Better Off Red

By Christine Buzan
On Feb 02, 2015

This post appears in the Looks We Love: Red Dresses campaign.

PSYCHOLOGY OF THE COLOR RED

For centuries, the color red has held symbolic value. Associated in Western culture with amorous love and passion, red is also a symbol of good luck in Chinese culture and many brides in the East wear red at their wedding. Also, red serves as nature’s warning sign, alerting creatures of possible dangers. It’s only natural that we chose red as the color of our stop signs.

Diana Vreeland said it better than anyone else, “Red is the great clarifier – bright and revealing. I can’t imagine becoming bored with red – it would be like becoming bored with the person you love.”

Red is exciting, bold, alluring, and dangerous—but could it be that there’s more to the color than meets the eye?

While I was at a digital marketing conference in San Francisco last week, I had the pleasure of hearing a ton of amazing speakers. However, something one speaker, Dr. Kit Yarrow, said during her presentation has stuck in my mind…

While analyzing the effects of color with marketing, one study discovered that waitresses who wear red earn on average 14.6 % to 26.1% more in tips than those in other colors.

Could the color have specific physiological and psychological effects on our subconscious? If so, do those who incorporate more red into their wardrobe have some kind of advantage?

Psychology of Red

Always curious, I looked into the topic and came across this article from BBC which details the psychological effects of seeing the color red in different situations. According to the article, simply seeing the color causes our physiology to change as well as effect our hormones depending on the environment we’re in.

For instance, when two boxers of the same quality were paired against each other, the one wearing the red gear on average performed better than their opponent in blue. Those assigned the color red in contact sports (like boxing, wrestling, or football) experience a surge of confidence and are more likely to beat their opponent.

On the other hand, the article also suggests that we perceive individuals to be more attractive when wearing the color red. When looking at a photo of a person in a red shirt next to a photo of the same person wearing a different color, the red one was overwhelmingly selected as being “more attractive.”

The striking thing about all of this is that we don’t even realize we’re making these decisions. They’re entirely subconscious.

Psychology of Red

So, besides being interesting information, what does this mean for us?

Whether you’re into fashion or not, it’s indisputable that it’s a part of your personal marketing. Incorporating red into your wardrobe can not only make you more memorable, but also be seen as both more competent and confident.

For instance, similar to the study of the person wearing a red shirt, men wearing red ties in corporate settings are more likely to be perceived as authoritative and competent.

If you’re looking to make a good first impression, or score a raise during your evaluation think about opting for a red blouse.

Even if the hue is a bit too bold for your personality, you can opt for a red lip, nail polish, or earrings to add that extra boost of confidence. If anything, take the opportunity to get a little festive for Valentine’s Day and give red a try! I’ve included some of my favorite ruby items on the market, from home decor to sleepwear.

Do you feel more confident wearing red? Have any stories to share? Let me know in the comments below or email me at christine@madame-ostrich.com!