- I'm a New Yorker who wears a lot of neutrals but wants to wear more color.
- A color psychologist gave me tips on what colors to wear to boost my mood.
I'm definitely the stereotype that New Yorkers are curmudgeons who mostly wear black. Especially as winter approaches, I tend to throw on one of five vaguely different black sweatshirts hanging in my closet. Sometimes if I'm feeling excited, I'll switch to a neutral like beige or brown.
But after working on a story about how the colors we wear can improve our moods, I wondered if adding a few pops of color could benefit me in some way.
I sent Michelle Lewis, a color psychology expert and the founder of The Color Cure, a photo of some of the more colorful tops I own and how I want to feel in the coming winter months. I also sent her a few photos of myself to determine which shades work best with my skin tone.
She suggested I wear orange and magenta to brighten my mood
I told Lewis that northeast winters usually make me feel groggy and a bit unmotivated. I'd like to have a little more energy, especially when it comes to my relationships — I've been hosting friends at my place more and would like to keep doing that without burning out.
Lewis said that orange can help me feel more awake and balanced. Looking back, I remember wearing orange on the second day of a reporting trip. I was on my feet all day talking to attendees at an annual twins festival, and I do remember feeling a little bubblier and chattier after wearing a bright orange top.
I also told Lewis I wanted to stand out more and take bigger creative risks at work. She said magenta "is a great color that will help you approach bigger stories with boldness and bravery."I don't own any magenta clothing, but I did recently buy a very vibrant red and hot pink sweater. I decided to wear it to the office when I had a packed work day: I was interviewing a source about a topic I don't usually cover, taking a public speaking seminar, and participating in a pumpkin carving contest with my team — all things I wanted to be more vocal and focused for.
Lewis recommended I "start prescribing" myself colors depending on what I want out of each day. "Exhausted and need a burst of energy? Red. A little down? Maybe yellow," she said.
Matching colors to skin tone helps too
Lewis previously told me that you don't necessarily have to wear neon-bright colors to feel more energized. If anything, it's better to pick colors based on your skin tone.
From the photos I sent, Lewis said I have higher contrast, meaning I could be an Autumn, Winter, or combo of both called "Deep."
"Darker, deeper shades or hues will most likely look best on you," she said, noting that my skin glowed more in darker gray than it did in tan.
I've always felt like I look best in colors like burgundy, navy, and dark green, but it was nice to get a more extensive palette to work with so that I could incorporate shades that I can confidently wear without feeling washed out.
I don't have to forego my beloved black staples
The best news came when Lewis said that she'd "recommend shying away from the lighter tints and tones" based on my skin tone, and that dark grays and black will make my features stand out more.
It was nice to hear that I don't have to fully reinvent myself or dress in head-to-toe color to feel a little livelier. Lewis said it's all about balance. "I'm not going to wear green over my entire body," she said. "So I might pair a green sweater with gray jeans."