Saturday, August 25, 2007

The colors you wear send not-so-subtle messages to everyone around you. They can soothe, flirt, excite, even threaten. A few examples of color psychology in everyday life: Police officers wear dark blue to convey authority. UPS carriers sport brown to show they’re reliable. And hospital staffers wear light green scrubs to evoke ease and tranquility. We asked a color expert how to make a rainbow of right impressions. Read on to find out more. Plus: Test your fashion personality…Leatrice Eiseman, nationally renowned color consultant and author of the forthcoming More Alive With Color (Capital Books, 2007), gives the low-down on what your favorite colors are communicating, whether you know it or not.

Out of the Blue
Conveys: Faithfulness, tranquility, dependability, sensitivity.

Blue connotes stability because it’s the color of the sky, Eiseman explains. “It will always be there for us,” she says. Even if the sky is temporarily gray or overcast, we know it’s still blue above those clouds and will be blue again eventually.

How to wear it: Darker hues are ideal for formal events (navy is a power color), while lighter shades work better in more casual settings. “For a touch of humor, try periwinkle,” which blends blue and purple, the color of creativity, Eiseman advises.

Shades of Gray
Conveys: Seriousness, dependability and stability.

Gray gets its reliable grounding from Mother Nature. In the great outdoors, everything gray is permanent (rocks and stones, for example), notes Eiseman.

How to wear it: “Gray is practical,” she says. “It’s also a power color.” Wear a gray suit to a job interview to show your future boss that you’re responsible. (See related story: Dress for Success)

But wear it head to toe and you might accidentally tell the world you’re boring. To stand out, pair a gray suit with something memorable like a printed blouse, a great pair of heels or sparkly earrings, Eiseman suggests.

Tickled Pink
Conveys: Love, affection, gentleness, femininity.

Pink is soft and delicate, but it lacks passion, Eiseman explains. It is also said to have a calming, soothing effect. Sports teams are rumored to paint the locker rooms used by their opponents pink to drain their energy.

How to wear it: Pink lacks the blatant sensuality that bolder colors (like red) convey, explains Eiseman. Charming and warm, soft pink is the perfect color for a romantic date – but not necessarily for a late-night rendezvous.

And don’t dismiss all shades as a “girly-girl.” Candy pink is usually thought of as quintessentially feminine, but a swap it out for hot magenta and you’ll make a splash on a night out on the town.

Red Alert

Conveys: Strength, power, confidence, passion.

Red is a versatile color that can symbolize everything from passionate love to violent warfare. Intense and aggressive, its influence isn’t only psychological – it’s physical, too. Studies have shown that seeing the color red not only speeds up your heart rate, it makes you breathe faster, too. (See related story: Red Lipstick and 9 Other Beauty Trends You’re Afraid to Try)

How to wear it: It’s a dynamic, dramatic hue that gathers attention and can be overpowering in professional settings. “Red is not a good idea for a job interview,” Eiseman warns. The same goes for negotiations or situations where there’s potential for conflict. To tone it down, pair it with muted hues: a red and blue striped sweater, for example, or a red camisole under a gray jacket.

Youthful Yellow
Conveys: Youth, joy, imaginationYellow improves concentration, which explains all those legal pads and Post-It notes. It’s also the color of friendship (that’s why, come Valentine’s Day, we hope for red roses – not yellow ones).

How to wear it: “Many people shy away from yellow because they think it’s too bright,” says Eiseman. But remember that yellow comes in many shades, from pale pastels to deep, vibrant hues.

If you’re uncomfortable with it as a clothing choice, pair it with items you already love. Try a yellow tee with your favorite pair of jeans. Or, sneak yellow in with a mix of other colors in a floral print.

Black Beauty

Conveys: Elegance, sophistication, power.

Black has a bad reputation. After all, it’s the required uniform for movie villains and comic book criminals. It’s also associated with mourning and death. But it has an entirely different side – timeless, classic and universally slimming.

How to wear it: Afraid you’ll be just one more woman in a sea of little black dresses at the next cocktail party?

“Add more excitement,” Eiseman advises.

Wear purple eye shadow and an amethyst necklace with a black blouse; paint your nails red and wear the sexiest pair of silver stilettos you can find.

“Black offers the perfect opportunity to accessorize,” Eiseman says.

Green with Envy
Conveys: Tranquility, good luck, health.

Green conjures lush images of nature – from tropical forests to parks on spring days. It’s the color of life and growth, and a symbol of fertility. (Brides in the 15^th century wore green wedding gowns.)

How to wear it: Rich, jewel tones are best for dates and evenings. Switch to softer, pastel shades for daytime.

But unless you want to channel the ’80s, go light, not bright.

These days, office fashion seems to reflect an “anything goes” attitude. What ever happened to “dress for success”? You may think you’re sliding under the radar with those ill-fitting slacks and a blouse that’s seen better days. But that’s no way to get the boss to notice you (at least, not in a good way) or get that promotion you’ve been eyeing. How you dress each morning shouldn’t only reflect your work environment and the tasks you perform, but what kind of job you really want. Here are some office wear tips every successful career gal should know…

The easiest and perhaps cheapest way to accomplish a fashionable and work-appropriate wardrobe is to buy basic pieces to mix and match. This makes dressing professionally every morning a lot less complicated, plus it gives you an abundance of fashion options week after week. But a closet full of basics won’t help if you’re failing at all the other office fashion rules.

Want to learn how to avoid becoming a fashion disaster on the job? Whether you work in a business casual environment or a more formal setting, find out how you can not only make an impression, but the right one.

A basic, tailored suit
The first key to choosing a great suit is to pick a solid. Black is the best neutral, but don’t rule out shades of brown or gray. Navy is another great option, and can look especially powerful with bright pops of color underneath. A subtle or bold pin stripe will not only take a suit from nice to sharp, but it’ll add length to your silhouette, making you look slimmer. (See related story: How to Look 10 Pounds Thinner)

With a neutral suit, try a classic collared blouse or a bold-colored or patterned camisole to accent.

If the price tag of a suit has you running for the door, remember that it’s an investment piece. Not only can you mix and match the jacket and pants with other garments, but you’ll always have something to wear for an important meeting or impromptu business dinner.

Keep in mind that how the suit fits is of utmost importance. The hem of the pants should end just above the tip of your heel. The jacket should be large enough to button it, but fitted enough that you don’t look like a burlap sack.

Smaller-chested women can get away with wearing a one-button jacket. But, if you have a larger chest, go for a two- or three-buttoned jacket, which will keep “the girls” comfortably tucked away.

Since a suit isn’t likely to fit you near-perfect right off the rack, visit a tailor for any necessary adjustments.

A crisp white shirt or blouse
The ultimate mix and match piece, a short or long-sleeved white blouse can dress up any plain or textured pant or skirt. You can also pair it with a nicely fitted vest. Two very important rules for wearing your white blouse: 1) Iron it before each wear; and 2) If the shirt material is too thin or sheer, always wear a neutral camisole underneath.

A sweater set in neutral or colorful shades
Not just for your grandmother, sweater sets are comfortable and versatile, and always office-appropriate.

A professional dress
Wrap, sweater and shirt dresses are all suitable for work. Just make sure the material isn’t too form-fitting or short. Avoid baby-doll or trapeze dresses; they look too young and trendy, and often show off too much skin.

An A-line or pencil skirt
An appropriate-length work skirt should fall right above or right below your knees. Choose A-line skirts for a larger lower body and a pencil skirt for slimmer hips. Both of these shapes are classy and flattering. And while black or brown are classic colors, feel free to mix it up with different textures or patterns to pair with a neutral top.

A basic pair of black and brown heels
Closed-toed with no more than a 3-inch heel (or less if your job requires you to be on your feet a lot) is always work-appropriate. You’ll need at least one pair of each color. Red heels are also a pseudo-neutral choice, and metallic browns and gold can add a little pizzazz to a basic outfit. Stay away from strappy stilettos though, no matter what color they are.

Whether you’re sporting heels, boots, flats, or loafers, make sure your shoes are clean and free of holes and scuff marks.

7 Tips for Appropriate Work Attire
1. When in doubt, check your company handbook for their dress code. If it’s business casual, you don’t need to wear a suit every day. But casual also doesn’t mean flip flops or message-tees. And while you may think it’s a good idea to take your cue from your coworkers, they may not be following proper dress code. Pick out your best dressed coworker and mimic what she’s wearing. Or better yet, check out what your boss is wearing. (See related article: Dress for Success)

2. Always make sure your clothing is properly ironed. Avoid fabrics that wrinkle too easily, like linen. Choose durable fabrics that won’t have to be dry-cleaned often.

3. Skin is not in at the office. Be aware of cleavage-revealing tops, gaping button-holes on blouses and mini-skirts. Tank tops, especially those with spaghetti straps, aren’t work-appropriate. They expose too much of your arms, shoulders and chest.

4. Body piercings and tattoos should not be visible. Use makeup to hide any markings that can’t be covered with clothing. Don’t wear more than two earrings in each ear.

5. Add accessories like jewelry, belts and purses to individualize your style. But don’t let your jewelry, like loud bangles, speak for you. And you don’t need to accessorize every inch of your body. Think classic, not trendy.

6. Your hair, makeup and nails should polish your professional look. Always err on the conservative side.

Avoid crazy dye-jobs and unkempt hair, and don’t come to the office with wet hair. Keep your makeup minimal and your nails manicured.

7. Colors and prints can often convey your role, or the role you want, in your company. Red means power and bold animal prints may suggest you’re aggressive, while grey and flower prints are more conservative and feminine.

Use the psychology of color to your advantage in certain work situations.

Remember, when dressing for the office, a good rule of thumb is to dress like you are always looking to climb that corporate ladder. Not only are you judged on your work performance, but on your appearance as well.

Market yourself as the total package.

People who dress professionally are more likely to feel and act professional. The more thought you put into your appearance, the more likely you are to be taken seriously by your coworkers and boss.

And if you dread putting on a suit or heels, remember, at least you have casual Fridays to look forward to.

What’s Your Fashion Personality?
Do clothes make the woman or does the woman make the clothes? Whether you love to sew your own threads or prefer to browse Rodeo Drive, your wardrobe reflects your personality. Find out what your clothes are saying about you with our fashion quiz.