Part One

Color Notes
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
Part Two

Color Notes
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