PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR MOOD USING COLOUR

I was having a conversation with some friends and clients recently, talking about the weather (which has been quite depressing lately), and it was interesting to see the different perspectives people had. Some were saying, "This weather makes me feel depressed, so I wear black," while others (myself included) were expressing the opposite view: how wearing brighter, bolder colours can actually help us feel better on dark, grey days.

And it’s true—when we’re feeling low or when the weather is bleak and dreary, we should react by embracing colour. I’m sure you’ve heard of Colour Psychology, which suggests that colours have hidden meanings and can influence not just the way we look but also the way we feel.

So, here are some examples.

What effect can colour have on our mindset?

Psychologists and marketers have dedicated countless hours to researching how colours can affect the mind, and this is just a brief summary of some of the research I’ve found, with a focus on specific colours. Colours can significantly impact our moods and also how others respond to us. Research by Keith Jacobs and Frank Hustmyer in 1974 found that colours can even alter our heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration.

Understanding these basic elements of how people respond to certain colours might help you choose colours that not only make you feel good but also align with the mindset or response you’re seeking. Whether you’re aiming for a particular mindset or hoping to elicit a specific reaction from others, considering the impact of colour can be incredibly useful.

Black – the discriminated colour

Let’s start with black, a colour often associated with negativity, yet it’s one that many gravitate towards. Black is often worn to convey authority, elegance, or sophistication. However, it can also evoke feelings of sadness or detachment, especially in darker, gloomier weather. But black doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom—it can be balanced with a pop of colour or an accessory that adds vibrancy and lifts your mood.

Even if black isn’t traditionally considered the “right” colour for a client’s skin tone, it often makes them feel great. If black boosts your confidence, then by all means, incorporate it into your day—especially if you have important meetings or need to record a professional video for your business. Adding a hint of another colour, such as green or blue, can introduce a touch of personality to an all-black outfit.

image source: from luxe with love

Something I always recommend with black is using different textures and fabrics. Black on black can look a bit flat, so adding layers with different textures or patterns is a great way to make an outfit look more polished.

Pink – for warmth and nurturing

Pink is often associated with warmth, love, and nurturing qualities. Wearing pink can evoke feelings of compassion and calmness, making it a great choice when you need to feel more connected to those around you or when you want to introduce a gentle, soothing presence into your day.

image source: nicole bozzani

While cool, darker colours such as black and navy work well as base colours for pink, you can also pair it with warmer oranges and reds to make a real statement. For a more professional look, greys and whites work well, while a cobalt blue or even greens can be other unique options.

Purple – for creativity and inspiration

Purple is linked to creativity, luxury, and spirituality. It’s a colour that can stimulate the imagination and inspire you to think outside the box. If you’re feeling stuck or uninspired, incorporating shades of purple into your outfit could help reignite your creativity and add a touch of sophistication to your look.

image source: sydne style

Colours that complement purple include mustard yellows, blues, and greens, while more neutral colours such as black and navy blue are excellent base colours. In this look, the addition of a pop of purple makes a more simplistic navy outfit feel more creative and fun.

Red – for energy and confidence

Red is a powerful colour that exudes energy, passion, and confidence. It’s the perfect choice when you need a boost of self-assurance or when you want to make a bold statement. Wearing red can increase your heart rate and stimulate excitement, making it an excellent colour to wear on days when you need that extra push.

image source: jadore fashion

Red can pair beautifully with pink, as in this outfit, and can calm the red significantly. For a more paired back option, consider creams, blacks, or navy.

Blue – for calmness and stability

Blue, a colour I love to wear and is known for evoking feelings of loyalty, stability, and tranquillity. It’s a great choice when you need grounding, as it can bring a sense of calm and truthfulness to your day. However, blue can be a tricky colour to wear, so consider your skin tone and which shades of blue work best for you to feel confident and serene, while deeper tones can be strong and powerful.

image source: the trend spotter

Yellow - for happiness and optimism

Yellow is a beautiful, happy colour, and one I can’t mention without bringing a smile to my face. I’m sure many others feel the same. This is a colour that brings happiness, optimism, and joy to your outfit. However, it can also evoke feelings of instability, as it’s such a bright colour. Wearing an all-yellow outfit can be challenging, and it might be over-energising for the workplace. But if you’re working from home, yellow can be a fantastic choice to boost your energy levels.

Yellow can be tricky for some skin tones, so I recommend having a colour consultation or trying different shades near your face to see which ones brighten you rather than drain you.

image source: 40+ style

In this outfit, you can see how blue and yellow have been brought together, adding the stabilising effect that blue can have on yellow. If you’re hesitant about wearing yellow in this way, try a yellow bag or perhaps yellow shoes for a fun pop of colour!

Green – for freshness and success

Green is an intriguing colour to wear! It’s associated with healing, hope, and success. It’s also a great colour to wear if you spend a lot of time in front of a computer screen, as it’s known to cause the least amount of eye strain. Incorporating green into your outfit can bring a sense of freshness and harmony, making it an excellent choice for business meetings. The association with success can also provide a sense of security to those you’re meeting with.

image source: savvy southern chic

Deep greens can be a great starting point if you’re new to this colour. Lime greens and bright greens can be quite bold, but if they complement your skin tone, they can be fantastic. I love the use of the lilac with the green in this outfit—it’s perfect for a personality-filled work outfit.

Orange – for energy and fun

The final colour I’d like to highlight is orange. This colour is a good middle ground between red, which is often seen as too passionate for the office, and yellow, which can be overly bright. Orange is excellent for these times, as it brings energy, fun, and warmth. It’s a vibrant colour, similar to yellow, but it suits a wider range of skin tones and is perhaps less daunting. Orange can stimulate enthusiasm and boost your energy levels, so if you’re feeling a bit sluggish, adding some orange to your outfit could make a difference!

image source: color me courtney

A great way to wear orange is to base your entire outfit around it, with accents of black or green. If this feels too bold, start with an orange scarf or shoes—just a small touch of the colour can give your mindset a positive boost!

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: HOW COLOUR CAN HELP YOU LOOK AND FEEL GOOD (during the lockdown)

During the lockdown we have been having to, in some cases, completely transform the way we are working, particularly as mumpreneurs. Our business lives are being swamped with online video calls, our kids are with us, and often our partners are also with us. To add to this, an overwhelming amount of emotions we seem to be going through, from highs from being able to spend more hours with our loved ones, to lows where we feel almost trapped within our own homes. I wanted to share a few tips to help build your positive mindset and confidence using something as simple as colour! 

What effect can colour have on our mindset?

Psychologists and marketers have poured countless hours into researching what colours can do to affect the mind, and this is only a small summary of some of the research I have found, particularly focusing on the colours themselves. Colours can greatly affect our moods, but also how people respond to us, with research by Keith Jacobs and Frank Hustmyer in 1974 finding that our heart rate, blood pressure, and even respiration, can be changed just by the colours we see. 

Knowing these basic elements to the ways people respond to certain colours could help you potentially reach for the colours you love, and consider how they’re making you feel. It could also help you if you want to have a specific mindset, or response by others to your outfit, whether another colour may be great to addition. 

Blue – how does this colour affect my mindset?

Blue, a colour I love to wear, and Pantone’s 2020 colour of the year, apparently encourages people to feel loyalty, stability, and tranquillity. It can help when you feel you need to bring some grounding to your life, as it can evoke feelings of truth, and according to psychologists is the most stable colour to wear. Blue can be a tricky colour to wear, so consider your skin tone and think about which type of blues can work best for you to help you feel confident, and bring some of the tranquillity you may be craving at these times to your day.

This blue, soft denim jumpsuit from Warehouse is something I love to wear as it works perfectly with my skin tone, has a belt to draw me in at the waist, but is still comfortable enough to wear when taking my child to the park. It also is professional enough for client calls!

How can Yellow affect my mood?

Yellow – a beautiful, happy colour, and one I can’t write without bringing a smile to my face, and I am sure many other people feel the same. This is a colour which brings happiness, optimism, and can bring joy to your outfit. However, it can apparently also bring about a feeling of unstableness as it’s such a bright colour it can be tricky to have an all over outfit in just this shade, and can be over-energising for the workplace. If you’re working from home, however, it can be a great colour to jump to if you need to pump up your energy! 

This is another colour which can be tricky for some skin tones, so I recommend having a colour consultation or putting different shades near your face to see which hues brighten you, rather than drain you.

In this wonderful outfit, you can see how blue and yellow have been brought together, to add the stabilising effect that blue can have on yellow. Then paired with a simple black skirt, but bringing the yellow pop in the shoes helps to bring the whole outfit together. I love that it can be appropriate for work and I truly see how yellow can bring brightness and joy to an outfit. If you are conscious of wearing yellow in this way, I’d recommend trying a yellow bag to add to your more toned down look, or perhaps yellow shoes for a little pop of fun colour!

Green and its effect on mindset

Now green is an interesting colour to wear! It is associated with healing, hope, and success! It’s also a great colour to wear if you are in front of a computer screen as it apparently has the least amount of eye strain. The use of green in an outfit can also bring a feeling of freshness and harmony, so it’s a fantastic colour to use in these times, and when attending business meetings, as its association with success can bring a more secure feeling to the person you are meeting with.

Deep greens can be a great starting point for you to dip your toe into the world of this colour. Lime greens and bright greens are often quite luminescent but can be great if your skin tone works well with it. I love the use of the neutral top with the deep green in this outfit, and it can be perfect for work and for date night – add a leather jacket or jewellery to upgrade to the date and you’re ready to go out!

What does the colour black do for your mindset?

A classic colour, but did you know that black can convey the message of power, mystery, and even professionalism? This is why it can be used in so many professional outfits such as suits and the classic, little black dress! I often find even if black isn’t considered to be the “right” colour for a client’s skin tone, it makes them feel great, so if you feel the same way about black, then go for it and add this professional colour to your day if you have several meetings coming up, or need to record a professional video for your business. Adding a hint of colour such as green, or blue, can add a touch of personality to an all-black outfit, should you feel you need it.

In this all black outfit, something I always recommend doing with black is showcased here perfectly – different textures! Black on black can look a little flat, so adding other layers of black that have a different texture or pattern are a great way to make an outfit look more polished. The arms on this dress go a long way to changing this dress from what could be quite simple, to something appropriate for the office.

Orange and its effects on the mindset

The final colour I’d like to showcase in this list of the top colours to transform your mindset, is orange. This colour is a good go between for red which can be seen as passionate and great for a first date, not so appropriate for the office! Orange, especially in these times, can be an excellent colour choice as it brings through feelings of energy, fun, and warmth. It’s a fantastic colour as it’s bright and colourful, like yellow, but can be worn on many more skin tones and is perhaps not quite as daunting. It also helps to bring a feeling of stimulation and enthusiasm, so if you’re feeling your get up and go has got up and gone, bring some orange into today’s outfit, it could go to help improve your energy!

Image from Edit 7.

As you can see, orange comes in so many shades, and is incredibly “hot” right now in the fashion world. A few ways to use it is like the above where the whole outfit is based on orange with perhaps black or green accents. If this feels a little too much, try starting with an orange scarf or shoes, so you can dip your toe into the colour for a little bit of a boost to your mindset!

I hope these colours have given you some ideas for adding some colour to your daily outfits whilst in lockdown and how they can potentially change your mindset. Do let me know some colours you love to gravitate to, and if you’d like to know which colours suit you best, I’d love to arrange an online stylings session with you!