Kelsey Cleveland LLC

Desire Map Facilitator | Freelance writer

Home » Which five colors make you look and feel fabulous?

Which five colors make you look and feel fabulous?

By 1,091 Comments

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.

colorPhoto 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.

color-your-styleI 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

Comments

  1. You are so interesting! I do not think I’ve truly read
    through a single thing like this before. So nice to discover somebody with unique thoughts on this subject matter.
    Really.. many thanks for starting this up. This web site is one thing that is required on the web, someone with
    some originality!

  5. It is really a great and helpful piece of information. I am glad that you just shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.

  218. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through a few of the posts I realized it’s new to me.
    Anyhow, I’m certainly delighted I found it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back regularly!

  223. I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in penning this website.
    I really hope to view the same high-grade blog posts from you later on as well.
    In fact, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get
    my very own website now 😉

  352. Howdy, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar
    one and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam remarks?
    If so how do you protect against it, any plugin or anything you can recommend?
    I get so much lately it’s driving me crazy so any help is
    very much appreciated.

  386. I was curious if you ever considered changing the structure
    of your blog? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
    But maybe you could a little more in the way of
    content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or two images.
    Maybe you could space it out better?

  394. Howdy would you mind letting me know which web host you’re working with?
    I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different internet browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most.
    Can you suggest a good web hosting provider at a honest price?
    Thank you, I appreciate it!

  414. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve visited your blog before but after browsing through some of
    the posts I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely delighted
    I found it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back regularly!

  500. Can I simply say what a comfort to find a person that actually understands what they are discussing on the internet. You actually know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people really need to check this out and understand this side of the story. I was surprised that you are not more popular given that you definitely possess the gift.

    http://fastwebdesign.ro – web design

  523. Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Many thanks, However I
    am experiencing difficulties with your RSS.

    I don’t know why I cannot join it. Is there anybody else having identical RSS problems?
    Anybody who knows the answer can you kindly respond?
    Thanx!!

  551. Can I simply say what a comfort to find somebody that really understands what they’re discussing on the internet. You actually realize how to bring a problem to light and make it important. More people should read this and understand this side of your story. It’s surprising you aren’t more popular because you definitely possess the gift.

    https://www.mattressdelight.com/best-mattress-for-lower-back-pain-sufferers/ – best mattress for back pain 2019

  571. Excellent post. I used to be checking constantly this weblog and I am impressed!
    Extremely helpful info specifically the closing part :
    ) I maintain such information much. I was looking for this particular information for
    a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.

  675. May I just say what a relief to find somebody who really knows what they’re talking about on the web. You definitely realize how to bring a problem to light and make it important. More and more people have to look at this and understand this side of your story. I was surprised you aren’t more popular since you most certainly possess the gift.

  688. It’s perfect time to make some plans for the future and it is time
    to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you some interesting things or advice.
    Maybe you can write next articles referring to this article.
    I desire to read more things about it!