Stand out from the crowd with color

Happy New Year Everyone!

While the economy and dreary weather (well at least for those of us who live on the East Coast) has us all feeling a bit gloomy, this year vow to inject a bit more color into your wardrobe to help elevate your mood. Many of you have probably noticed the plethora of vibrant colors debuting for Spring 2009 and that is a direct result of the current economic situation.

Wearing color evokes a myriad of emotions and reactions. Wearing the color blue projects an image of professionalism, loyalty, and honor while red projects boldness, excitement, and creativity. Every color on the color wheel has a specific meaning and when worn correctly can be quite effective in achieving a positive outcome of any situation. So why is it that so many of us are afraid to add color in our wardrobe? When I go through a client’s closet, I’m often surprised at the lack of color I find. While I’m a big fan of neutrals as a building block to a good wardrobe, color is a great way to inject life and personality into your every day look.

I recently attended an evening business function that was held at the Friar’s Club in NYC. While I chose to wear an appropriate and professional red dress, the rest of the female attendees wore mainly black suits. During the event, a number of attendees approached me and complimented me on my clothing choice and indicated that since the event was held in the evening at such a legendary venue, they assumed a darker color choice would be more acceptable. Since when does evening equate to wearing black? Perhaps the misconception comes from the Black Tie request of an invitation. To help clarify, Black Tie simply means that one is requesting formal attire. For men, this means donning a tuxedo where women can wear either a cocktail or full length gown. The color choice is not restricted to black.

So the next time you are invited to an event whether it be a formal event, business function or any other gathering, opt to wear a color that will flatter your skin tone. You will feel confident and vibrant and most assuredly will stand out in the crowd!