C olors of Victory

Using colors to your advantage RED

Red is often used in marketing, sports, or anywhere that needs notoriety in full. Red is also a color that primes people for action. You can see it on limited-time sales or in outlet malls. In clothes, it can boost your own pride or help show off your strengths. Personally, I would recommend a bright red, scarlet or candy apple for accents. Full red outfits should use darker reds, like carmine or maroon.

Blue

Blue is well known as the ‘soothing’ or ‘stable’ member of the color wheel. It is most often used in hospital settings or office settings, as its tones offer a sense of security and reliability with the product or company than others. It’s best used in settings where people need to place a lot of trust on you or when you need to show credibility. I would offer bright blues like ultramarine or cornflower as accents paired with whites and grays, or darker blues such as midnight or navy blue as a main color.

Black

Purple

by MYA COLLINS art editor

Purple creates a very distinct identity for itself, down to its history. People used plants for dyes, but finding plants that produced purple dye were hard to come by. So they were used exclusively for royals, and that perception still sticks today. Certain candy or snack brands will use the color purple to add wonder to their identity. For clothes however, purple helps you stand out more from your peers. I would place a mild or dark purple, like violet and mulberry, as a main color and use brighter colors like french-violet as accents.

Green

Green is similar to blue in identity, in that they are both colors that put people at ease. However, green is known for friendliness than blue is. Healthy restaurants or environment-based companies will often use green, as it also elicits feelings of growth or improvement. It’s best paired with more comfy clothing, like sweaters or hoodies, to portray yourself as kind or caring. I would advise against wearing bright neon green because it’s obnoxious and instead recommend using shades like mint or sea-foam.

Surprisingly, black isn’t a color at all, and neither is its white counterpart. Within the color spectrum, black is the absence of color, while white is considered a combination of all colors. Otherwise, they are know as extended shades. The color black is heavily associated with being ‘sleek’ and ‘clean’, which makes it a prominent color within luxury brands like Gucci or Prada. Black in clothes can be used to present yourself with credibility or power, a person that demands respect and everyone knows their name. So, it’s best to wear black to show that you know your power and worth. As an accent, black is best used with white or darker shades of various other colors for a deep, mysterious look in your wardrobe.