How Does Clothing Color Affect First Impressions?
Whether you’re preparing for a job interview, having lunch with a new client, or going on a first date, first impressions matter.
A key aspect of first impressions is the color you present to others through your clothing. But does clothing color really affect how you’re perceived by those you meet for the first time?
The short answer is yes, it does. In today’s fast-paced social and work environments, snap judgments are made quickly and frequently.
Every little detail of your appearance contributes to how others perceive you, including the color of what you’re wearing.
Can the Color of an Outfit Affect First Impressions?
The color of your clothes can impact other’s first impressions of you very dramatically. For example, a mostly blue outfit makes you seem more intelligent and competent, whereas a mostly white one can make you look more outgoing and friendly. Color Psychology is the key to knowing what colors have which kinds of effects.
As suggested by this Study, the attire one chooses to wear often conveys a message to those who perceive them, sending signals about their competence, social class, and intelligence, among other things.
Read on to learn exactly how the color of your clothing affects first impressions.
First Impressions Start with a Look
Before an impression is made based on what you say or how you act, your value will be judged based on appearance alone.
Often, this starts at eye level. People will first notice the shirt, tie, or jacket you wear. They will eventually notice the rest of your ensemble, all the way down to your shoes, but you can be certain that the first thing they see will be the top pieces of clothing.
You can utilize this first look to your advantage by selecting the right color. Certain colors can communicate different things, so if you want to make the right first impression, it’s important you select the right color for the right occasion.
Be Bold
If you want to convey confidence and authority to those around you, it’s best to wear strong, vivid, and bold colors. This approach can be accomplished from multiple different angles.
You may choose to wear a solid yellow tie, for example, to demonstrate a confident and fun-loving demeanor. Or if you wish to convey bold authority, leaning towards darker colors would do the trick.
To look more authoritative, go for dark blues, blacks, or charcoal grays. These heavier colors are timeless, perfect for any formal affair where you might want to impress.
Be Unforgettable
In many instances, it will play to your advantage to make a lasting impression. This is especially true for first impressions in job interviews or on dates. To ensure you’re not easily forgotten, try wearing a creative and imaginative pattern, choosing colors from the pattern for the rest of your outfit to pull your whole ensemble together.
A few examples of such patterns include:
Paisley: Paisley is a scrolling pattern of interwoven swirls and splashes of color, traditionally symbolizing the tree of life and fertility. This is certainly an unforgettable choice.
Floral: A floral pattern is just as it sounds; a pattern consisting of flowers and flower-like patterns. When paired with the right colors, a floral pattern can convey an impression of warmth, spring, or summertime.
Stripes: This classic pattern creates motion and sequence, and if worn right, can even make you look taller or thinner.
Floral Patterns are astonishingly easy to mix and match with other colors. | Socks: Squorange
No matter what pattern you decide to wear, it’s important to keep in mind the expectations of the first impression you’re dressing for. It may not always be appropriate to wear a floral tie to a job interview, for example – but wait, that actually could work nowadays!
Alternatively, wearing a strong, saturated blue suit makes you very unforgettable as well. This “secret weapon” immediately makes you more trustworthy and competent-looking. The same principle applies to web design, as this study suggests.
Be Approachable
Maybe the first impression you’re going for is a friendly and approachable vibe. You want a prospective employer, for example, to feel comfortable around you. You want them to know how friendly and easy-going you are.
Choosing a look with bold colors and zany patterns may not be the best choice in this case, as those may serve to be intimidating or off-putting to some. Instead, try wearing softer colors. Light, soft colors are often seen as more inviting and less in your face. Light greens, yellows, blues, and coral are some such colors with a friendlier appeal.
Light colors make you look friendlier. Wear them if you mean to give off that vibe. | Socks: Rainbowie
Another nice thing about these lighter colors is that they’re easy to pair with a wide array of other colors and patterns, so you can build your look around them easily!
DRESS WITH FIRST IMPRESSIONS IN MIND
As stated before, it’s important to keep in mind the occasion you’re dressing for and to intentionally dress for that specific occasion. You wouldn’t want to wear bright, fun colors to a funeral, for example. Or maybe you would, depending on whose funeral it is.
When selecting your outfit, you want to imagine the message you wish to convey through first impression. If you’re meeting a prospective employer for the first time, you will want to appear confident and competent. If you’re meeting a potential romantic interest for the first time over dinner, you may want to dress in friendlier more approachable colors.
Keep in mind that dressing with a purpose does not necessarily mean you can’t express your personality through what you wear. Quite the opposite, it simply means you tailor your own unique style and personality to the specific occasion on which you will be making a first impression.
Don’t worry, you can still wear your favorite pair of colorful socks.
The Psychology of Color
There have been countless studies led on the effect that color has on one’s mood and psychology. Each of them has proven various things about the power of color, but they all prove one thing:
Color has a profound effect on human emotion and initial impressions.
In her article on color and psychology entitled “Color Psychology: What Colors Should You Wear and Why,” Vanessa Van Edwards posits that colors almost always create the same impressions for different people. She goes onto give the color blue as an example.
Blue is often associated with blue skies, which has a positive connotation evolutionarily since that typically means there are no incoming storms to worry about. So universally, blue is a color that projects calm and stability.
Dark blue is one of the most versatile colors in fashion and is, therefore, one of the best colors for a suit, in fact.
Blue, especially darker blue, is the color of calm and intelligence. | Socks: Bordeaux
The power of color is real. Beyond simple connotation, the color you wear has been proven to affect your mood. In many cases, a person’s mood may shift to reflect the color they’re wearing on a given day. Some people pick out clothing to wear for the day based on the color that represents the mood they’re already in.
However, others choose colors of clothing based on the mood how they want to feel. If you have never tried this tactic, we certainly suggest you give it a shot – more often than not, it works like a charm!
Brighter colors like pinks, yellows, and whites have been known to boost one’s mood, making them feel lighter and happier. Conversely, more aggressive colors, like red, can cause feelings of anger or hostility.
But, bright colors that come from the warm side of the color wheel stand out much more. They are much more eye-catching than colder and darker colors.
Returning to Vanessa Van Edwards’ article, she even goes on to cite research that has proven how color can affect more than just your mood. The colors we perceive in the world around us may even affect our respiration, heart rate, or blood pressure.
WHICH COLORS MAKE THE BEST FIRST IMPRESSIONS?
There are a lot of colors to choose from when deciding what to wear. But which colors make the best first impressions? Let’s take a look:
Blue: Blue is known as the color that is often associated with wisdom and truth. Its calming effect can put others at ease when meeting you for the first time. As such, this color will counteract tension.
Green: Green is often associated with vitality, safety, and harmony. It also reminds us of money, which could be a good connotation to make in certain scenarios.
Brown: Often seen as masculine, brown is the color of stability.
Black: Known as one of the power colors, black can convey mystery and seriousness. It also has a thinning effect, often giving the wearer a more elegant look. It is also a color that pairs well with other colors, such as a green or blue tie, and is the color that hides sweat marks the best.
Black is the most authoritative color of all. Wear it to make a serious and elegant impression.
These are some of the best colors to wear when making a first impression. There’s been a lot of mention of mood and color in this discussion of color, and you may be asking why mood should matter when making a first impression.
Well, the simple answer is:
The way you make people feel when meeting them for the first time will last.
If a person is angry the first time they see you, anger will become a continuous feeling associated with your name and memory. Needless to say, this is probably not the association you would want to create with a prospective employer or romantic partner.
Wear Colors According to How You Want to be Perceived
Color can be an immensely powerful tool when utilized correctly, especially when making first impressions. Remember to take the time to reflect on the kind of message and feelings you want to convey when selecting clothing for the first encounter with someone important.
Often this first impression will last, painting a picture of who you are in this person’s mind for an indeterminate amount of time thereafter.
Clothing itself is a tool that communicates all sorts of information about the wearer. It can convey the appearance of wealth, power, confidence, friendliness, or even hostility and passion.
It can be the difference between being soon forgotten and be remembered long after. The clothes you wear say a lot about who you are, and you should want them to say the right things, shouldn’t you?
RELATED ARTICLES:
