What colors will help me feel the way I want to feel? Have you ever noticed how certain colors can make you feel awful or wonderful? I try to surround myself with colors that make me feel the way I want to feel. Some of the easiest ways to work with color is in the clothes we wear and in the colors we use in our homes.
Photo by Abigail Keenan
As soon as I was old enough to choose my own clothes, I have tried to determine what colors make me look and feel good. Red, my parents’ favorite color to dress me in as a child, makes me feel irritable. It was the first color to go. Along the way, there have been hits and misses.
In middle school, I received a seasonal color analysis which told me that I was a spring. This helped me to figure out why some of the colors I was wearing did not work. It also confirmed my gut instinct about many colors I loved.
I recently read the book The color of style by David Zyla which takes seasonal color analysis process even further. He has created a system of determining your eight basic colors based on your natural coloring. He explains how and when to use these colors in your wardrobe and in other areas of your life. He also helps you to determine your season based on these colors. Finally, he describes 24 different archetypes, six per season, to help you further define your style.
Let’s look at how your five colors can help you to feel the way you want to feel.
1. Use your essence color to feel seen, open, beautiful, harmony, or bliss.
The essence color is your version of white. It is a skin tone color that harmonizes with the colors in your palm. It is also known as your vulnerable color. Ideas of where to use this color include for meditation, yoga, a robe, bedroom paint color, or even as the background for your business card. Some actresses look stunning when they wear their essence color in a formal gown at an award’s ceremony.
2. Use your romantic color to feel passion, love, sensuous, radiant or connection.
The romantic color, or passion color, is your version of red. It is the color of your face when you blush. You can also find it my gently pinching your fingertips. It is obvious that this color is perfect for a hot date, romantic evening, or for lingerie. Zyla also suggests using this color for gift wrap, stationary, jewelry, art, flowers or a desk ornament.
3. Use your dramatic color to feel powerful, electric, bold, strong or vibrant.
The dramatic color, or your look at me color, is your version of blue. You find it in the color of the veins in your wrist. Use is when you need to make a strong impression such as a job interview, important presentation or a high school reunion. Buy a car or bike in your dramatic color. Rain boots in this color may make your day brighter. Exercise wearing this color. I am going to try Zyla’s idea to wear this color for your driver’s license photo or ID photo.
4. Use your energy color to feel energized, creative, playful, vibrant, delight, or calm.
The energy color has the ability to both give you energy and restore and balance your energy. You find this color in the darkest part of your iris, but not the ring around the iris. Zyla suggests that family gatherings, visits with friends, meetings with your child’ teacher, corporate retreats and blind dates are all good choices for your energy color.
5. Use your tranquil color to feel peaceful, comfort, ease, or serene.
The tranquil color is taken from the lightest part of your iris. Use this color to relax and release stress. Create a spa-like oasis in your bathroom with candles and towels in the color. Wear it to practice yoga. Wrap yourself in a cashmere throw at the end of the day.
6. Mix your essence, romantic, dramatic, energy, and tranquil colors with your three base neutrals.
In addition to the essence, romantic, dramatic, energy, and tranquil color,
Zyla explains that everyone has three different neutral colors:
- First base: This is your most flattering dark color, which is taken from the ring around your iris. This is your version of black and your most formal color.
- Second base: This neutral is a warmer, more casual. It is the darkest shade from your natural hair color.
- Third base: This is your light and informal neutral. You find this from the lightest color in your hair.
Conclusion
You may need to experiment to find the right shades for you. For example, a version of green is my energy color. I have long noticed that green has the ability to both energize me and to calm me down. But it depends on the shade. The sage green of our guest room is a calming oasis while the bolder green shade of my home office is too energetic and causes me to want to work elsewhere.
Discussion question
How do you use what you see or the colors around you to feel the way you want to feel?
Reference Links
My review of The Color of Style by David Zyla on GoodReads
David Zyla’s webpage