How To Dress To Enhance Your Mood with Colour

Autumn is nearing. To many of us, this means swapping bright colours out for muted tones and bidding a reluctant farewell to the summer sunshine. However, the Autumn/Winter runways for 2021 have transferred their attention to pops of playful colour, teaching us how to dress. Gone are the days when colder weather meant looking dull and feeling the same. By strategically scouring your wardrobe, you can use this season’s go-to shades to enhance, enrich, or elevate your mood through colour psychology.

Red Hot

Bold, attractive, and sensual; are just a few of the adjectives which spring to mind when considering this intense colour. The ability of this shade to raise the blood pressure of human beings makes this the go-to colour for traffic lights and caution signs. However, these attributes can be used positively. Helping to make you appear confident and passionate, red is the perfect choice for a date (but keep in mind that great power comes with great responsibility).

a Green Dream

Green is a natural colour that is calming, peaceful and comforting. The association of green with growth and vitality gives it many positive connotations. However, like all colours, green may have a very different effect on some people, perhaps making them think of envy or illness. Designers this season have decided on the former. Green has been seen in every shade, from lime to emerald to army – any shade goes this Autumn/Winter.

Pretty in Pink

Throughout 2021 I have been in love with this colour, and thankfully it isn’t going anywhere. This colour has consistently appeared on this season’s runways, from flirty fuchsia to a more neutral-toned hue. Depending on the shade, the effect of pink can vary. As a combination of the passion of red and the purity of white, pink is highly romantic and tenderly compassionate at once. Therefore, this is the perfect colour to experiment with different shades until you find one that has the desired effect on your mood.

Indigo Intrigue

The colour blue is the epitome of tranquillity. Associated with a blue sky, good weather, and water, this colour is calming and can even appear trustworthy. Designers have settled on a beautiful indigo shade this year to dominate the upcoming season. Sure to turn heads as you strut down the street, this colour did precisely that on countless runways. Designers have fallen in love with this shade, from denim to dresses, and I am falling right alongside them. Try an indigo look next time you have a lot of work to do, as it is believed to increase concentration.

Purple Power

Nothing says royalty like the colour purple. The luxurious and dignified aura that this colour creates is incredible and not for the faint of heart. If you want to be noticed, this is the trend to take up, and designers have adopted it differently. Hence, you will find a way to incorporate it into your wardrobe. Pick out a muted lilac for a fun and youthful look, or opt for a deeper tone to embrace the mystical and royal associations of the colour.

Despite the daring intensity of some of these colours for the upcoming season, there are many ways that you can tone them down. Pair the brighter shades with your go-to neutral pieces already in your wardrobe to dip your toe outside your comfort zone instead of jumping all the way in. However, if you feel brave, you can also take a page from some of the designer’s books and pair a few of these colours together. Be adventurous with your fashion and wear whatever makes you feel great.