take McDonald’s restaurants: They use red and yellow, colors that energize us and keep us in motion. After all, it is a fast food place - they want to get you in and out.
There are many books written on color psychology, and you can apply these theories to job interviewing and interacting in the work place. One of the first places to start is your clothing.
There is one thing that you want to keep in mind: fashion designers use color to bring attention to the clothing they are trying to sell. This does not mean that it will look good on you. Designers try to convince us that we must be wearing the latest fashion colors to look updated, however, there are colors that are always correct to wear and do not look out of place. The best use of currently fashionable colors is in your accessories.
Here are some appropriate colors for the business world:
Women who are trying to present a polished, professional, and educated should choose a suit in dark, intense colors rather than pastel. Dark colors convey authority and power. Pastel colors are approachable and soft, but not powerful. These colors include black, navy blue, forest green, deep purple, and burgundy. Navy blue should be the first choice as it conveys trust, honesty, and organization. Black shows confidence and power, and that is why law enforcement and some branches of the military wear black and navy blue. These colors carry power, authority and command.
Forest green, deep purple, and medium blue can make you appear calm, relaxed and friendly.
Of the reds, burgundy conveys sophistication, while someone wearing blue-red is seen as assertive. Orange-red is received as outgoing and lively.
Be careful: medium to light green has never tested well for women.
“There is a psychology to color. You can use color to evoke a positive response during an interview or you could receive a negative reaction if you do not know how to use it to your advantage.” Bright colors convey assertiveness and energy, while neutral colors like tan, beige and taupe make you fade into the woodwork. Mixing colors such as purple and red shows creativity. Pinks and peaches are sweet and youthful, but you might not be taken seriously in a work environment. Yellow reminds people of sunshine and playfulness but it can also over-stimulate others. Orange is vivacious and interesting, but can appear a little outrageous.
Women should choose navy blue or black for a suit when they want to come across with authority. The suit should be teamed up with a white or cream-colored blouse; the shoes and hose should match the suit color. A simple pin and earrings will complete the look. Men will convey command and authority in a navy blue or midnight blue suit. A pinstriped suit is more business-oriented than a solid color, while a heavy chalk-striped suit shows a lot of attitude. If you choose this suit, make sure you understand how people will feel about you that day.
Olives, browns, hunter green and burgundy-colored suits put a man in a fashionable and social setting. Meanwhile, suits with subtle designs of windowpanes, glen plaids, bird’s eye and small checks appear more creative. Charcoal gray is very conservative. The lighter the gray or blue the more social a man appears. If men wear black suits they may possibly be perceived as trying to intimidate someone or be more formal.
The dress shirt should be white, off-white, or cream-colored and the tie should complement the suit and shirt, and be conservative in color. (This means the tie will have one or more of the colors of burgundy, gray, blue, and or green in it.) The color of the socks should match the suit or the shoes, and the shoes should be black or burgundy, or ox blood or cordovan color. The colors you wear will influence those around you. Make it a positive experience! You have control - use colors to your advantage.