The colors we choose can work magic on our emotional state. And our mind, unconsciously, is clear about it; that is why we are often attracted to certain hues at specific times. Like last week, when you felt stuck and out of ideas at work, and you chose that lime top. Exactly, your choice could be due to the fact that your brain craved a subtle boost of serotonin that it got thanks to the effect of green and its fresh and energizing vibrations.
Curious, yes, but there is a scientific basis for this: when the mini-receptors in your eyeballs fixate on a color, they send a signal to your brain that can trigger an emotional response. How each hue makes you feel depends on where it is on the rainbow spectrum (i.e., how intense or weak it is). And the study and use of color therapy is not something exclusive to our days, but rather comes from ancient times, according to Dawnn Karen, a fashion psychologist at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. We are talking about many centuries ago: the people of ancient Egypt and Greece already used stones, crystals and dyes of various colors in healing rituals.
Of course, marketing and advertising agencies have also harnessed the power of color, using it to elicit certain responses, geared toward making us buy what they're promoting (now you know why car insurance logos are often blue, because they evoke confidence and stability). And many companies paint their offices purple to encourage creativity.
But all this is not just a ruse for multinationals to influence how you feel. Color therapy is on the rise because designers, and the people who wear their clothes, have realized that anyone can put it into practice by intentionally choosing which shades to wear (something that is great for us now, in winter, when we need a extra shot of positive energy).
Lilac enhances creativity and the range of pink, self-esteem
Lingerie designer Chloé Julian kept this in mind when creating her Videris line, which revolves around nine shades and their meanings. She opted for pink tones with the idea of enhancing feelings of self-acceptance, and for purple ones to awaken the imagination and spirituality. "It's about taking a moment for yourself every morning and thinking, 'How do I want to feel?' And depending on the response, choose the garments that best support it”, says Julian. Other designers, such as Roxanne Assoulin and Tanya Taylor, have launched color therapy-based collections that include beaded bracelets and T-shirts, respectively.
That said, it is obvious that dressing in a particular color palette is not a substitute for mental health treatment. However, you can think of it as just another method of temporarily improving your mood. Try it: in the best case, you will be in tune with your emotions; and at worst, you'll look amazing in that hot pink dress. Sounds good, doesn't it?
