The effect colour has upon us cannot be underestimated. Indeed, there is a whole industry built on colour psychology and a host of research which shows the effect that wearing different colours has upon us. Here, I’m wearing a selection of STEPPER eyewear and sharing a bit of the psychology associated with each colour.
Red
Red signifies confidence and passion, (great for a first date), and aggression, which is why matadors use a red flag. It increases metabolism and raises blood pressure. It is sometimes seen as a barrier, for example, a red light or red tape.
When I wear red, I feel confident, vibrant and upbeat. I have more red dresses than any other colour and I always feel fabulous when wearing in them. The shade of red is important though. My warm colouring means warm, coral/orange reds look a whole lot better than reds with hints of blue.
Blue
Blue signifies loyalty, stability and tranquility. It is associated with blue skies, which we perceive as a positive thing — it means being outside or being on holiday in the sun and sea. Evolutionarily, it also means there are no storms to come, it is good for crops.
Blue is a good colour to wear for a job interview because it symbolises reliability and for this reason, a lot of work and corporate uniforms are blue. However, on the contrary, it can suggest something unexpected: an event that happens out of the blue or sadness: when someone is feeling blue.
Green
Green denotes freshness, safety and harmony. It has a kinship with nature and growth, (green shoots) and is a permissive colour, (green light). It has negative connotations too though- being green with envy or being told one is as green as grass are probably not characteristics we’d chose to describe ourselves.
In general though, green is perceived as a calming colour. It interests me as an optometrist to know that the human eye can distinguish more shades of green than any other colour. The reason for this is a complex combination of physiological reasons- how the rods and cones work- and evolutionary reasons- humans interact in the natural world. When we lived and hunted outdoors, green was the most predominant colour.
STEPPER’s latest collection of coloured eyewear features super-lightweight models in an array of mouth-watering translucent colours. I adore them all and cannot pick a favourite. Whether you wear a colour to reflect your mood, or whether you choose a colour to change your mood, my advice is the same: let your true colours shine through.
Notes
A version of “True Colours” first appeared on the STEPPER blog. This is part of my ongoing paid partnership with STEPPER Eyewear.
Red model: STS-30056 colour F390
Royal blue model: STS-30056 colour F590
Green model: STS-30050 colour F690
Light blue model: STS-30050 colour F590
