Why Wearing Colour Matters More Than Ever In Winter

For some reason, here in the UK, and in many European countries too, it seems to be the done thing to wear darker colours in winter. You just have to look around in any busy city in January, and all you will see is an army of people wearing black, grey, and navy.

I blame the fashion brands and retailers. For as long as I can remember, we seem to follow their lead of brights in spring, pastels in summer, browns for autumn, and dark shades in winter. The irony of it is that during winter, when the days are shorter and it’s generally darker outside, we need colour the most.

So why does wearing colour matter even more in winter?

During a Colour Analysis session, one thing I always tell my clients is to dress mindfully. By this, I mean ‘dress for how you want to feel, not how you actually do feel.’ It’s so easy, when it’s dark and grey outside, to dress in a way that reflects the environment and grab dark clothing. In fact, we should be doing the opposite: brighten up your day by wearing some colour; it’s the perfect reason to bring your own sunshine.

DARKER COLOURS WILL NOT LIFT YOUR MOOD OR GIVE YOU ENERGY.

Quick science lesson: colour is light; our eyes see the light, and we have a neurological response that triggers the release of hormones. Many colours release dopamine, our feel-good hormone, but some colours release other hormones—more on that later.

That being said, neutrals such as grey and black are not colours, so they don’t have the same impact as colour does. In fact, black can be draining on both our energy and our emotions, which is why wearing it in winter seems like self-sabotage. We are already lacking in the feel-good factor that longer, lighter, sunnier days bring, so why do we make life even harder by wearing a colour that drains our energy and makes us generally feel a bit "meh"?

COLOUR WILL LIFT YOUR MOOD, GIVE YOU ENERGY, AND PROVIDE CALM WHEN NEEDED.

As I previously mentioned, most colours help with the release of our feel-good hormone, dopamine. This is the hormone released after exercise, when we laugh, or do something that makes us happy. Yes, it really is as simple as that: wearing colour can make you happy. Additionally, red releases adrenaline, so it will also give you a boost of energy—the perfect colour to wear after a bad night’s sleep or if you are exercising. Blue, on the other hand, does the opposite; it releases oxytocin, the calming hormone, making it a great colour to wear if you need a bit of calm.

COLOUR ALSO IMPACTS THOSE AROUND YOU.

Not only will you benefit from wearing colour, but those around you will too, as they will also see the colour. Got a grumpy co-worker? Wear some yellow, the colour of positivity, and they will soon brighten up. People also perceive you differently when you wear colour. Black is seen as unapproachable; we associate it with death and grief, so it will never attract others to you. In contrast, people are naturally attracted to colour; they see you as friendly, which is a great conversation starter. I can guarantee that wearing colour will always bring you compliments.

So what’s holding you back?

Break the norms of what society thinks you should wear. Start dressing to feel good and add some colour to your winter wardrobe; I promise you won’t regret it.

If you love the idea of wearing colour but are not sure where to start, I offer Colour Analysis sessions at my style studio in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire. 

Please contact Karen to book your session now and start your colour journey with confidence.