The theory of colors is generally the study of systems for ordering colors, and one of the most important poets and thinkers in German history already dealt intensively with this topic in exchange with painters and philosophers: his name was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe .
He discovered, among other things, the phenomenon of subjective colors and the basic principles of color vision. At the same time, however, he did not limit his considerations solely to the physical production and decomposition of colors, including color mixing, but also dealt with the sensory and moral effects of color.
His resulting observations and methods can be considered color psychology
Further significant contributions to color theory came from Leonardo da Vinci , Adolf Hölzel, and Georges Seurat. All of these theories that have entered art history—also known as artistic-aesthetic color theories—initially started from direct observation.
The French painter Marc Chagall once made an interesting statement about the structuring of colors:
All colors are the friends of their neighbors and the lovers of their opposites.”
This translates roughly as: “All colors are the friends of their neighbors and the lovers of their opposites .” This refers to the combinability of colors according to the color wheel. Accordingly, colors that are either next to each other or opposite each other go very well together. This principle is still applied today – especially in fashion design.
Another beautiful quote on the subject comes from Hans Hofmann :
In nature, light creates colors. In paintings, colors create light
Let's think back to our school days. You'll probably remember Johannes Itten's color wheel. At least, it's firmly etched in my memory, as it was displayed in an impressive size on the wall of the science classroom. Many times, when my mind wandered from the lesson, I found myself scrutinizing that colorful circle.
You might also remember when we talked about primary, secondary, and tertiary colors . This classification is extremely important for understanding how colors interact and for mixing them skillfully.
The primary colors are the three basic colors yellow, red, and blue. They cannot be mixed from other colors; however, all other colors can be mixed from the three primary colors.
Color wheel according to Johannes Itten. 1961
This color wheel dates back to the Bauhaus drawing teacher Johannes Itten (1888–1967). He was the first to differentiate between hues and expand the primary colors red, yellow, and blue with the complementary (or secondary) colors orange, green, and violet, representing them in a color wheel. He referred to white and black as "non-colors."
If you go one step further and mix the secondary colors with the primary colors, the tertiary colors red-orange, yellow-orange, blue-green, blue-violet, red-violet and green-yellow are created.
An important characteristic of tertiary colors is that not just any primary color can be mixed with any secondary color. For example, mixing green with red—just like mixing blue with orange—does not produce a harmonious result. Both combinations would result in a kind of brown. Only the combinations shown in the color wheel produce harmonious results.
By adding white and black to the mixing ratios of the three primary colors, any desired color (including all shades) can be created.
In addition to this three-tiered classification, there is another classification based on the mixing method. Here, a distinction is made between additive and subtractive methods for color mixing .
Additive color mixing
In additive color mixing, the perceived color is created by mixing light of different colors. The three primary colors of additive color mixing are usually red, green, and blue – hence the term RGB system. Mixing all three primary colors correctly produces white.
The RGB color space is primarily used in graphic design for screens and digital display formats (e.g., web design ).
RGB color circle graphic by László Németh [CC0]
Subtractive color mixing
In subtractive color mixing, light of different colors is selectively filtered out (i.e., subtracted) from the white light spectrum using color filters or absorbed by pigments. The primary colors of subtractive color mixing are yellow, magenta (purple), and cyan (blue-green).
This form of color mixing is reflected in the CMYK color space , where the individual letters stand for the first letters of the three primary colors (C = Cyan, M = Magenta, Y = Yellow) – supplemented by the letter K = Key (i.e., black). This method is primarily used in print products.
Tips for putting together harmonious color schemes
Now that we've learned the basics of color theory, it's time to find out how to apply it in practice. Most design projects and artworks begin with putting together or selecting a coherent and harmonious combination of different colors. This is what we call a color scheme .
Let's assume we've specified one or two colors based on a brand or product. From there, we want to create a color palette with 3-5 harmonizing colors. But how do we proceed?
You've probably already noticed that some colors go together very well and complement each other perfectly, while other combinations appear quite unappealing. This isn't necessarily a matter of individual taste. In fact, there's a pattern to color combinations that generally seem harmonious to us humans. And these patterns can be used to create targeted and structured color schemes.
The following methods and approaches can be postulated:
context
Analogous color selection
Complementary colors
Monochromatic
Triadic
Split-complementary contrast
A unique approach – going beyond the guidelines
context
Always consider the context . Context refers to how we perceive colors in contrast to other colors.
Green has a very different effect when combined with white than with dark blue or black. You should always keep this in mind when putting together a color palette.
Analogous color structures
Starting with a primary color, this approach involves selecting two additional colors that are directly adjacent on the color wheel. If you prefer five colors instead of three, you can go one step further outwards and include the nearest neighbors of the two outermost colors.
Analogous color palettes are not typically characterized by high contrasts and are generally used for softer, more pastel and lower-contrast compositions.
Complementary color selection
You've probably already guessed that complementary colors are found opposite each other on the color wheel. You can also choose different shades of brightness for these colors to soften the contrast a little.
The complementary color palette creates strong contrast, so a delicate touch is recommended when using this method. In practice, it has proven effective to place one color more prominently in a design and use its complementary color as a subtle addition. If both colors are used with equal intensity, the design can quickly appear cluttered.
Monochromatic color scheme
This selection method uses different nuances or shades of a single color – with the addition of black and/or white. Although color contrast is lacking, monochromatic schemes usually appear very clean, uniform, harmonious, and tidy.
This technique is well-suited when the design shouldn't be too prominent and should rather serve as a supporting element or framework. If you want a design with a strong attention-grabbing effect, this is probably not the best choice.
Triadic color scheme
The triadic scheme selects three colors on the color wheel that are evenly distributed within it. They are equidistant from each other and can be found by drawing three rays radiating from the center of the circle at the same angle to each other, thus defining the three colors. If more than three colors are desired, additional complementary colors can be found along these three rays on the color wheel.
This method of color selection is used to find colors with high contrast to each other. Another way to refine such a selection is the ratio used in application. For example, you can use a light color for areas and backgrounds and a dark color for the key elements that should stand out. Or vice versa.
Split-complementary contrast
This color scheme involves selecting a dominant color and then choosing two directly adjacent complementary colors. This method creates a more nuanced palette than the traditional complementary color selection. However, it is equally high-contrast and potentially a little more difficult to coordinate. Finding the right balance is crucial for achieving a good effect.
Therefore, before you rely on this method, you should already have some experience in putting together color palettes.
Explore new paths
Once you have a little practice, you can certainly dare to break with conventions. You'll find countless pre-made color palettes online, most of which are based on the principles and guidelines mentioned above. Of course, you can use them as inspiration or simply draw inspiration from them.
However, if you can't find a satisfactory selection, simply try new approaches. For the sake of simplicity, you should start with one color of your choice and build from there. If you have more than one color, coordinating and achieving a balance becomes significantly more difficult.
Then simply experiment and compare different combinations. Give yourself enough time to let them work their magic, fine-tune them, and observe how the palettes affect you. Most people with some experience in this area quickly develop a sense of when a color selection harmonizes or not.
Colors evoke moods and emotions. As mentioned earlier, Goethe recognized this. An entire profession has since developed around this fact, and color psychology has become an indispensable part of design and marketing.
Colors can trigger a wide variety of reactions and associations in people – usually independent of individual experiences. Feelings are far more powerful than rational thoughts based on facts and figures. Therefore, the effect of colors is frequently and extensively utilized, especially in everyday business.
The following generally accepted findings and rules have been established regarding the psychological effects of colors
Yellow
Yellow is a bright, luminous color that spreads optimism, enlightenment, and joy. Golden yellow shades promise a positive future. Yellow stands out from other surrounding colors, inviting the viewer. This color provides energy and fosters positive thoughts. It also promotes creativity.
Effects:
Stimulates mental processes
Stimulates the nervous system
It improves memory
Invigorating effect on communication
Green
Green is probably more prevalent in our lives than any other color. It occupies a significant amount of space – simply due to nature – and we encounter this color everywhere. Alongside blue, green is arguably one of the most popular colors among humans, and our strong habituation to it makes it ideally suited for use as a background color and in interior design.
Effects:
Calming and soothing
It relaxes us mentally and physically
It provides support against depression, anxiety and nervousness
It conveys a feeling of renewal, self-control, and harmony
Promotes self-respect, dignity, stability, perseverance, a sense of honor, authority, and autonomy
Blue
The color blue symbolizes trustworthiness, reliability, and commitment. It is the color of the sky and the sea and is perceived as a constant force in our lives. Blue is also said to have a calming effect and can even lower the observer's pulse.
Effects:
Reassuring
Cooling effect
Strengthens intuition
Promotes serenity, contentment, balance, thoughtfulness and bonding
Violet
Violet or purple embodies the interplay of stimulating red and calming blue. It has a touch of mysticism, mystery, and spirituality. At the same time, this color exudes a sense of royalty and regality. It is particularly popular with creative people, eccentric personalities, and young women.
Effects:
Activating and stimulating
Calming effect on body and mind
Sensual, with a spiritual touch
It fosters creativity
Pink
Pink is bright, vibrant, youthful, cheeky, and exudes a zest for life. A luminous pink can generate the same energy as red tones, appearing sensual and passionate without the aggression of a bright red. Adding more white to this color softens it while retaining its sensuality. These shades are particularly well-suited for romantic occasions.
Effects:
Stimulating & invigorating
May increase blood pressure and accelerate heart rate and breathing
It has an encouraging effect and inspires confidence
It fosters empathy, sensitivity, fascination, charm, and devotion
Red
No other color is as laden with emotion and personal associations as red. It is extremely activating, stimulating, and generates a great deal of energy in the viewer. Using red is an excellent way to attract attention and capture the eye. Red is definitely a signal color and symbolizes love and passion.
Effects:
Highly activating – generates enthusiasm
It exudes a high degree of strength and energy
May increase blood pressure and accelerate heart rate and breathing
It has an encouraging effect and inspires confidence
It conveys a feeling of protection from fears and insecurity
Promotes self-confidence, strength, vitality, passion, activity, dynamism, competition, and eroticism
Orange
Orange is a close relative of red. However, this color evokes a high degree of conflicting thoughts and feelings in the viewer. People either love this color or they strongly dislike it. There is far less of an in-between feeling with orange than with other colors.
A bright orange tone radiates joy and fun and exudes a warm energy.
Effects:
Inspired to be active
Stimulates the appetite
Encourages socializing
White
White symbolizes purity, innocence, and neutrality. White doves also represent peace. Doctors deliberately wear white coats, and the classic wedding dress is also white.
Effects:
Clears the mind
It encourages us to order
Calming and peace-promoting effect
Helps with a new beginning
Gray
Gray is the color of intellect, wisdom, and knowledge. It is perceived as constant, classic, smooth, dignified, and sophisticated. It represents a conservative strength and conveys authority. Gray is neutral in relation to other colors. For this reason, it is frequently used as a background color in designs.
Effects:
Can lead to uncertainty
It raises expectations
Promotes neutrality, distance, indifference, lack of connection, and isolation
Black
Black has a powerful effect and primarily represents authority. Excessive use of black can overwhelm the viewer. Black is the absolute absence of light and symbolizes emptiness and darkness.
Black, however, can truly make other colors pop when combined with them, and is therefore often used sparingly. In fashion, black holds a special place and represents classic elegance. It makes the wearer appear slimmer, more sophisticated, and more refined, and is therefore extremely popular when choosing clothing.
Effects:
It lends the wearer elegance and a feeling of inconspicuousness
Symbolizes emptiness and infinity
It creates a mysterious atmosphere and fosters hope for new possibilities
It promotes a drive for achievement, aloofness, seriousness, intolerance, and coercion
Inspired to ruthlessness and/or rebellion
You can see some beautiful and visually presented overviews of the findings of color psychology, the effects of colors, and their use in marketing in the following board (English version):
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Successful color combinations in fashion design
So far, we have discussed the principles of color theory and psychology. These can be considered universally valid, regardless of the type or area of application. However, in the final section of this article, we would like to delve deeper into specific application examples and proven approaches in the fashion industry.
If you work in this industry, you're probably already familiar with putting together a suitable color palette for outfits and fashion. Different fashion design schools have different approaches, preferences, guidelines, and focuses. Colors and their combinations also often depend on the season, occasion, and cultural preferences.
To master the interplay of colors in fashion, the aforementioned fundamentals of color theory and knowledge of the color wheel are indispensable. Only with this foundation can one skillfully experiment and create new designs, even beyond the well-trodden paths of fashion and trends.
If you prefer to stick to tried and tested methods rather than wild experiments, then you're on the safe side with the following color combinations:
Shades of grey and red
Shades of red and berry purple are perfect as counterpoints to all shades of gray, creating an elegant and balanced color mix. Gray tones are usually used as the background or main color, while the red tones then provide the accents.
This approach combines a rather neutral and understated color (gray) as a base with a vibrant color (red or purple) for special moments in a fashion piece. A certain radiance is achieved without appearing too intrusive.
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Yellow and green
The combination of green and yellow tones is one of the most vibrant ways to add a pop of color to your wardrobe, especially in spring and summer. But it also creates a striking color highlight in winter and during the darker months. This combination looks fantastic on most skin tones. With a yellow blazer and a matching green skirt, you're sure to stand out from the crowd.
These two colors also look fantastic with jeans. Such a look can then be complemented with beautiful accessories in gold and/or green. (You must have accepted cookies to view the Pinterest board.)
Red and blue
Grab your favorite jeans and pair them with a red top, and you can be sure you've got a great outfit. Combining blue denim with red clothing is therefore extremely popular. Bright reds create a striking focal point, and the understated blue of the jeans is the perfect complement. But these two colors also work beautifully together in other situations besides jeans.
This combination exudes confidence, vitality, and strength, and is especially prevalent during the summer months. If you'd like to add a third color to the outfit, a neutral, light color like white, gray, or light cream tones is recommended. (You must have accepted cookies to view the Pinterest board.)
(Light) brown tones and chestnut or burgundy
If you want to achieve a less vibrant, but very earthy and harmonious color scheme in your wardrobe, then brown tones in combination with the slightly reddish color “chestnut” are particularly suitable for this purpose.
With this combination, you can create a successful autumn outfit in no time. Lighter brown tones such as beige, sand, ochre, or even cognac blend particularly well with the slightly darker chestnut.
As a possible third color, you could opt for white, light yellows, or soft pink. However, you should exercise a little finesse to avoid overwhelming the outfit. As an alternative to chestnut, burgundy, Bordeaux, or wine red can also be beautifully combined with soft browns. (You must have accepted cookies to view the Pinterest board.)
Pink and white
Another classic combination in the world of fashion is pink and white. This combination has a particularly charming effect on young women and teenagers, playfully emphasizing their femininity. Furthermore, large amounts of white have a calming effect on the human eye, conveying a touch of innocence and purity.
To soften the strong contrast between the two colors, gray tones, soft pink, or ivory are particularly suitable alternatives to white. If pink is too bright for your taste, you can, of course, also opt for the related colors purple, lilac, or violet. (You must have accepted cookies to view the Pinterest board.)
What to wear for which occasion: Ideas for an evening date
You've now learned a lot about colors, their combinations, and their effects. You've also been able to glean some great inspiration for your next everyday wardrobe from the examples above. Let's go a little further and take a closer look at the appropriate clothing combination for a specific occasion: a classic evening date.
To ensure a successful evening date, you need the right outfit – and the right use of color can play a key role here. What you should wear naturally depends on the location. I'd now like to explain which dress will guarantee a successful look in which setting.
A red evening dress
Numerous studies have already shown that red – probably alongside pink – is the most seductive color on a woman. These studies suggest that men may fall in love more quickly if a woman wears red.
In a red evening gown, every woman, regardless of her figure, looks incredibly sexy and seductive. This is because men perceive this color as particularly fertile and passionate. A red evening gown is especially suitable for a first date and a romantic evening.
If you would prefer a more casual option instead of a voluminous dress, then opt for comfortable blue jeans and wear them with a red top or a red blazer.
The feel-good factor
Of course, feeling comfortable plays a very important role on a date. If it's a first date, then it's definitely not the right time for any fashion experiments or daring color combinations. There's nothing more important on a date than feeling good. If you feel good in the right dress, a smile will automatically appear on your face, and you'll have a completely different aura.
The right outfit can also play a role on a date
Please avoid choosing a dress that is too tight or too short, so as not to give off the wrong vibes too soon. This could be counterproductive if you have serious intentions. Generally speaking, a long or short evening dress, as well as a cocktail dress (for more elegant occasions), are very suitable for most events and date scenarios.
Additionally, it's worth noting that women tend to feel more comfortable in darker colors than, for example, in light colors. So consider whether a classic black dress – perhaps with a touch of drama – would be suitable for your date this evening.
The right shoes
You've probably noticed that men find high heels, like stilettos or high heels, very attractive. Take advantage of this and leave your ballet flats in the closet; instead, show off your legs with higher heels. It's advisable to buy your shoes only after you've put together the perfect outfit. Naturally, the shoes should be color-coordinated with your dress.
For example, when choosing shoes in a pink and white color combination, you should also opt for shoes in one of these colors. With other combinations, you could potentially incorporate another color.
But comfort is also crucial here. If you don't wear high heels in everyday life, then it's best to choose shoes with a lower heel for romantic dates. Furthermore, it's highly recommended that new shoes be broken in before the first date.
Outfit appropriate for the location
An evening date doesn't always have to take place in a fancy restaurant – although that's usually our first thought. If the date is at the cinema, the theatre, an event, or outdoors, then you should be prepared for that and act accordingly.
A short skirt and high heels are not the best choice for a walk in the park or on cobblestones. If the date is very spontaneous and you don't have time to buy a suitable dress, then a more casual and comfortable outfit that can be used in a variety of ways is recommended. You can always dress it up with a few stylish accessories.
Apply subtle makeup
The same applies to makeup: you should definitely not overdo it. Less is usually more! Don't hide behind a mask; instead, opt for subtle makeup. A little blush, a nice lipstick, and some mascara are perfectly sufficient in most cases.
Here, too, you can beautifully echo or complement the colors of your outfit. This creates a harmonious yet exciting look, setting the perfect stage for a successful evening.
Owner and Managing Director of Kunstplaza. Journalist, editor, and passionate blogger in the field of art, design, and creativity since 2011. Successful completion of a degree in web design as part of a university study (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expressive painting, and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.
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Bar stool / Bar Chair "Cloud" with cream-colored upholstery
