Just in case you don’t know me very well – I simply despise the colour pink. Not all shades and hues. Just that allegedly girlie, pastel shade of ‘baby’ pink. Urrghhh. I shudder just thinking about it.
I am yet to uncover exactly why I despise this colour so vehemently – I am working on this of course! It could be as simple as I am a purple lover and never the twain shall meet – apparently. It could be its misrepresented use for all things feminine. And like many things I elegantly rebel against, I certainly don’t subscribe to my femininity being based around a certain shade of pink or any colour in fact. Nope. Not at all.
If you’re thinking, but it is the colour of femininity P-A, what are you on about? I would urge you to do some research. My favourite theory is back in the olden days, pink was the colour for young males as it is a hue of Cardinal Red while blue was used for females following the religious lines of Mother Mary and Nuns etc. The research even points to the theory it wasn't until after the Second World War that the modern convention (pink for girls, blue for boys) started to dominate, and still, it didn't really become a societal norm until the 1980s, allegedly. There is also research which points to pink being the colour for girls for centuries. You choose which theories sit best for you.
And the point of my rant about pink – it is simply an example of the importance of colour in our lives and how colour effects our emotional responses and dare I say it our well-being. Never fear, I shan’t ever judge anyone for choosing pink or any other colour as their favourite. In fact as a purple lover, there are even shades and hues of purple that I cannot bear. We are all unique and individual – even in colour choices.
And as I sit here writing in my rainbow-coloured dress – magenta included, no ‘baby’ pink – please know, I love colour. It is simply amazing. And just in case you didn’t know, I should divulge right about now that I am actually a colour therapist and a colour analyst, before I start banging on about how fab colour is. Oh and a caveat too – this is where I may go all sciencey on you. As I said, I will never judge your colour choices, I will, however, provide advice on colour choices in certain scenarios if asked and sometimes if not asked – I cannot hide my face tells!
Let’s get the science stuff out of the way – a very abridged physics lesson, if you will. So. Visible light energy is made up of many frequencies and wavelengths and falls between Infrared and ultraviolet and each colour has a different wavelength and frequency. Higher frequency colours – violet, indigo, blue - have smaller wave lengths; higher levels of energy and are more harmful – think UV rays. Lower frequency colours – yellow, orange, red - have longer wave lengths, lower levels of energy and are relatively harmless. Green is smack in the middle and the balance between higher and lower.
From a psychology point of view, Jules B. Davidoff, Professor of Psychology, Director of the Centre for Cognition, Computation and Culture (CCCC), Goldsmiths University of London, researched and critiqued numerous scientific studies around the notion that light from the edges of the spectrum – invisible to the eye, such as ultraviolet – can cause temporary or permanent alterations within the human body and whether the visible colours at the centre of the spectrum – the ones us normal folks can generally see - can have similar effects.
In the 1990s, Davidoff noted studies by a range of scientists had led to similar conclusions and most of this research has focused on the causal connections between emotional states and exposure to colours.
In summarising the findings, Davidoff wrote:
Warm (the ‘red’ end of the spectrum) and cold (the ‘blue’ end of the spectrum) colours have been found to differentially alter both physiological and emotional states… Colour is also believed to produce a direct effect on the endocrine system via the pituitary gland; its action is to increase aggressive behaviour under long-wave (red) light and reduce it under short-wave (blue/violet) light. (Jules B. Davidoff, Cognition Through Colour, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass./London, 1991, p. 113.)
Are you now gaining a sense as to why I love colour? It permeates all areas of our lives. Colour is a powerful, natural form of universal energy. It quite literally surrounds us every day.
And although there are numerous factors which will influence our environments daily, colour is clearly quite a significant one. Colours evoke different reactions and can range from relaxing, energizing or stimulating surroundings to aggravating, draining and boring ones.
I firmly believe in using the energies of light and colour to harmonise the body, mind and soul. For example, the use of red grabs our attention and may stimulate or aggravate our being, whereas the use of blue may calm or relax us and yellow makes most of us think of warm, joyful sunshiney days.
Through embracing the full range of colour in their appropriate proportions, we can achieve balance and harmony in all areas of life such as passion, zest, warmth, relaxation, nourishment, nurturing, introspection and spirituality.
Colour permeates our lives in so many different ways such as the colour of a room, the colours we are innately drawn to or repelled by in clothing, food and art. For example, yellow is great for a study as it stimulates your brain to learn and not so great in a bedroom for the exact same reason or in either rooms if you happen to be neurodiverse.
Another example is if you happen to be overheating or have a temperature – stay away from red foods as they are warming foods. Use blue foods to cool down and green foods to balance. All of these ways we receive colour in our lives have an influence on our cognition and well-being.
Ohhhhh and a pink colour I absolute adore – for it’s psychological/emotional uses only though – is Baker-Miller pink! Another one for you to research. This is an amazing colour. It was developed in 1979 for a naval correctional institute in Seattle, after a study discovered the effect of pink prison cells on prisoners and the colour’s ability to “reduce hostile, violent or aggressive behaviour.” The colour was named after the naval institute’s directors at the time, Baker and Miller.
It was also referred to as Drunk Tank Pink and while subsequent research indicates it may not have this behavioural curbing affect long term, it certainly has a calming affect for a short time. This is why prisoners in the USA are issued with Baker-Miller pink underwear and sometimes outerwear. It’s why it is used in crime prevention initiatives. Another intriguing example of how colour permeates our overall being!
And now for the most fabulous bit about colour – for those of us old enough to remember the 1980s there was a wee bit of a colour revolution that occurred. More so in the United States and Europe, but none the less, many of us had our ‘colours done’. I was 16 at the time. My entire family had their colours done. It was an absolute revelation to me. I suddenly discovered that colour can be the most flattering tool in your wardrobe and is the best tool to complement your natural beauty.
And while I have chosen to wear my ‘best colours’ since then, having this information has helped immensely post breast cancer diagnosis, bilateral mastectomy and choosing to permanently stay flat.
So how does colour help with this, you ask? It really is simple. Wearing the best colour for you means the focus is on your beautiful face and not your clothing or your physique.
And for me, while I do not hide the fact that I no longer have breasts and it’s my choice to go out into the world with my concave chest, I certainly do not purposely draw attention to these physical attributes, in the same way I didn’t intentionally draw attention to the ‘girls’ prior to being diagnosed. One of the best ways to achieve this is through wearing the best colours for you.
When it comes to colours, we all know our likes and dislikes, however knowing what your best colours are opens up all the in-betweens. Like for me, the pink despiser, I do own magenta coloured clothing – which is almost hot pink in colour and I look fabulous in this colour and its part of my colour palette. Thankfully black and royal purple are too – or I would have been a devastated 16-year-old I can tell you!
When you are wearing the best colour for you, the things you and everyone else will notice are:
Your beautiful glowing face becomes the focus of attention.
Your eyes sparkle.
Your skin appears clearer.
Your hair is brighter – yes I know, this is subject to what stage of treatment one is at.
Your complexion is smooth and clarified.
Lines, shadows and circles on your face are minimised.
Your face has a healthy glow.
Now. If you are not wearing the best colour, you may get the ‘you look tired’ comments or ‘are you okily dokily?’ question or you hear the dreaded “that’s a great dress; shirt; top etc!” What this means is your face has disappeared and all that is noticeable if the item of clothing instead of you, in all your gorgeousness.
Why does your face disappear when you are wearing a colour which is not optimal for you? The colour of your outfit becomes the focal point and pushes your beautiful face into the background. It’s that simple. The other things you and everyone else will notice are:
Accentuation of shadows, lines, blemishes, and discolouration on your face.
See more lines and shadows around your mouth and nose, even if they are not normally visible to the naked eye.
Dark circles under your eyes are accentuated.
Face may age – and you may look too weak or too strong.
When we learn to use colour confidently, we are able to express our individuality and build a strong, positive self-image. Even elegantly rebel perhaps!
In other words, we regain our confidence through being stylish and authentic. Colours in harmony with your colour palette will enhance your natural beauty and individuality. Your uniqueness is emphasised and celebrated!
Whether it’s the colour you are drawn to every day, or the one you cannot live without, or the one you simply have to paint your office, or the one you NEED to wear – colour has so many positive uses to enhance our overall well-being.
I personally use a colour component in all my Coaching services, whether that’s in the discovery phase or reading oracle cards or determining your best colour palette – colour is an amazing tool to have.
If you’d like to more about my coaching services and how colour may assist you, head over to the Working with P-A page and book a Cuppa & a Natter chat.
And until then to quote Petula Clarke:
You can colour my world with sunshine yellow each day!
You can colour my world with happiness all the way!
Peta-Ann is the Founder of Elegant Rebel®, providing support for other soul-full rebels in rediscovering their uniqueness and celebrating all that they are and can be. Elegant Rebels choose to follow their inner-knowing instead of societal norms and take heart-centred action filled with compassion, kindness and grace.
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