Great Clothing Color Combinations for Work Brought to you by: Diana Pemberton-Sikes of FashionForRealWomen.com You may give this report away freely, so long as you leave the credits intact. Diana Pemberton-Sikes FashionForRealWomen.com 2
What colors should your wear to work? The answer is part art, part science. Art, because knowing how to combine colors will make you look chic and sophisticated. It's not a skill most people have, so it will put you ahead of the competition. Science, because color psychologists discovered long ago that different colors impact how you're perceived. Dark and neutral colors make you look strong and serious, for example, while light and pastel colors make you seem soft and lighthearted. So, depending on your job, career goals, or even various situations, wear light or dark colors based on how you want to come across. How Clothing Colors Are Perceived Here's how various colors are perceived, according to color psychologists: Black - authority, power, and drama. White purity, chastity, and cleanliness Orange enthusiasm, fascination, and determination Purple royalty, richness, and power Blue authority, trust, and loyalty Pink charming, feminine, and tender Red danger, power, passion Brown reliability, grounding, security Green nature, success, and wealth Yellow cheer, good will, and concentration Beige and tan dependable, conservative, and flexible Gray neutrality, sophistication, and balance According to research, men respond least favorably to women wearing purple and pink in business situations, yet most favorably to women wearing red and pink in romantic situations. Consider that when dressing for business. So...with all this information in mind, here are some great color combinations for work: Diana Pemberton-Sikes FashionForRealWomen.com 3
Classic Color Combinations This palette of dark, light, and neutral colors has been popular with people of power for centuries. Clerics wear black to denote seriousness and to intimidate, while the military favors navy because it denotes authority and trust. Gray, brown, and beige evoke neutral feelings and encourage negotiation. Black and white Gray and white Navy and white Brown and white Black and beige Gray and black Navy and black Brown and black Beige and white Gray and navy Navy and beige Brown and camel Diana Pemberton-Sikes FashionForRealWomen.com 4
Powerful Color Combinations Use dark colors with care. All black can be intimidating while all red can incite tempers. Wear these color combinations to create great powerful looks without being overpowering. Red and white Red and black Red and gray Red and beige Navy and red Navy and green Green and black Olive and black Purple and gray Fuchsia and black Orange and black Orange and brown Diana Pemberton-Sikes FashionForRealWomen.com 5
Lighthearted Color Combinations Light and pastel colors make you seem soft and lighthearted, so wear them when you want to come across as friendly and relatable. Combine them with dark colors to appear powerful yet friendly. Friendly and Relatable Dove gray and white Dove gray and orange Orange and white Watermelon and blue Light blue and white Green and white Pink and white Pink and beige Diana Pemberton-Sikes FashionForRealWomen.com 6
Powerful Yet Friendly Lavender and black Dove gray and black Light blue and black Turquoise and black Pink and black Yellow and black Yellow and gray Mustard and olive All pictures in this report courtesy of Chadwicks.com and Macys.com As you look over all these combinations, you'll notice that you see the same colors again and again in different combinations. That's not by accident. The goal is to get you to wear more of what you already have instead of always buying something new. Did you know that the average woman wears 20% of her clothes 80% of the time? With just a little imagination and an organized closet you can use your existing pieces in different color combinations to get A LOT more wear out them. Diana Pemberton-Sikes FashionForRealWomen.com 7
The best part? You'll like like you have much a bigger wardrobe than you do! Again, just think about how you want others to perceive you, then wear those colors. You'll be amazed by what it does for your bottom line. Want more tips on how to kill it with business clothing? Grab a copy of Business Elements That Reveal Your Income and Status to learn the details that will push your business wardrobe to the next level. To Your Success! Diana Pemberton-Sikes FashionForRealWomen.com Diana Pemberton-Sikes FashionForRealWomen.com 8