Feeling pink… or maybe green. Perhaps navy too.
By Amy Zimmer
When you think of the color purple, you may reflect back to the movie in which Oprah Winfrey played Celie, an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry not only from her father but also her husband. Fast forward to 2018, and the color purple has a more positive and powerful meaning. Ultra Violet is Pantone’s color of the year. It “communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. With its rich deep hues, purple is a color that defines luxury and royalty. While violet is not as intense as purple, its essence is similar. Both contain the strength of red with the stability of blue. In the meaning of colors, purple and violet represent the future, the imagination, and dreams. Given so many national and global disasters, it seems to be a fitting color choice for the year.
With the award season behind us, the power of color has never been so powerful. At the Golden Globes, actresses wore all black as a form of protest against sexual harassment and gender inequity in Hollywood, issues that dominated headlines in 2017 and giving the simple words “Me Too” a #newmeaning. Black commonly evokes senses of mourning, secrets, magic, violence, evil, and elegance making it an obvious choice in the daily lives of so many.
How do you relate to color and the power it possess? We all have a favorite palette we are drawn to in our homes and in our wardrobes. I have recently found myself adding more color into my wardrobe, and if I must have an all black day, I will throw in a punch of color. I always find it interesting to see how others respond. If I have an all black day, no one compliments me or has much to say other than “hi.” When I add a splash of blue or pink, the response is almost as impressive as a standing ovation. When I eliminate the black all together, it is as if I am wearing a billboard that says, “Smile and say something nice to me.” I challenge you to select your colors with intention. If you must live in a black box, at least tie a colorful bow on it.
Red is the color of fire and blood, so it is associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, and determination, as well as passion, desire, and love. Red “is the obvious choice, but pink is more subtle” if you’re heading out on a date or have seduction on the brain. A red-purple works too.
Pink signifies romance, love, and friendship. It denotes feminine qualities and passiveness. It is the perfect color for meeting new people.
Yellow is the color of sunshine. Yellow, orange, or other vibrant warm shades are good if you want to feel happier. It’s associated with joy, happiness, intellect, and energy.
Dark green, navy, charcoal, aubergine, or chocolate brown are all good color options to command power, whether at a work meeting or trying to convince someone to see your side of the story.
Blue and blue-greensare smart for fighting stress. White, an inherently positive color, is associated with purity and innocence making it a wonderful neutral.
