| You're wearing a suit, so you should look good. | | | | the skin. It is a mistake to think that you can rely on |
| Right? Maybe not. | | | | your instincts or personal taste when choosing colors. |
| A suit in the wrong color can be detrimental to your | | | | Without color knowledge, it is difficult to produce |
| appearance on two levels. First are the results in the | | | | results that are consistently positive. |
| mirror. It may not be becoming and may clash with | | | | A few colors are universally positive, such as navy |
| your hair or your skin. Remember George Bush in the | | | | blue. However, it is necessary to select the proper |
| pale gray windbreaker he occasionally wears? He | | | | shade of navy blue for your skin. In general, if you |
| appears weather-beaten, tired and much older than | | | | have gray hair, avoid gray-toned navy blues. |
| he is. Imagine Bush in a suit the same color. It is not | | | | Red is another "universal" color that has strong |
| the picture of a powerful man. You also may recall | | | | positive connotations. But keep in mind that |
| the image of silver-haired Bill Clinton in a camel jacket. | | | | orange-reds are less flattering to the skin than |
| He wore it once, and the results were jarring. | | | | blue-reds. |
| The second negative result of the wrong color is on | | | | What message does the popular but not |
| a psychological level, when the colors you wear send | | | | recommended color gray send? It suggests old and |
| out negative messages. Can you see Laura Bush clad | | | | gray, sad and gray or tired and gray. Worn alone, |
| in a leopard print dress or Jennifer Lopez in a | | | | gray simply sends out a negative message, so it |
| matronly brown dress? According to a recent study | | | | must be combined with a tie in a dynamic color. |
| of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, a lack of | | | | Women can negate gray's dreariness with a colorful |
| color knowledge may be costing you money. The | | | | accent, which can include lipstick. |
| bank reviewed economic studies to find possible links | | | | Our sense organs can function only by means of |
| between looks and wages. The study's conclusion: A | | | | comparisons. For example, the eye accepts a line as |
| worker with below average looks tended to earn | | | | long when a shorter line is presented for comparison. |
| significantly less - on average 9 percent less - per | | | | The same line is taken as short when compared with |
| hour than an above average-looking employee. Those | | | | a longer line. Color effects are similarly intensified or |
| with above-average looks tended to earn 5 percent | | | | weakened by contrast. A color that seems perfectly |
| more than their average-looking colleagues. The | | | | fine may suddenly look absolutely dreadful when |
| economists working on the analysis concluded that | | | | compared with a better color. Color knowledge is |
| society values workers with good looks and pays | | | | important when choosing wardrobe colors, as well as |
| them for it. | | | | hair and makeup colors. Unfortunately, many books |
| What does it mean to "look good" on the job? You | | | | on the subject of color analysis contain dated |
| might be surprised. My 30 years of research suggest | | | | information. For example, all the color books in my |
| that it has nothing to do with looking "beautiful" or | | | | library suggest that because of my light skin and hair, |
| "handsome." It has everything to do with looking | | | | I must wear pastels. In reality, most blondes look |
| polished and professional. In particular, it has to do | | | | pale and washed out in pastels, and I am no |
| with being dressed in a professional manner and in | | | | exception. |
| colors and styles that flatter you. Colors send | | | | The most expensive suit in the world won't help you |
| messages, and you can use that to your advantage. | | | | look good if it's in the wrong color or style. |
| You must choose them first and foremost to flatter | | | | |