Purple (or violet) is a colour with many connotations and meanings. In the past it was associated with royalty as it was such a hard colour to create from natural materials to dye fabric thus was only worn but the very rich and powerful. It’s symbolic for wealth and status in Japan.
These days, as purple is the shortest wavelength, and the last colour to be seen before the ultra-violet spectrum of rays, purple has been taken on as a spiritual colour. It’s associated with the crown shakra, and to those who believe in such things, is associated with pure thoughts and spirituality.
There are many types of purples, from the red-violets to the blue violets. The red-violets are warmer and more inviting and invigorating, the blue-violets are cooler and is more calming.
Violet is a more creative colour, it’s not one that you see frequently in traditional business-wear, but excessive use of it can give others the impression of eccentricity.
It’s the symbol of bravery too in the US Military – which awards the Purple Heart for courage in action.
23% of women rate purple as their favourite colour. Pretty much no men do, but 22% of men rate it as their least favourite colour. It’s one that divides – love it or hate it!
Want to discover more about other colours and how they communicate?
Then read on:
My favourite colour. And a deep bright cool purple suits me as one of my very best colours. I have more necklaces and earrings in purple than in any other colour. My glasses frame is purple too (mostly I wear contacts though). My signature eyeshadow that I use every time I go out is a subtle light purple colour (I have greenish grey blue eyes.). I like to think of purple as royal and elegant 🙂
Purple is one my favorite colors (my favorite colors are berry and burgundy tho ;P) but its strange its not a populare color in business because it isnt aggressive nor feminine. :S
I love lilac/lavendel but it seems to be one of my worse color when you mentioned that on another post. :L
Dusty and “Vampy” colors are my favorite “color theme”.
The too much -> eccentricity does bring Prince to mind 😉
I’ve been loving aubergine recently. Interesting, I find that it goes with more colors than I expected or thought that it would. I think it’s because to me, it doesn’t seem to be an entirely warm, nor entirely a cool color.
Yes it’s a universal colour as it has elements of both warm and cool
Interesting about the eccentricity element. Muted purples are among my best colors, and many people would consider me eccentric. Fun correlation there.
Another cultural tidbit: in Christianity purple is associated with repentance and penance. It is the liturgical color for Lent.
Yes purple has lots of different associations over the ages!
Purple is my all-time favorite color! Though sometimes I joke that my parents gave me a favorite color as well as a name. 😉 I’ve never really been able to decide what shades I prefer, either. Oh, well. And is it just me that likes it with red?
You need a strong personality to pull it off, but it can be absolutely stunning with red!
By the way, note to Imogen, I have unsubscribed from the blog, but it is no reflection on you. You are wonderful and I will continue to look you up when I have time. I just have too much information coming into my mailbox and inducing guilt. But bravo for your excellent work!