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By Christian Rose-Day

Black will always be the new black. Colour is not just a fad. It is a portal through which one can read someone else’s mind. A message is being conveyed, both wearer and appreciator have a chance to communicate without the need for speech. The trouble is, most of us aren’t very proficient at speaking the language (perhaps this is why the latest FaceBook craze is the bra colour status update which has seen millions of women sharing singularly mysterious words like ‘red’ or ‘nothing’ with hundreds of virtual friends).

This lack of social intercourse is a shame. Imagine what it would be like to converse with everyone around you at exactly the same time. You would have special powers and, technically, you’d be a superhero. And we all know that superheroes have quite a penchant for colour (although style is not their forte).

The perception of colour may have even helped us humans to evolve at a faster rate than our fellow mammals because we are trichromatic. We have one more colour receptor than they do (“Ah look, ripe fruit, yummy. We live” – simple).

Dressing to convey the right message becomes particularly important when trying to find a mate (or temporary play thing). Wear the correct shades in the right combination and you could get the response you’re looking for. Whether or not specific colours are associated with certain attributes because of cultural learning or simple diagnostics is neither here nor there when it comes to love. What matters are the colours themselves, which is why BrandAlley’s Christian Rose-Day spoke with colour expert Angela Wright – proprietor of London-based consultancy, Colour Affects, and author of ‘The Beginner’s Guide to Colour Psychology’ – about fashion, the inner voice of love, and colour tips for the modern man.

Earthy colours are key right now, what do they say about the man who wears them?

AW: Earth colours actually work best for the majority of the population, so the wearer is likely to feel more at home with himself.

What message is being conveyed by a man wearing bright colours? Is he open to new relationship possibilities?

AW: Yes. Generally, people wear bright colours when they are feeling confident. They are unconsciously opening themselves up to new experiences. However, the matter of how you put colours together is crucial: if they are clashing brights, it suggests some negative emotions; possibly, frustration or defiance.

If I’m a man drawn to shiny, metallic textures, what kind of romantic personality do I have?

AW: Pretty cool actually. You might romantically sweep a woman off her feet, but you are not likely to be particularly cuddly. In the cold sober light of day, will you make her a hot toddy when she has a filthy cold?

I’m a single man and I’m looking for love at Valentine’s – what colours should give me confidence?

AW: Probably those earthy tones discussed above. In general terms, the colour that lifts confidence, as well as support and express optimism, is yellow, so a small amount of bright warm yellow for accent would be very effective.

Are there certain colour combinations men should avoid if they are trying to encourage amorous attention?

AW: Absolutely, forget black! It is a security blanket. You are really telling the world you are a scaredy-cat. It is the densest colour too, so if you are carrying any excess weight, black will emphasise it (it is a myth that black is slimming). Blue acts on the mind, evoking clear thought and concentration on duty – great at work, but romance needs a bit of emotion for heaven’s sake! Green can be reassuring, but it can also suggest that you are too balanced and calm for your own good. The sexiest colours for both men and women are warm rich colours, like terracotta or brick. Red is good for men (more effective than for women) but probably not pure pillar-box – a darker red is more subtle and romantic.

In terms of the amount of colour that’s needed, what is ‘just enough’?

AW: You won’t go far wrong if you stick with classic theory: one dominant colour (about 70%) that is not too highly saturated; a brighter secondary colour (20%); and a strong accent (10% max). What will definitely NOT work is equal proportions of the three colours. They cancel each other out completely.

Are there tough colours and timid colours?

AW: Timid colours are black (the most timid colour) and anything that hasn’t got much colour reflected, because it is too dark, or just doesn’t contain much colour saturation. Bright red is probably the toughest. Don’t think you can strengthen your safe black with bright warm red though – this combination says you can be aggressive and menacing.

Are some colours more versatile than others?

AW: Probably green. Again, it’s a matter of the colour saturation and the amount you use. It’s not really the colours that are versatile; it’s how you put them together.

Should men be wearing certain colours for specific occasions?

AW: Oh yes – everyone should. If you want to be taken seriously, let’s say in the boardroom, wear serious colours; don’t wear those same colours in the bedroom. Each main hue – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet – supports a specific part of the human psyche; so ideally, everyone needs versions of each of them. For example, blue will focus your mind, red will raise your physical energy, green will reassure (if you are going to ask for a pay rise, choose to ask for it when the boss is wearing green). You don’t want to go to a sensitive negotiating meeting dressed for a fight – or go on the pull dressed for a funeral.

Do certain colours suit certain skin types?

AW: Yes. Everyone has their own personal palette of colours for their personality, and skin type. Your eyes reflect your personality too. In the natural world the outer is always an expression of the inner. However, at Colour Affects, by the time we check out the skin tones we have probably already worked out our client’s personality type from the profiling and the colour preference tests, so analysing the skin tones is usually just to check.

If I’m wearing a dominant colour should I be searching for potential partners with specific colour preferences?

AW: No. They’ll find you.

Do colours worn on certain parts of the body give off a different message?

AW: Not really; although they can be used to draw attention to certain parts of the body.

To find out more about Angela’s Colour Affects consultancy, follow this link: http://www.colour-affects.co.uk/