The psychology behind wearing colour – and how to make it work for you

"I've got nothing to wear!” It's a cry you've likely uttered at some point, after surveying your overflowing, out-of-control wardrobe. But have you ever considered that this apparent lack of options might have something to do with the colour of your clothes? Perhaps the reason you can't find anything to wear might be because the shades of your garments don’t accurately represent how you're feeling.

“Colour is one of these amazing forms of self-expression,” says colour psychologist Karen Haller. “What colour allows us to do is communicate how we’re feeling, how we want to feel or how we want other people to interact with us – without actually saying anything at all.”

Here, we guide you through the impact that different colours can have, how to work out which shades suit you best, and the easiest ways to incorporate them into your wardrobe.

Colour associations are everywhere: we wear black to funerals and white on wedding days, pastels in the summer and darker tones in winter. While some associations have grown from tradition, there's an interesting evolutionary background to many of our choices. “Green gives us a level of reassurance and rejuvenation, as at one point in our history, it would have meant survival,” Haller explains. “Whereas brown feels supporting and very grounding, like a tree.”

“As humans, only 20 per cent of the decisions we make are conscious”

Dressing for your mood isn’t exactly a new phenomenon – the term dopamine dressing has circulated for years – but Haller says that, often, it's more about personal connection to a shade, rather than colour having the same effect on us all. Many of our memories centre around clothing, whether it’s what you or someone else wore at the time. We hold on to these memories and what triggers them; it's this backlog of information that makes up our emotional map of various colours.

“We have our own perceptions for different colours and what they mean to us, whether that’s positive or negative,” says Haller. “It depends on you as a person and your behaviour towards the colour.”

She continues: “Say I’m wearing red and I feel really angry and agitated. In a way, red reinforces that behaviour. Someone else might feel energised by wearing the exact same shade. Black can make someone feel confident, or blue calmer, while orange is all about being energised for some. The colour either supports how you’re feeling, how you want to feel, or how others perceive you.”

How to wear more colour

When we know how colours can represent, or even influence, different moods, we can dress better to reflect our own, while making the most of what suits us and our wardrobes.

So, how do you start incorporating more colour into your own wardrobe if you don’t wear much already? Stylist and avid colour wearer Zeena Shah recommends starting small, so that it doesn’t feel too overwhelming.

“It might be wearing some brightly coloured socks that only you know about, which bring you joy,” she advises. “Accessories are also a great way to bring some colour to an outfit. A necklace, handbag or scarf that can be tied onto a bag or around your neck is an inexpensive way to inject some colour. The more you start to wear colour, the more you’ll notice how it makes you feel and the more you’ll want to wear it.”

"Colour either supports how you’re feeling, how you want to feel, or how others perceive you"

Choosing to delve into the world of colour also means figuring out what suits you and flatters your skin tone. “I like to start with one colour that I know makes me feel great, and then try different shades,” says Shah. “Try comparing a pale pastel green with a vivid bright green. Notice which brings light to your face and boosts your mood.”

She also recommends turning to social media for guidance. “There’s so much inspiration on Instagram and TikTok. Bookmark creators with similar skin tones to you, to help inspire some colour combinations to try next,” she explains. “The more you embrace colour, the more you’ll find your colour confidence.”