Color of clothing

Self-decoration

Self-decoration is a prevalent and fundamental characteristic of humans and the societal groups that we fit into. Decorative values of clothing are regarded as "primary if not the most primary."^{[according to whom?][8]} Color, then, is an essential decorative element for meeting the necessary criterion of self-decoration.

Aesthetic comfort

Colors create aesthetic comfort when combined with fabric construction, the finish of the clothing material, garment fitting, style, and fashion compatibility. These features all collectively contribute to satisfying visual perception.^[1][4][5]

Symbolic representations

Historically, different societies have set their own restrictions and normalities for clothing. For example, during the Tudor period, wearing crimson was forbidden for ranks below the "Knights of the Garter."^[9] During the Renaissance era, clothing color became more significant when specific colors were reserved for the upper class and royalty. In medieval Europe, sumptuary laws were created that restricted the wearing of expensive colors—such as purple which was obtained from seashells of the Mediterranean—to the nobility.^[10]

Colors of clothing have specific associations with certain types of clothing styles and symbolize cultural beliefs. Blue, for example, is closely associated with denim.^[11]

• The color Saffron is considered sacred in Hinduism and Buddhism.^[12]
• Tekhelet, a blue or violet dye, in Judaism is the religion's holiest color.
• The color green (Arabic: أخضر, romanized: 'akhḍar) has a number of traditional associations in Islam. In the Quran, it is associated with paradise.

Social significance

Colors have social, cultural, and political significance. Clothing colors also discriminates. In the past, some societies and cultures have adopted unconventional fashion trends. Pink and blue, for example, are associated with gender stereotypes in a similar way to jeans and skirts. These gender stereotypes connect skirts and pink with women, where jeans and blue are connected to men.^[13] Clothing color stereotypes can also be seen across cultures. In Hinduism, for example, widows are required to wear white, and in contrast to this Brides in western cultures wear white wedding gowns. In Christianity, the color black is associated with mourning.^[14][15]

Identity

Clothing color represents the identity of political parties, sports teams, and various professions. The Bharatiya Janata Party uses the saffron color in their promotional activities.^[16] Cricket whites is a type of white clothing worn by cricket players. White coats are (sometimes stereotypically) smocks worn by professionals in the medical field or by those involved in laboratory work. There are various terms denoting groups of working individuals based on the colors of their collars worn at work. (See: Designation of workers by collar color)

• A white-collar worker is a social-class person who performs intellectual labor.
• A blue-collar worker is a working-class person who performs manual labor.
• A pink-collar worker is someone working in the care-oriented career field or in fields historically and stereotypically considered to be women's work. This may include jobs in the beauty industry, nursing, social work, teaching, secretarial work, or child care.

Uniform

A uniform depicts the use of a similar color of clothing in a group, organization, or profession.

Military uniform

Main article: Military uniform

A standardized dress worn by military personnel and paramilitary groups of various nations.

List of notable garments by color name

• White tie
• Little black dress
• Pink Chanel suit of Jacqueline Kennedy
• Black Givenchy dress of Audrey Hepburn
• White dress of Marilyn Monroe
• Pink dress of Marilyn Monroe
• Black dress of Rita Hayworth

Quotes

To me, clothing is a form of self-expression. There are hints about who you are in what you wear.

The best color in the whole world, is the one that looks good, on you.

Seasons and colors

Retailers and buyers design merchandise according to the seasonal forecast.^[27] Primarily, clothing falls into four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Some fast fashion brands, like Zara, have more than four seasonal changes on their shelves.^[28][29]

There are professional organizations that forecast colors, such as the Color Marketing Group, Color Association of the United States, and International Colour Authority.

Alternative technologies for color application