Add Some Color to Your Wardrobe and See What Happens!

When I was younger, I used to wear a lot of black. My wardrobe as so ubiquitously black, that one day when I was in Sri Lanka for an extended period, a visiting friend pointed out that the neighbor had directed him to my house, by saying "Oh that girl who always wears black? That's her house over there!".

For someone who has always hated being predictable, it was a wakeup call that I had pigeon-holed myself! This started my first slow forays into introducing color into my world. Since I’ve moved to San Francisco, with it’s windy grey days and multitudes of festivals and costumed events, my wardrobe has become more eclectic. I swing between the standard neutrals and black, with the occasional foray into elaborate costumes for events. The ultra neutral or black color palate coupled with boots or Toms and a tech hoodie, topped off with a windcheater is almostde rigeuruniform of the San Francisco dweller. Jewelry is often understated and delicate – thin gold or silver chains and tiny stones. Nothing too bright, nothing too crazy - which seems BIZARRE for the city that spawned a plethora of tie dye and the hippie movement in the 70s!

我检查出几十个珠宝店——在线d in store. They all had beautiful stuff (and I bought some lovely pieces) but I began to wonder - where has all the color gone? I was weirdly reminded of the V.E Schwab novel “A Darker Shade of Magic”, where the universe is populated by co-existing versions of London - “Grey for the magicless city. Red, for the healthy empire. White, for the starving world.”

There's been a lot of research done on how the colors we chose can influence the way we feel. We all know that sitting in a dingy grey and dark room all day can make you feel sluggish and uninspired. Similarly an all-white and neutrals space can be soothing and calming.

So, bearing that in mind - Can adding a pop of color to your outfit change your mood?

According toConscious Colors(a site that advertises the transformative nature of working with color), color is the frequency, vibration, and energy of light. Each Color is a unique wavelength of the visible light spectrum and vibrates at a unique frequency that produces its own distinct benefits for your body, mind and spirit encoded in its energy.

Could a black, greyscale wardrobe affect your mental state? From what I could find online - if you aren’t feeling centered or secure, black can feel like a security blanket. On the more negative end of the scale, it can enhance feelings of depression.

According to theNortheast Holistic Center, color has a major impact on our conscious and subconscious minds. The center’s website comments that by consciously utilizing the energy of color in our daily life, we can empower ourselves and assist in our own healing process.

Personally, I know this works, because as soon as I add a red lip or a red necklace, I instantly feel more vibrant, sexy and energized. Blue makes me feel serene, green makes me feel fresh and pretty, while yellow makes me feel like I can do anything!

Adding pops of color to your wardrobe can be a little daunting. Also – a lot of people I talked to seem to actually be scared of bright color. A young co-worker complimented me one day saying “I love how you always wear a splash of color. I could never do that”. That struck me as sad! Why ever not? Thinking about it though, I get it, as I STILL love black and my neutrals. Old habits die hard.

An effective compromise to actually wearing colorful clothes, could be as simple as wearing colorful accessories - statement jewelry, scarves, hats or purses. Accessories can lift an outfit from “drab to fab” as perQueer Eye’sfashion experts.

My entire collection has the feel-good factor of jewelry sourced from small-business entrepreneurs, refugees and artists in countries with high unemployment and not much economic opportunity. We’re helping sustain employment and livelihood, while also getting a beautiful, unique piece of jewelry that is ethically sourced and sustainably hand-crafted. I’ve collaborated on the designs to curate a collection that is bright, modern and bold. Our pieces (from our Kenyan collars to our cloth necklaces, and semi-precious bracelets) will boost your mood and elevate an outfit to take you seamlessly from the office to an evening out, or to a festival. Mix it up, layer multiple pieces and have some fun – at a price point that won’t break the bank!

So, my challenge to you - add one element of color to your wardrobe - whatever that color is, and in whatever form, and tell me how that makes you feel. I want to hear from you - so please comment, message and let me know how you go!

Just for fun, some interpretations on favorite colors and their associated chakras*:

Red: Red is a very emotionally intense color and serves your Root Chakra. It enhances human metabolism, increases respiration rate, and raises blood pressure. Deep Red is helpful for rooting and grounding and decision making; Bright Red can help energize your physical body and increase circulation;

Pink: encourages gentleness and self love.

Orange: Orange is associated with the sacral chakra, joy, sunshine, and the tropics. Orange represents enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, and stimulation.

Yellow: Yellow is associated with the solar plexus chakra. It symbolizes joy, happiness, intellect, and energy. Yellow produces a warming effect, arouses cheerfulness, stimulates mental activity, and generates muscle energy.

Green: Green is associated with the heart chakra. It symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness, fertility and is thought to have great healing power. Green has strong emotional correspondence with safety. Dark green is also commonly associated with money.

Blue: Blue is associated with the throat chakra, and with depth and stability. It symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, and heaven. Blue is considered beneficial to the mind and body. It slows human metabolism and produces a calming effect. Blue is strongly associated with tranquility and calmness.

靛蓝(我最喜欢orite!): Indigo is associated with the third eye chakra. It represents our deepest thoughts and spiritual wisdom; It is the color of intuition and perception and promotes deep concentration during times of introspection and meditation, helping you achieve deeper levels of consciousness.

White: White is associated with the crown chakra – and with light, goodness, innocence and purity. It is considered to be the color of perfection and can represent successful beginnings.

Purple: Purple combines the stability of blue and the energy of red. Purple is associated with royalty. It symbolizes power, nobility, luxury, and ambition. Purple is associated with wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery, and magic.

Black: Black is associated with power, elegance, formality and the unknown. It usually has negative connotations, but can also denote strength and authority.

* The 7Chakrasare the energy centres in our body in which energy flows through. The word 'chakra' is derived from the sanskrit wordmeaning'wheel'. Literally translated from the Hindi itmeans'Wheel of spinning Energy'.