The Comfort of Colour; by Sande Bamford (Date: 3 April 2010)
It is interesting how some colours are more comfortable to wear than others. There is no doubt that for certain periods of my life I have been drawn to certain colours, and then those colours have been put aside in favour of others. Whilst my background is in fashion I can not say that I have slavishly followed what colours are in fashion either. More often it has been that I have felt that certain colours were just ‘more me’.
The psychology of colour is fascinating and it was with great interest that I attended the recent Colour Society QLD Division talk by Thelma van der Werff. What an interesting and entertaining evening. A few questions to the audience at the beginning of the talk set the scene, and when our answers were translated at the end of the presentation, there was something highly intuitive for each of us about what Thelma had to say. I was hooked!
I signed up to do Thelma’s Colour Coaching course, particularly as the first module included the language of colour. We were definitely on the wavelength of each colour we explored over the three days of module one. We discussed philosophy as well as the psychology of colour and it was an emotional workout as well.
Thelma did a personal colour reading for each participant on the course, charting what colours we have worn over our lives. We noted when we started and when we stopped wearing particular colours. Also if we NEVER wore a certain colour. She then referred to our answers and described very accurately the pattern of our lives from the times that we wore, or stopped wearing, certain colours. I was blown away by what she revealed about my life, and my personality.
Being quite a practical soul anything with a slightly ‘new age’ feel has immediately been put aside in favour of the more scientifically measurable, however this thought pattern has been seriously shaken by my recent experience of Colour Comfort.
Given that we dress emotionally- wear what feels good today- it seems logical that if we want to change how we feel and how we appear to others we may need to adjust the colours that we wear. Thelma suggested that I introduce three colours that I never wear. Hmmmm. Let’s see about that. Bit of a challenge. I really don’t like those colours on me. They look great on people with cool skin tones, but me???
It’s not all about how it looks Sande. How does it feel? Remember that scientifically speaking colours each have a wavelength on the spectrum. How is that wavelength resonating with you?
So, I duly set out the following day to at least find something in pale pink that I was prepared to buy. Underwear looked like a good place to start, as I have a serious challenge about a warm person wearing cool colours! All those years of colour imaging training I guess.
It was very hard to pick up pale pink instead of my usual black or fleshtone selections. Still, I was going to give it a go. As I headed for the fitting room I spied a cuddly pale pink dressing wrap. I tried it on over my clothes... It was most interesting to note how I felt. Fascinating actually. I wondered whether it was the power of suggestion as I tugged it off with tears in my eyes. How silly of me! Put it back on the rack. Go try on those undies.
By the time I came out of the fitting room it was obvious to me that the pale pink dressing wrap needed to come home with me. It was snuggly and warm and …nurturing. So much so that I was even willing to look for a nightgown in pale blue, another colour that I never wear but which Thelma had suggested.
‘Colour Comfort’ is indeed what Thelma’s work is all about! I am looking forward to seeing the change in my life from Thelma’s Colour Coaching sessions. You owe it to yourself to check it out. www.colourcomfort.com
About the author:
Sande Bamford is a Designer Colour Stylist, principal of Complimentary Colours. She has had a passion for colour and fashion her entire life. Her handbag and shoe collection rival Imelda Marcos. Well, you do need them in every colour….