COLORS THAT TRANSFORM YOU

By Charu Suri

With the pandemic blues in full swing, and over 300 million people using Zoom to connect with users worldwide, the term “fashion” has taken an entirely new meaning.

No one knows the power of a visual presence better than Jill Kirsh, who has been dubbed “the guru of hue.” Kirsh is frequently called upon by celebrities on the red carpet, Grammy-winning musicians, and companies for color coaching. She started her company, Jill Kirsh Color, to help find people’s best fashion and makeup colors that help their pictures truly pop.

JILL KIRSH'S TIPS TO MAKE YOU LOOK GOOD AND FEEL HAPPY

“I worked in the fashion industry because both my parents were in the business,” she said, of how she gravitated towards her mission. After working in retail, wholesale and many showrooms, she started to realize how powerful colors could be in helping project people’s best image. An idea for her system germinated as she realized your hair color frames your face and really matters. “You have to work with your hair color to pull everything together so that everything is in sync,” she says, of photographs, television appearances, and just the simple act of looking and feeling good.

“You have to work with your hair color to pull everything together so that everything is in sync

Several wellness studies have observed the impact on colors and mental health. The color green is more than just a shade: a study published in 2001 by the American Psychological Association showed the physical and mental restoration that people have experienced by painting their homes green, or simply introducing more plants and nature to their spaces. Research has also shown that wearing specific colors can change your mood and positively affect your stress levels and even your behavior.

Kirsh started studying and organizing hues that suit each individual’s hair color, and experimented with that concept. The result is her JKC system that divides hair color into four specific palettes, from sexy grays, ash blonde hair to redheads. She studied television appearances and red carpet photos to figure out the fashion colors that truly flatter the color of people’s hair.

There are a lot of colors in the fashion world, and shopping for precise shades can be hard; to make things easier, she made swatch books that people can take with them to stores to make shopping easier. Her line includes unique silk scarves that are hand painted with beautiful hues.

“If someone has highlights, that’s no big deal, but right now, I’m dealing with a lot of women all over the world having reddish gray hair, and gray is a huge change from their color, which could be reddish brown hair,” she says. “If you change your hair color drastically, like going from a golden blonde hair to gray, I always say you should wear colors based on your present hair type.”

For those with black, dark brown hair, salt and pepper and silver, she recommends royal blue, fuchsia, navy blue, charcoal gray, a true red, royal purple and white. “Everyone can wear white, but there are different shades of white,” The other side of this color spectrum would be those with golden brown, deep honey blonde, and red hair. Kirsh recommends colors like teal blue, light olive, avocado, mustard, rust, eggplant, and rich warm browns and a lot of Earth tones. “With this palette, instead of wearing a dead white, you’ll go towards a Champagne, warmer white,” she says.

For warm blondes, like Anna Faris, a palette that has aqua, light green, lemony yellow, caramel, and ivory really do wonders. “Ivory is a little bit lighter than Champagne, but it’s not a dead white but more pearl-like,” says Kirsh.

The advice paid off: numerous people worldwide have complimented her for changing their lives and transforming their appearance, aesthetic and personal happiness. Currently, Kirsh is featured as the Color Expert on the iPad App for the hit movie, Divergent, and can currently be seen in the awardwinning documentary, Gray Is The New Blonde.

Colors for Online Calls

As the world moves online to Zoom calls, Kirsh says it’s important to try to stick to the color palettes because that makes a huge difference. “When you’re in sync with your hair color and fashion colors, the viewers are more interested or drawn to your message,” she notes. She remembers a client who was about to be interviewed on cable television, and whose colors made her look washed out; Kirsh recommended that she change her outfit hue and the difference was “staggering,” she says, compared to the previous outfit (she didn’t even change her client’s makeup). Kirsh also remembers a client who wore her perfect colors and felt that she immediately looked 10 years younger. “With all of this Zoom stuff going on, what you’re wearing is as important as what your background is,” she says. She works with a lot of performers, and advises that even in an online age, it’s a good idea to look your best self because the art of dressing up also uplifts your mood while being relatively easy to achieve.

Here are some of her tips to make you look –and feel- your best during these days when we are all online.

Choose a background that enhances you, but don’t make the background too interesting;

Kirsh hears a lot of people getting dressed in sweats. “It’s such an unusual time, so I’d never begin telling anyone that you should do this or that, but a little bit of TLC in choosing a flattering top or outfit can go a long way in buoying spirits”;

Black keeps you neutral, and it’s a good choice if you’re undecided;

Even a little lip color can help---just give it a try. “Colors can remind you of different things and can add some joy to your day,” she says.

During this time when everyone is struggling to feel good, little things can make a big difference. So maybe, it’s time to dust off that eggplant jacket or wear that beautiful red beret you’ve been saving for a trip to Paris: wear it on a Zoom call instead and feel good about it!

Charu Suri is a freelance journalist and also the editor of Wellness Lounge®. She is also a pianist and composer.