Colour has long been a key element in fashion. It reflects a persons personality; portraying their individual style, as well as their status and wealth. Colour is a reflection of our mood.
Darker colours like black, grey and navy blue suggests a sombre mood in comparison to brighter shades like yellow and red, which suggest joy. We don’t solely choose a colour because we like it; the selection is also based on the individuals skin, hair and eye colour.
Australians maintain a psychological association with colours and their respective seasons. Fashion stylist, Thembi Hanify, says our colour choices are heavily influenced by seasonal vibes. “There is definitely a big lean towards black in winter and lighter, brighter colours in summer,” she says.
Colour should be worn to suit an individual’s lifestyle, body shape and personality. To avoid being a wallflower, break the rules and let your persona determine your daily drag.
Fashion theory lecturer at Queensland University of Technology, Peta Rake says, “An individual’s choice of colour in clothing can be rather subconscious”.
This doesn’t mean we aren’t aware when we put on a floral dress, but more so alludes to our natural tendency to choose vibrant colours in brighter seasons.
Black remains a popular colour choice in fashion. It’s generally a slimming colour that can easily be coordinated with other colours. Traditionally, the colour black was associated with mourning, however, in contemporary times it’s become a popular choice for both evening and day wear.
Despite our natural tendency to let seasonal changes determine our daily outfits, be bold and express yourself. Rule of thumb – aim to tell the world something the sky isn’t already telling us.