Style by Color

tracy67675
Apr 17, 2021
3 min read

Written by: Tracy van Ravensway

Photography by: Michelle Perry

Whether you are styling yourself or styling your home, the colors we choose to use have a purpose. There is a reason why we are attracted to certain colors and each color evokes an emotion. This is usually a subconscious decision, but psychologically true.

Have you ever been standing in your closet staring at your clothes thinking “What should I wear?” or “How am I feeling today?” Then suddenly are attracted to a particular outfit. You may think that is because of no reason whatsoever…but really there is a very sound reason why you chose that specific piece of clothing. It could be because of the style of the outfit that made you gravitate towards it or simply a color pulled you in. Either way, there was a reason.

For this issue, we are going to focus on the color aspect. You are most likely aware that colors evoke certain emotions. But what are those emotions? You will find out as we are going to focus on three specific colors: orange, blue, and yellow. Why these three? One reason is because they are some of my favs. But the other reason is how each color threads into design. This will make sense as you continue reading.

Tracy is wearing: Orange jacket - Maeve at Anthropologie; Jeans - Rock & Republic

Reka is wearing: Orange top - Maeve at Anthropologie; Jeans - AG Jeans

Let’s start with orange…one of my favorite colors. In fact, it is the main color of our real estate brokerage and key logo. The psychology of orange is that it means fun, optimistic, and adventurous…just to name a few. It is a friendly color. What I personally love about orange is the use as a pop of color….in fashion and décor. Whether you are wearing neutral colors or have a room in your home that needs some color, orange is a good color to add that bit of splash to brighten things up. Add some orange flowers or an orange vase to a table to bring some cheer to the room, use orange in the landscaping for a touch of color outside, or add an orange scarf to a little black dress. The color will show you like to have some fun.

Tracy is wearing: Orange pants -Ted Baker; Black top and necklace - WHBM; Sunglasses - Coach; Heels - WHBM

Very similar to orange is yellow. Talk about a fun color. It is bright and cheery, like a sunshine day! So what does yellow psychologically mean? To no surprise, yellow is happiness, positivity, and used to energize the senses. It is warm and cheerful. When you grab for the outfit in your closet, it is probably because you are in a cheerful mood or need a positive boost. This is a great reason why when you are choosing décor for your home, try to incorporate some yellow items or pops of yellow color. Maybe some wallpaper with yellow stripes or a bowl of lemons in the kitchen.

Tracy is wearing: Yellow pants - Ann Taylor;

Blue Top - Velvet Heart

Reka is wearing: Blue top - BCBG; Jeans - Hudson (Ankle Krista)

Tracy is wearing: Yellow top - BCBGMaxAzria; Jeans - Nicole Miller; Heels - Michael Kors;

Jacket - Anthropologie

Emma is wearing: Yellow Dress - Wild Fable; Necklace - Anthropologie

And lastly, blue. There is a reason why spas have blue as the main color and why the most popular color in fashion is blue. Blue can evoke many different emotions depending on the type of blue. But in general, blue can be calming and relaxing. It can put out the sense of honesty, trust and intelligence. Blue is a color that goes well with other colors and can be calm enough to appeal to both men and women. These are just a few reasons why it works so well in fashion and interior design. It is a good neutral. So throw on those blue jeans with a fun top, paint a light blue wall in your bedroom for the sense of peace and comfort, use blue in the kitchen backsplash, or put up some fun blue wallpaper. Blue is here to stay and keep us grounded and calm.