Colour vitamins for this Autumn
In Memory of Queen Elizabeth II
The late Queen was an inspiration in many ways. We all took delight in her cheerful, colourful image. She mastered the art of wearing colours that clearly brought her joy.
A well-dressed person knows which colours suit them, understands their body shape, and builds their personal style according to their lifestyle. Today, anyone can create a refined overall image—it’s not a matter of the size of one’s budget, but of effort and an understanding of the culture of dress.
The modern individual doesn’t shy away from fashion that energises and uplifts them. Clothing has tremendous power; certain colours can have a positive impact on our physical and emotional well-being.
This season, you’ll see a wealth of garments in intense shades: green, vibrant pink, red, purple, and yellow. For some time now, retailers have been offering outfits in a single colour from head to toe. The matchy-matchy or monochrome look is simple, elegant, and has the visual effect of elongating and slimming the figure.
Why do the colours we wear act like “colour vitamins”?
Human well-being depends on light and colour, not only because the eye reacts to them, but because the whole body does. Red, for example, dilates the pupils and makes the heart beat faster. Calming shades (green, blue) lower the pulse; orange benefits digestion, yellow stimulates mental activity, and purple strengthens the heart and lungs.
When do colours have the greatest effect on our body?
Colour vitamins work best when colours are pure and saturated—meaning they are not mixed with other hues.
1. GREEN CLOTHING
When we’re tired or stressed, green soothes us. It calms the nervous system, has sedative and hypnotic effects, lowers blood pressure, and dilates capillaries. It can ease the mind, combat insomnia, and reduce exhaustion.
2. BROWN CLOTHING
Natural tones evoke a sense of authenticity, realism, and self-confidence. Brown stands for calm, harmony, solidity, and simplicity.
3. RED CLOTHING
Red has many positive effects on the body. It is said to help overcome fatigue, depression, fear, and melancholy.
4. PINK CLOTHING
Pink conveys femininity, gentleness, approachability, safety, and empathy.
5. YELLOW CLOTHING
Yellow symbolises joy, hope, and activity, which is why it’s often children’s favourite colour. It can enliven a strict business suit when used in light, non-aggressive shades. As a bright, bold colour it can feel intrusive; when paired with black, it signals danger. Balance it with white or grey.
6. ORANGE CLOTHING
Orange is often worn by positive, cheerful people. It’s perfect for daytime occasions, casual interactions, and teamwork. It’s not ideal for serious business settings where you want to project authority and reliability.
7. BLUE CLOTHING
For a serious, reliable, and authoritative appearance, choose a dark blue suit. This shade suits almost all colour types, though it can feel slightly conservative and is not generally associated with creativity.
8. PURPLE CLOTHING
Purple stands for resourcefulness, intuition, uniqueness, sophistication, and extravagance. It’s an excellent alternative to black for evening wear, especially in rich fabrics like silk or lace. Combined with black, it becomes more dramatic and distant; paired with grey, it works well for daytime.
9. GREY CLOTHING
Grey softens intense, shocking colours like bright yellow, vivid red, and deep purple. Paired with black, these colours can look aggressive, but with grey they appear elegant. Grey became a refined choice with the introduction of fine combed wool (kamgarn) and, in women’s fashion, gained popularity after the 1960s. In business, it remains the safest choice—professional, elegant, and discreet.
10. BLACK CLOTHING
Black symbolises mourning, inaccessibility, and prestige. Combined with light colours, it conveys authority. One of its functions is to draw attention to the face, the centre of individuality, while downplaying the body.
11. WHITE CLOTHING
White represents festivity, elegance, and innocence, which is why it is the traditional colour for bridal gowns. It symbolises perfection, goodness, and positivity. In many professions, it also stands for hygiene and purity. In parts of Asia, white is the colour of mourning. Historically, it has also symbolised surrender or the absence of colour.
The colours perceived by the human eye are created with the help of light. When light falls on a certain object, some colours are reflected while others are absorbed. Our eyes perceive only the reflected light, and if all light is reflected, the object appears white. If all colours are absorbed, the object appears black.
A quick look at key trends for the Autumn/Winter season:
Corsets, black suits, white, soft knits, Chanel-style suits, saturated and intense colours, grey, oversized silhouettes, checks, wide trousers, animal prints, fringes, long skirts, camel, floral prints for winter, jumpsuits, and high boots.
Enjoy your dose of colour vitamins and be bold with your choices.
You are warmly invited to my studio for a colour analysis, where you’ll receive an excellent CMB London colour chart tailored to your colour type.
For details, call me on +386 41 707 045 or email me at lea.pisani@imageconsulting.si.
Wishing you a wonderful autumn.