Color NotesPart One

Color:

It can make clothes seem warm or cool, bright or drab.

It can create illusions of making you look taller or shorter, larger or smaller

It can emphasize or play down your features

In Apparel …

The apparel industries stress new colors and color combinations each season. When they become popular, designers and promoters give them fashionable names.

These new names are to convince you to need to wear these colors to be in fashion, because the colors are new and fresh on the fashion scene.

Symbolism of Color

Different colors invoke different emotions or thoughts in people

What do the following colors make you feel?

Red

Hot, dangerous, angry, passionate, sentimental, exciting, aggressive, vibrant and powerful

Orange

Lively, cheerful, joyful, warm, energetic, hopeful, hospitable

Yellow

Bright, sunny, cheerful, warm, prosperous, cowardly, deceitful

Green

Calm, cool, fresh, friendly, pleasant, balanced, restful, lucky, envious

Blue

Peaceful, calm, restful, serene, tranquil, sad, depressed, formal

Violet

Royal, dignified, powerful, rich, dramatic, mysterious, wise, passionate

White

Innocent, youthful, faithful, peaceful, pure

Black

Mysterious, tragic, serious, sad, dignified, silent, sophisticated, strong, wise, evil

Gray

Modest, sad, old

Color Terms

Hue: the name given to a color: red, yellow, violet

Value: the lightness or darkness of a color

Color Terms

Tint: a lighter value of a color, white is added to a color to make it a lighter hue Red + White= Pink

Shade: a darker value of a color, black is added to a color to make it a darker hue Red + Black= Burgundy

Color Terms

Intensity; the brightness or dullness of a color. Bright colors have more intensity While dull, faded colors have low

intensity

Color Terms

Neutrals: black, white, beige, browns, even denim are considered neutrals in apparel

The Color Wheel

Primary Colors

Primary colors are equal distance apart on the color wheel.

They are “primary” because no color combination can create those colors.

Secondary Colors

Colors halfway between the primary colors

Created by mixing two primary colors together

Tertiary Colors

In between a primary and secondary colors.

Created by mixing one primary with one secondary.

Warm Colors

Red, yellow, and orange

They appear to advance, which makes they body look bigger

Creates a lively, outgoing impression

Cool Colors

Green, blue, violet They appear to

recede, which makes the body look smaller

Gives the feeling of quietness and restfulness

Many plus size designers use cool colors because it makes people wearing them look smaller

Color NotesPart Two

Monochromatic

Different intensities, shades, and tints of one color. It is restful to the

eye Neutrals can be

added for contrast

Monochromatic

Analogous

3 colors adjacent on the color wheel

Analogous

Complementary

Opposite hues on the color wheel, directly across from one another.

The complementary color of a primary color is the color you get by mixing the other two primary colors: Red's complementary color

is blue + yellow = green Blue's complementary color

is red + yellow = orange Yellow's complementary

color is blue + red = purple

Complementary

Split Complementary

Three colors- combine one color with the two colors on either side of it’s complement.

Look at the color wheel, draw a line straight across to determine a complementary pair, and then look to the immediate right and left of the complement.

Triad

Three colors equidistance apart on the color wheel

Triad

Accented Neutral

Combines black, white, gray, or shades of brown with a bright color accent

Using Color in Apparel

According to Rick Valens, a freelance writer for Fashion-In Style, brings to you new fashion and lifestyle ideas …

White

A popular color in fashion, light and neutral. It goes well with any color. Considered a summer color, a good choice

for tops. Always have some in your wardrobe. It

readily matches bottoms of any color; a pair of jeans, khaki pants, a gray shirt, a bright colorful skirt.

Associated with cleanliness and purity, innocence and gentleness. White gives you a feeling of freedom and uncluttered openness.

Black

A popular color in fashion, always stylish and never out of trend A good choice for bottoms. Directly opposite of

white, it readily matches tops of any color. Nonetheless, it is also a popular choice for tops, making the wearer appear slimmer. A great complimentary color for accessories like a pink sparkling evening bag, or a diamond necklace.

A mysterious color, it gives you a feeling of perspective and depth. Symbolizes elegance and refinement, it is always regarded as a prestigious color.

Red

An expressive color extensively used in fashion Most visible and lively of all colors, it

creates attraction and excitement, the wearer naturally portrays an images if excitement, enthusiasm, energy, and confidence.

A physically inspiring color often associated with vitality and ambition, love and passion.

Yellow

A color commonly used in casual fashion. Similar to red, it creates attraction and

excitement. However, is suggests amore fun and sunshine-y mood. The wearer tends to bring about cheeriness to the group. Usually liked by those who embrace change.

The color of sunshine, often associated with joy, liveliness and optimism.

Blue

A popular color liked by most. Emotionally opposite to red and yellow,

it brings about a soothing and relaxed feeling; pleasant to the eyes. Naturally refreshing in mood, it’s a good choice for daytime wear.

The color of summer skies and seas, often associated with calmness, affection, idealism and inspiration.

Pink

A feminine color Similar to blue, it’s soothing to and

pleasant to the eyes. Naturally sweet in moon, it has a lasting girly appeal. Girls in pink tend to portray a very sweet and pleasant image, always attractive to the guys.

The color of cotton candy, often associated with warm, everlasting affection and tender love.

Brown

Brown tends to be casual and informal