What goes with a cold, dreary, slate gray winter day? An eye-popping yellow parka, of course.
“Yellow is the color most associated with sunshine and good cheer,” says Leatrice Eiseman, color consultant and executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.
Wearing a bright color in winter, she says, tricks “the brain into believing sunshine is out there. It helps imbue you with the same good cheer and warmth that sunshine does.”
A combination of yellow and red, orange is the next most cheerful choice. In fact, any color with a bright yellow component — be it lime green, hot pink or tomato red — can have the same sunny effect.
Color-shy shoppers can invest minimally but merrily in bright accent items such as hats, mittens, gloves, scarves and even boots.
And don’t be surprised if people treat you better as a result. Colorful clothing can lift the spirits of the wearer and those around her as a mood enhancer, says Eiseman.
“If you can’t have real sunshine, create it with color.”
