Image Profiling - How to have Colour Sense

How to have Colour Sense

prism, colour theory, light, wardrobe shrink

‘Man at the dawn of civilisation recognised that sunlight was essential to light. Colour, being a manifestation of light, held divine meaning’ – Faber Birren

Colour is defined as wavelengths of light radiating at different frequencies. But the easiest way to view colour, is to consider it as simply ‘light’. The way you apply ‘light’ on yourself will determine how you are ‘seen’ by others. Some people wish to shine as if they were under a spotlight; others prefer the subtlety of shade.

And it is essential to know that there is no mistake to what you prefer either! Johannes Itten, a lecturer at the Bauhaus School of Art, the famous school pre-war art school in Germany, monitored his art students and discovered that each student always leaned towards using their own familiar colour palette. That colour palette he discovered was a reflection of the student’s individual colouring.

So we are intuitively drawn towards colours that work with our own colouring. However, scientists have proven that we tend to loose this natural sense after the age of ten. We also have to consider the huge choice of style and clothing today and the continuous change of fashion that can divert our attention. It is easy to see why we may get confused and loose track of what is right for us.

And in terms of what is right – there is a formula, a scientific theory that determines our own colouring.

How does it work? And how can you have colour sense?

According to colour theory, all colours are derived from the three primary colours – red, yellow and blue. Taking it one step further, all colours have either a yellow base (warm) or a blue base (cool). Your skintone also is warm or it is cool. This is the basis of colour analysis on the individual.

How do you know whether you have cool or warm skintone?

This is not something that can be determined 100% through a written formula as we all have our unique combination of colours, so a visual consultation is required to understand your own blueprint accurately.

But by comparing colour bases, and understanding basic colour theory, this is the best way to give you a quick sense of what may be right for you.

Step One

Taking the primary colours and the secondary colours – a combination of the primary - orange, green and violet, we have all the colours in the rainbow.

Examples of warm and cool variations

Warm
Cool

Blue
Turquoise
Royal Blue

Yellow
Ochre Lemon

Red
Brick Cherry

Green
Apple Jade

Orange
Amber
Acid Orange

Violet
Violet
Lavender

What base are you drawn to most?

Wear warm colours for warm skintones and cool colours for cool skintones.

Step Two

Adding white (a tint) or black (a shade) or grey (a tone), you are able to create all the colours that exist in the world.

Example:

Blue
with black
with white
with grey
a primary

Navy
Powder Blue
Airforce Blue
Royal Blue

Which depth of tone are you drawn to?

Wear the depth of colour that matches your complexion and to which you are drawn.

Step Three

Colour analysts split colours into different colour palettes to help define a person’s unique colouring.

Some opt for seasonal differentiations:
Winter - Cool and clear - lightest tints, darkest tones, strongest primaries

Summer - Cool and soft - blend of soft tints and tones

Spring - Warm and clear - light tints, strong primaries, few shades

Autumn - Warm and soft - few tints, few primaries, blend of rich shades

Some use tonal differentiation:
Light - tints, Dark - shades

soft - tones, clear - primaries

warm - yellow based, cool - blue based

When you look in the mirror, which of the above terms best describes your complexion?

Keep the colours that you wear to one palette. They not only will all flatter you, but they will also harmonise with each other, optimising on how they reflect.

Step Four

All colours have a psychological affect on the wearer and a psychological affect on the onlooker. Colour is commonly used in the medical and business world to evoke a physical and psychological reaction. Physically colour is often used to heal, such as doctors using coloured lights to heal newly born babies of jaundice. Psychologically colour is used to create a sense of trust, reassurance, energy and calm.

Psychological meanings of primary and secondary colours:
Red - Extroversion, strength, stimulates physical; can be overbearing if too strong

Blue - Introversion, stimulates intellect, concentration; reflection, calm, soothing Very dark conveys high authority - as in a uniform)

Yellow - Extroversion, stimulates emotion; creativity, optimism

Orange - Energy, lively; derived from yellow and red

Green - Balance, peace, nature; combination of two main primary colours of opposite polarities

Violet - Spirituality, meditation, the whole; combination of all primary colours red, yellow and blue

White - Clinical, innocence, purity

Black - Intensity, experience; can be depressive and overbearing

Grey - Simplicity, subdued, subtle

Choose the colours that you wear to reflect your character, your mood and to impact how you feel and people you come into contact with.

Step Five

Combine your colours correctly. Imagine an artist painting in the same colour palette – e.g. cool shades, then adding a warm light line across his painting. If he wanted to draw all the attention from the rest of the painting to that line, then this would be a great way to do it.

Likewise if you wish to detract all attention away from you, then the best way is to wear a complete opposing palette to your own natural skin tone. Wearing colours that don’t match with you can make you look cold, older, tired, sallow, puffy, green and also completely out of context.

Inappropriate colour combinations can distort the finished look and invade the other colours in the palette, draining them of their true hue or making them look older etc. This is one of the most important rules associated with colour theory. It is not about simply knowing what best suits your colour tone, but implementing it effectively and using colour from your own palette across your whole outfit.

Lay your clothes out before putting them on to ensure they work well together.

Wearing light/colour is a necessary part of any outfit. Taking a black t-shirt and changing it to blue, green or red of your colour base, you will not only physically look better, but you will also feel differently.

Walk yourself through the steps and start to consider what your own colour palette may be and bring it to life.

Discover your individual Colour Palette. The Mini Profiling Consultation and The Image Profiling Consultation both offer Colour Analysis

Learn more from The Wardrobe Shrink E-book coming soon. A Program designed to help you develop your true personal image.

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©2004 Sarah Whittaker [www.TheWardrobeShrink.com].
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Sarah Whittaker has been featured in numerous newspapers and magazines worldwide, and writes The Wardrobe Shrink Newsletter full of the latest fashion trends, celebrity style and honest image advice.

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