Color NotesPart One
Color:
It can make clothes seem warm or cool, bright or drab.
It can create illusions of making you look taller or shorter, larger or smaller
It can emphasize or play down your features
In Apparel …
The apparel industries stress new colors and color combinations each season. When they become popular, designers and promoters give them fashionable names.
These new names are to convince you to need to wear these colors to be in fashion, because the colors are new and fresh on the fashion scene.
Symbolism of Color
Different colors invoke different emotions or thoughts in people
What do the following colors make you feel?
Red
Hot, dangerous, angry, passionate, sentimental, exciting, aggressive, vibrant and powerful
Orange
Lively, cheerful, joyful, warm, energetic, hopeful, hospitable
Yellow
Bright, sunny, cheerful, warm, prosperous, cowardly, deceitful
Green
Calm, cool, fresh, friendly, pleasant, balanced, restful, lucky, envious
Blue
Peaceful, calm, restful, serene, tranquil, sad, depressed, formal
Violet
Royal, dignified, powerful, rich, dramatic, mysterious, wise, passionate
White
Innocent, youthful, faithful, peaceful, pure
Black
Mysterious, tragic, serious, sad, dignified, silent, sophisticated, strong, wise, evil
Gray
Modest, sad, old
Color Terms
Hue: the name given to a color: red, yellow, violet
Value: the lightness or darkness of a color
Color Terms
Tint: a lighter value of a color, white is added to a color to make it a lighter hue Red + White= Pink
Shade: a darker value of a color, black is added to a color to make it a darker hue Red + Black= Burgundy
Color Terms
Intensity; the brightness or dullness of a color. Bright colors have more intensity While dull, faded colors have low
intensity
Color Terms
Neutrals: black, white, beige, browns, even denim are considered neutrals in apparel
The Color Wheel
Primary Colors
Primary colors are equal distance apart on the color wheel.
They are “primary” because no color combination can create those colors.
Secondary Colors
Colors halfway between the primary colors
Created by mixing two primary colors together
Tertiary Colors
In between a primary and secondary colors.
Created by mixing one primary with one secondary.
Warm Colors
Red, yellow, and orange
They appear to advance, which makes they body look bigger
Creates a lively, outgoing impression
Cool Colors
Green, blue, violet They appear to
recede, which makes the body look smaller
Gives the feeling of quietness and restfulness
Many plus size designers use cool colors because it makes people wearing them look smaller
Color NotesPart Two
Monochromatic
Different intensities, shades, and tints of one color. It is restful to the
eye Neutrals can be
added for contrast
Monochromatic
Analogous
3 colors adjacent on the color wheel
Analogous
Complementary
Opposite hues on the color wheel, directly across from one another.
The complementary color of a primary color is the color you get by mixing the other two primary colors: Red's complementary color
is blue + yellow = green Blue's complementary color
is red + yellow = orange Yellow's complementary
color is blue + red = purple
Complementary
Split Complementary
Three colors- combine one color with the two colors on either side of it’s complement.
Look at the color wheel, draw a line straight across to determine a complementary pair, and then look to the immediate right and left of the complement.
Triad
Three colors equidistance apart on the color wheel
Triad
Accented Neutral
Combines black, white, gray, or shades of brown with a bright color accent
Using Color in Apparel
According to Rick Valens, a freelance writer for Fashion-In Style, brings to you new fashion and lifestyle ideas …
White
A popular color in fashion, light and neutral. It goes well with any color. Considered a summer color, a good choice
for tops. Always have some in your wardrobe. It
readily matches bottoms of any color; a pair of jeans, khaki pants, a gray shirt, a bright colorful skirt.
Associated with cleanliness and purity, innocence and gentleness. White gives you a feeling of freedom and uncluttered openness.
Black
A popular color in fashion, always stylish and never out of trend A good choice for bottoms. Directly opposite of
white, it readily matches tops of any color. Nonetheless, it is also a popular choice for tops, making the wearer appear slimmer. A great complimentary color for accessories like a pink sparkling evening bag, or a diamond necklace.
A mysterious color, it gives you a feeling of perspective and depth. Symbolizes elegance and refinement, it is always regarded as a prestigious color.
Red
An expressive color extensively used in fashion Most visible and lively of all colors, it
creates attraction and excitement, the wearer naturally portrays an images if excitement, enthusiasm, energy, and confidence.
A physically inspiring color often associated with vitality and ambition, love and passion.
Yellow
A color commonly used in casual fashion. Similar to red, it creates attraction and
excitement. However, is suggests amore fun and sunshine-y mood. The wearer tends to bring about cheeriness to the group. Usually liked by those who embrace change.
The color of sunshine, often associated with joy, liveliness and optimism.
Blue
A popular color liked by most. Emotionally opposite to red and yellow,
it brings about a soothing and relaxed feeling; pleasant to the eyes. Naturally refreshing in mood, it’s a good choice for daytime wear.
The color of summer skies and seas, often associated with calmness, affection, idealism and inspiration.
Pink
A feminine color Similar to blue, it’s soothing to and
pleasant to the eyes. Naturally sweet in moon, it has a lasting girly appeal. Girls in pink tend to portray a very sweet and pleasant image, always attractive to the guys.
The color of cotton candy, often associated with warm, everlasting affection and tender love.
Brown
Brown tends to be casual and informal
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