The best colours to wear to work and why
Did you know that you can wear any colour?
Everyone can wear every colour, it’s just making sure you get the right tint or tone?
As a personal stylist in London who lectures about colour analysis and the impact that colour has on us each day, I can’t stress the importance of wearing colour in the workplace enough. Colour is emotive, so is wearing it, each colour has a different positive effect on our minds, emotions, and bodies. It’s like sorcery - a magic tool you can reach at any time and use confidently to boost you up, calm you down as well as affect others around you. By that, I mean you can inspire your team, help them focus and keep them feeling calm if under pressure.
The reason wearing colour at work is so influential is because colour is light. Light is wavelengths of energy and the way that our eyes see light reacts with us physiologically. The physiological responses are different and vary colour to colour. Our moods vary day to day (more like an hour to hour for me haha) and by understanding how we can keep ourselves level with wearing specific colours, our days are more positive and proactive.
The warmer the colour eg red, the stronger the impact the tint or tone has on you. The cooler the colour eg blue, the more calming and relaxing impact it has. If you are exhausted or need to create a wow look, you want your warmer tones red, orange and yellows. If you want to remain calm, in control and not cause a scene your cool colours like blue, purples and pinks. It also depends on the shade of the colour – a strong pink has a different effect on us compared to a light pink etc. Also, when we wear combinations of colours together, we can have a range of physiological responses. MIND BLOWN right?
Im going to keep it super simple and just focus on each colour and the influence it has on us both emotionally and physically. Ill do a blog on the best colour combinations to wear at work at a later date so you can nail the basics of each colour first.
What does wearing RED at work do?
Red releases adrenaline, adrenaline is the flight or fight response that gives us a hit of energy. Red is the antidote to tiredness. So wear red if you are exhausted and need to get through the day. The energy increase then turns into a boost in confidence. This is so powerful for us in the workplace. We all have days where we need a boost in confidence, so wear red when you are showing the room or zoom whos boss. Wear red to get heard, and show your motivation, passion, and your confidence. Its great for public speaking, interviews and days you need to show the world who you are.
What does wearing orange at work do?
Orange is a secondary colour. It sits between firey red and stimulating yellow. Its not as intense as red or as clarifying as yellow so is the perfect middle ground between the two colours. Orange is the most sociable colour that shows the workplace that you are warm, inviting and approachable. It can also help you to think very quickly in the moment which is so important when in meetings with new clients. It’s also a great colour to wear if your role is very intuitive because it helps you to react and get ready quickly. Its also a great colour to get noticed in, so excellent at networking events.
What does wearing yellow at work mean?
Yellow is the happiest colour of them all – just think about how you feel when you see the sunshine. It is actually the nation’s most feared colour to wear. I think it’s because it’s such a stimulating colour. Yellow activates the left part of our brain where we do the active thinking, so it kick starts our decision making and helps us with clarity and focus. It can also help get us out of creative blocks because of the prompt it gives our brain as well as uplifting our mood. If you need to raise morale it’s the perfect colour to wear. Similarly to red and orange it will also get you noticed and have a big impact on you and those around you.
What does wearing green at work mean?
Gorgeous green helps to reduce levels of cortisol, the stress hormone which is caused in the workplace far too much. It is also a secondary colour so it’s between joyful yellow and calming blue and so green becomes the colour for balance. If you wake up feeling out of sorts it’s the perfect colour to ground you. Also, think of big green woods and fields, they instantly help you to relax and feel reassured again. It’s a brilliant colour for people who suffer from anxiety because of its soothing qualities. It also helps knock out any redness on the skin, particularly on our faces if we blush or flush when we are nervous/excited/angry. I recommend it to clients who do a lot of public speaking and want to stop the look of being flushed.
What does wearing blue at work mean?
Blue is the nation’s favourite colour. It’s because it’s a ‘non-offensive’ colour and by that I mean its not going to cause a stir if you walk into a room of people because everyone likes it but also because it’s a cool colour, the wavelength of it has a totally different effect on everyone. Blue releases oxytocin, the warm, fuzzy, huggy, feel-good feeling of calm. The calmer we and our team feel, the better we communicate. The better we communicate, the better relationships we have and therefore more amounts of trust are going to be built. It’s the ultimate business colour. It keeps you and everyone calm, aids communication and builds trust all whilst being completely effortless to wear.
What does wearing purple at work mean?
The final secondary colour is underrated purple, it’s a real crowd divider! It’s between motivational red and calm blue so it’s a true colour of mediation. I really recommend wearing it if you have to go back and forth between different groups or parties, for example, lawyers. It shows confidence in your ability but also that you are trustworthy. It’s also known to have a spiritual side as well as being very creative so it’s a fantastic all-rounder. It used to be the most expensive colour to make so is also associated with premium brands and of course, royalty.
What does wearing pink at work mean?
Unsurprisingly, pink has two sides to it. It has had a revival and well and truly lost its ‘pinks for girls’ label it had for far too long.
A soft delicate pink is perfect for when you have a lot of listening to do and show that you have a lot of empathy. It helps to show your nurturing and caring side and other will feel safe around you.
A strong pink has very similar qualities to red. She is going to turn heads because of the amount of red found in her and she is all about making progress, showing you are proactive and that you aren’t afraid to act quickly.
What does wearing neutrals at work mean?
Neutrals reflect stability and show you are in control and grounded. Browns are great for renewal and fresh starts, again reflecting nature. Greys are calming and show efficiency but can really lack in personality. Whites are very pure to wear and great for safety, clarity and balance. The best perks for browns, whites and greys is that they are great for breaking up big blocks of colour that might be seen as a bit OTT for the office or for smartening up your workwear quickly.
Top tip; Wear neutrals as a basic – stock up on the best neutrals for your complexion and then brighten up with blazers and accessories. OR go head to toe in your fave neutral to take it to the next level.
What does wearing black at work mean?
Black is kinda my nemesis. It is for so many reasons. People believe it’s slimming, suits everyone and we are taught it’s super fashionable. Surprisingly we actually look much better in colours that harmonise with our natural skin tone and black only suits about 10% of the population in the UK. However, not to diss black too much as it shows prestige, power and defines old school corporate wear. It can however drain all energy and age us beyond belief…
Top tip; If you are a black lover, wear a LBD with a bright print in one of your fave colours to get used to wearing more colour.
How do I know if a colour suits me?
We aren’t taught how to understand when a colour suits you. AKA our friend black. We also aren’t taught how to wear colour and when to choose to wear certain colours. It also affects us when we buy make up – does your lipstick shade suit you? What if when you dye your hair you start panicking if it’s the right tone for you? It’s all very overwhelming right?
One trick to see if the colour works on your skin is to hold a colour underneath your face and ask someone if they look at your face or the colour first. If they look at your face it means you are wearing the colour and it suits you. If they see the colour first, it may mean the colour is wearing you and you should try another hue.
Another way to totally understand your natural skin tone and which specific colours suit you is through working with a qualified stylist and having a colour analysis session. This is when a session is completely tailored to you as an individual and you discuss each colour and the best tints and shades of it for you and your personality. You can find out more about colour analysis in London here.
You could also host a girl’s night in or a girly afternoon and book a colour party with a stylist you like. You get mini tasters of a session and get to spend some quality time with friends whilst also discovering something new about yourself. Plus you can get some bubbles usually too… find out a little more here if you fancy it!
Finally, if you are wondering how to wear colours together, check out my complimentary Ebook here to understand the basics of the colour wheel and how to begin wearing your fave colour combos!
My fave combination right now has to be red and pink – and you now understand the psychological effects the amazing colours have on us!
Go and experiment with the magic world of colour!
Colourful wishes as always,
Sian x