Color in Fashion

Chapter 9, Clothing, Fashion, Fabrics & Construction

Human eye sees 6-7 million coloursFigure 9.4, 9.5

Colour is used in fashion by the buyer, co-ordinator, designer, fashion writer or consultant

Colour and Clothing• Out of all the design elements of fashion; line, shape, texture, space,

We notice COLOUR first. • When you understand colour, you can choose the best colour for YOU• Designers often pick colour as an integral element of their collection

Things colour can do for you:• Draw attention to or away from parts of your

body– Cooler hues– Darker values– Duller intensities– Close contrasts

• Examples: navy, khaki, grape, charcoal, mauve

• Emphasize a special feature (colour of eyes)• Create illusions in height or size• Can be used as a design element• Act as a symbol, communicate feelings, send

messages

color• To increase attention and apparent size, to appear

shorter and heavier– Warmer hues– Lighter values– Brighter intensities– Strong contrasts

• Examples: shocking pink, pumpkin, tangerine, raspberry

Color personalities!!

• To appear refined, romantic– Warm to cool hues– Lighter values– Dull, muted to medium intensities including

pastels– Close contrasts, subtle

• Examples: shell pink, lavender, misty rose, orchid, blue, peach, all pastels

• To feel and appear happy, youthful, sporty– Warmer hues– Light to dark values– Medium to bright intensities– Strong contrasts, bold

• Examples: coral, red, khaki, ivory, brown, camel, cinnamon, brick

Color Personalities!!!

Color personalities!!!

• To appear mature, serious, somber, classic– Cool hues– Dark values– Dull intensities

• Examples: navy blue, taupe, charcoal, maroon, gray, black

Color personalities!!

• To feel and appear dramatic/exotic– Warm to cool hues– Dark values, deep– Bright intensities, rich– Strong contrasts, bold

• Magenta, fuchsia, emerald green, royal blue, regal purple, sapphire, amethyst

• Colours have specific names that identify them, these are called HUES.

• Without light we wouldn’t see these hues. Figure. 9.4

• All objects contain pigments-some aborb light rays, some reflect them. We only see the rays that are REFLECTED.

• Ex. If a fabric looks red, it is only because the red pigments are being reflected.

• Figure 9.6• A colour wheel is a way

to organize hues, it is a system that places colours around a wheel, they show how colours relate to one another.

Colour Wheel

Colour Wheel BasicsPrimary Colours• Basic colours that all other colours are made from• Red, yellow, blue

Secondary Colours• When equal amounts of two primary colours have been

combined, ex. Blue + red=violet

Intermediate Colours• Primary colour + a neighbouring secondary colour• Ex. Red + orange=red orange

Complementary Colours• Colours that are directly opposite on the colour wheel

Colour VariationsColour Value• Adding white (tint) or black

(shade) changes it`s valueFigure 9.7

Intensity• Brightness (lots of

colour pigment) or dullness of a colour (softer, muted colours)

• Vibration: when two colours of equal brightness compete

Neutral Colours• Black, white and grey (when all

colour is absorbed or reflected• Can change the value/intensity

of a colour

Color Schemes

Monochromatic

• Mono means “one”, refers to the tints tones and shades of one color

• Possible color combinations are limitless!– Mint green and forest green

• Generally calming, however it depends on the hue

Analogous

• Often referred to as adjacent. Two, three, or four hues that lie next to one another on the color wheel. All hues have one hue in common.

• Possible colors (Can include tints, tones & shades)– Yellow-green, yellow, yellow-orange, orange

• Feeling created: can be calming or exciting depending on whether they come from the cool or warm side of the color wheel.– This color scheme is most effective if one of the hues repeats

some aspect of your personal coloring… eyes, hair…

Complementary

• Combine two colors from the opposite side of the color wheel.

• Possible colors: red & green, blue & orange• Feeling associated: stimulating due to opposite

visual characteristics. By dulling the intensity or value, calming effect may be achieved.– Can be very flattering to personal coloring, and

versatile

Triad

• Three colors equally spaced on the color wheel

• Possible colors: tints, tones and shades of primary or secondary colors

• Very exciting and stimulating if used in full strength.

Neutral

• One, two, or three achromatic neutrals, may or may not vary in the degree of warmness or coolness, lightness or darkness, brightness or dullness

• Possible colors: black and white, combination of browns• Effect: vary in mood depending on the degree of light and

dark value contrast– Are most effective if the degree of lightness or darkness in your

hair and/or skin coloring is repeated in the lightness or darkness of the clothing

Accented neutral

• One color added to other neutrals to form a scheme.

• Possible colors: black, white & red, browns with light blue

• Effect: draws attention to the one added hue

Selecting colours for you

• Some say you can wear every colour, depending on hue/intensity (they look different on different people)

• Evaluate in natural light• Consider: Height, personal colouring, body

shape (figure 9-17, pg 168)

• Hold against your skin• Switch between a variety of Warm/Cool tones• See page 167 for `How to Choose your colours`

• Activity 19, 20 from Student workbook

• http://www.schwarzkopf.com/sk/en/home/hair_colour/blonde_hair.html

• http://trepanrr.tripod.com/color_analysis_test.htm