How Your Wardrobe’s Colour Can Influence Your Mood

Aug 26

Written By Dori

Recently, I began sharing my thoughts on the topic of colour, reviewing two of my favourites, aqua blue and yellow. Today, I wanted to expand on this discussion and talk about the potential impact that colour can have on our mood and why it’s beneficial for us to incorporate more colour into our outfits. But, before I talk about the advantages of wearing different colours, I should better describe how wearing a red dress or light green shirt can potentially change the way we feel.

There is a history of associating moods and even physical states with colour, one that has led people to study the potential effects and benefits of colours for many years. There are trials that have demonstrated that certain colours of placebo pills are more effective than others, that looking at certain colours changes our blood pressure, and that certain shades of streetlight can even reduce crime! It’s amazing and our clothing is no different.

The associations of the colour white are those of cleanliness and freshness. Were we to choose a white garment from our wardrobes, we’d be more likely to feel clean and fresh as a result. On the other end of the spectrum is black, which has associations of mystery and power, which would make black a colour of confidence, even luxury.

These two very basic examples give you an idea of the potential magic we can create with our wardrobes. Now, before we attend a job interview or first date, instead of solely thinking about what style of outfit we want to wear, we should also consider the colour and what type of emotional influence it would have. Want to make a show-stopping impression at a party? Then it’s time to consider something red, which is most often associated with being bold, passionate, and occasionally aggressive!

Not every day, however, do we have an interview, date, or party. In fact, some days we just want to feel happy or comfortable. And, in these cases, colour is just as important. I mentioned that I loved aqua blue because it reminds me of tropical beaches, which is why on certain days, especially if the weather is not so good, I will add something aqua blue to my outfit to help inspire a better mood within myself!

At other times, we may feel stressed or overwhelmed, and bold, bright colours can add to this. In fact, some studies have shown that students who are presented with red numbers before their test perform overall worse than those who saw different colours! This is why we should also keep a few outfits and accessories in our wardrobe that have comforting, relaxing colours, so that, during more difficult times we can wear them like a mental health medicine.

So, when you’re next buying new clothing, upcycling old clothes, or simply choosing your outfit for the day, be sure to consider colours and your mood. Your mind has a relationship with your clothing and it’s important to recognise and celebrate this!

If you are into colours and would like to know more about them, their affect on our mood and how we can benefit out of them, or searching for ideas how each and one of them could be incorporated into your every day life, then check out a really pretty colour - fully section on my website dedicated for the Love of Colours