by Joseph Wardy

Created on: January 30, 2009

"Real men don't wear pink". Sound familiar. How about " real men don't wear black". I's suggesting both comments are false. Regardless of how you feel about men wearing pink, it is simply an exercise in opinion and judgment. Reaction to color is our perception of reality, and we tend to connect color to the characteristics and qualities of the individual.

This essay will focus on related related to color as reported by the Colorado Institute of Art. Officials at the Institute state: 'The colors you wear can influence how people react to you. Here are some common colors and the reactions these colors can cause:

* Red is the color of stability. It telegraphs that you know how to achieve goals. Wear red when you want people to notice you.

* White gives the impression of goodness. If you wear white, people can feel you are honest.

* Blue conveys loyalty and trust. The darker the shade, the more in tense the emotional meaning.

* Black is a power color that indicates you are serious. Black also makes us Black also makes us look bigger and stronger.

* Green says you're positive, comforting and healing. The darker the shade, the stronger the emotional reaction.

* Gray gives the impression that you're honest and mature. It is the favorite color of traditional, conservative people.

* Brown connotes warmth. If you wear brown, people will think you are a practical person. Brown encourages people to talk to you.

* Yellow is often worn by happy and upbeat people. But it can backfire. If you wear yellow, people may feel you are immature. Yellow paired with black is a bad combination, People may associate it with bees and wasps and pull away.

* Pink can mean your sweet, innocent and is therefore often regarded as feminine.

To turn up the volume of the color your wearing, combine it with black. To reduce the effect of a color, use white.

The research here verifies it is better to be safe than sorry. Translation: Black, gray, navy and white convey the perception of a serious person who is trustworthy, honest and mature. If you are unsure of proper clothing and color etiquette, I suggest it its better to err on the side of being more formal rather than too informal.

Please consider the importance of respect in color and degree of accepted informality. Columnist Leonard Pitts of the Miami Herald said: " We have elevated personal comfort to virtually the status of a constitutional right. But in the process, maybe we have lost the capacity for a sense of the moment, a sense that there are things you respect. And one of the ways you show respect is by dressing up".

Thank you, Mr. Pitts for your words of wisdom!

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