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Wearing colour can boost the mood

— by Alyson Walsh

Sometimes you just want to ditch the lockdown leisurewear and dress up. The lovely pink cord jacket hasn’t seen much action this year – but now the days are shorter and darker, I’ve felt drawn to the feel-good factor and warmth of this dusty rose colour. As designer Jil Sander said in a recent New York Times interview, ‘ I think that radical down dressing is a drainer…it will slow down your day. If we want to change the world, we have to keep renewing ourselves.’ And who doesn’t feel like a reset, right now? Having been fairly locked down for months (I thought second time round might be easier but it’s not), I guess I just want to feel normal and wear proper clothes again. Interiors matter, too, and while I haven’t been going Hygge-crazy, I have been surrounding myself with colour indoors. I love having cut flowers in the flat, and on Saturday, I opted for a bunch of autumn brights: coral pink and red roses, eucalyptus stems, berries the colour of peaches and cream, all arranged in a bright green, vintage glass jug.

Fashion psychologist Professor Carolyn Mair, says that when we need a boost, particularly at this time of year when there’s less sunlight and, ‘ We can experience a drop in the levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin and the hormone melatonin, both of which affect mood,’ colourful clothing can make a difference. ‘Perceiving colour is complex,’ she continues, ‘The power of colour lies not in the colour itself but in how strongly we believe in socio-cultural associations. In every society and culture, colour becomes associated with emotions and characteristics; these become beliefs and beliefs become behaviours. There is some validity to the notion that colour can lift the mood but only if the wearer believes in the symbolic meaning of colour.’ Apparently, pink represents love and serenity – and in the midst of a tumultuous year, we could all do with more of both. Perhaps, subconsciously, I’m seeking serenity, or maybe I wanted to show our divided world some love….

 

My pink cord blazer was from Weekend Max Mara, last year, as an alternative, I quite like Boden’s Davies bright pink cord blazer HERE. The colourful cord jacket can be layered under a coat or worn over a jumper, all-year-round. Hadn’t thought of going head-to-toe with my dusty pink chinos (similar antique rose, cotton trousers HERE) , the shades aren’t quite the same but ne’er mind, this rakish outfit has perked me right up.

 

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Sometimes you just want to ditch the lockdown leisurewear and dress up. The lovely pink cord jacket hasn’t seen much action this year – but now the days are shorter and darker, I’ve …