Wearing the right colors is something I’ve been aware of since my teenage years and the discovery of The Preppy Handbook. Certain colors and combinations signified the preppy look, and I wanted to look preppy. At the same time, it was obvious some colors did not look so good on me. A pastel-tinted shirt’s low intensity drained my energy. Other colors made me look “blah” while the colors looked stronger than me. This was one of life’s moments when I knew I had an interest in style. Now all these years later, color is central to the work I do as an image consultant to help others develop their personal visual brands.

Recently I did a presentation about how to make an impression with color for a social group of about 25 women. It was a thrill to talk with them about color theory, color types, how to use color to change the way one’s body looks, how to convey different messages by wearing certain colors, and how I identify each client’s essences by reading their color palette. Many of the women have come to see me to develop their customized color palettes, and it’s been a blast showing them what is possible for them with their special combinations of colors.

My clients always inspire me with their unique strengths and energy. I always want each of them to see the strength and energy I see in them as an objective third party and to grow with the help of my suggestions when opportunities are identified.

You might wonder how in the world color can even help you reach your goals. The answer is amazingly simple, and comes by way of this analogy I made up:

Color is a lot like music. In music there are all the notes, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, just like there are all the colors in the prism. Now we all think we should be able to each sing a C note. Guess what? Some of us can’t. This is just like being unable to wear a certain color, regardless of how light or dark the color is. Octave levels in music are like color intensity levels. Not all of us sing at the same octave level either. Some of us sing naturally higher or lower than one another. Not every color intensity level works for everyone. If you were a singer, vocal training and coaching would help you develop a stronger voice, greater awareness of your vocal range, and you’d be in a position to expand your range. The same is true with color. Everybody wears clothes and has messages to convey while wearing them. When you learn and know what colors look best on you, you know more about your visual strengths and how to convey them to everyone else.

So here’s to all the women who have come to work with me on their personal color profiles in the last few weeks: you each inspire me with your strengths, your stories, and your willingness to be open and share. You make me love being an image consultant, and I can’t wait to see how your style develops.

Designing and managing your image is the secret science of your success.

Joseph Rosenfeld helps professional men and corporate workgroups create effective visual brands. Visit JosephRosenfeld.com for details.

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