Did you know that many people cite blue as their favorite color? Blue is the color of our sky and ocean, and with its multitude of shades it rouses a wide range of emotions. Hope. Peace. Sadness. Tranquility and much more. As the poet Ms. Moem wrote:
There are so many shades of blue;
Different tones and different hues.
Not all of them are sad
Though blue’s reputation is rather bad.
The ocean is blue and the sky is too.
Brides carry something blue when they say “I do”
Say something naughty and the air turns blue.
What sort of blue are you?”
—Ms. Moem, Blue
While you’re pondering what “blue” you are, you may wonder why there are so many shades of blue. There is a scientific explanation for this, however, we’ll just say it simply: blue is the only color that maintains its “blueness!” As French Fauvist painter Raoul Dufya explains it:
The color blue is steeped rich in history.
In Early Modern Europe, the color blue was created as a blue textile dye made from woad, a flowering plant native to the Mediterranean. England, France, and Germany cultivated woad, helping many towns become very rich.
However, the dye was expensive to produce, so it was only used by the wealthy and nobility. French Kings Charlemagne and Louis wore robes of blue silk and gold embroidery. Napoleon also wore blue. And back in the 1800s, England’s Queen Charlotte wore a blue hue that was invented just for her which is how the term “royal blue” came to be!
What Blue Symbolizes Around the World
Blue stands for a wide range of meanings worldwide. In China, blue is associated with wood, east, and spring. In Europe, as early as the 13th century, blue also symbolized trust and love (one of the reasons a traditional wedding ring featured a sapphire). In Mexico, blue symbolizes sacrifice, while in Ukraine, it can also stand for healing. In North America, blue can symbolize trust and serenity, but also depression and loneliness.
Blue is the most popular color for the world’s biggest brands. In fact, about 33% of the world’s most valuable brands have blue in their logo. It is especially prevalent in the financial services, insurance, electronics, and software industries. As you can see below, tech companies such as Hewlett Packard, Intel, and Facebook’s parent company, Meta, all use variations of the color blue.
Popular words and expressions incorporate the word blue, too.
What’s interesting about blue is this: once you know its history, it’s easy to decipher how and/or why a phrase came into existence.
For example, the word “blueblood” comes from an old English tradition—royalty used to put silver in their water to purify it, which turned their skin blue. The phrase “blue ribbon” stands for high quality and is derived from the term “Cordon Bleu,” which refers to a blue ribbon worn by a French knightly order.
Other blue phrases are:
• True blue — to be extremely loyal and trustworthy
• Out of the blue – unexpected
• Into the blue – completely gone or disappearing without a trace
• Feeling blue – feeling sad or depressed
• Once in a blue moon – an event that happens infrequently
The psychology and physiology behind the color blue.
As mentioned earlier, blue is the favorite color of many people. Blue’s popularity can be partly attributed to science. The color can lower our pulse rate and body temperature, which can bring on feelings of calmness and serenity. Words often used to describe the feelings it evokes are “peaceful,” “tranquil,” “secure,” and “orderly.” This is why interior designers incorporate blue in spaces where we want to relax, such as patios, family rooms, and bedrooms.
This bedroom is painted in Cerulean Blue. shaded with grey, creating a fresh and relaxing ambiance.
This family room is painted in a shaded Cobalt Blue, which has a tinge of Black. The vibrancy of the color gives the room a bit of energy in addition to its peaceful vibe.
This outdoor patio features walls painted in Thalo Blue. With the addition of vermillion red flowers, (a close complement to blue), the environment is lively and bright. The complement of blue makes the blue “bluer” and the red even redder!
Last but not least, how to wear blue!
The good news is blue is a fairly easy color to wear, since there are many beautiful shades to choose from! Let’s take a look at some tips on what to wear based on your hair and skin color.
Recommended Blue Colors for Redheads
What to wear if you have red or auburn hair and a cool skin tone…
This elegant redhead can easily wear this teal blue dress which complements her cool skin tones and hair, yet creates enough contrast against her fair complexion to give her a striking appearance.
If you have red hair and a warmer complexion with more yellow in it, you can wear a blue shade like the one on the woman in the photo. And, what really makes this dress work for her is the yellow lines in her dress.
See how the yellow lines have the same tonal value as her skin tone? This is what pulls the whole outfit together for her.
Now, let’s look at the photo (below) of the fair-skinned redhead in the pale blue dress outdoors in the field. This is an example of how to make an overall photo work when wearing blue.
As a color image consultant, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this shade of blue since it is a bit cool against her slightly ruddy complexion. However, the photo really works because the gray-blue sky and orangish grasses in the background pull the image all together. This is a great tip for all of you art directors and set designers out there, as well as image consultants!
Recommended Blue Colors for Brunettes
With a darker hair color and a warm complexion, brunettes can pull off rich, vibrant blues such as this ultramarine blue shawl. The warmth of this woman’s skin tone can hold its own against the vibrancy of the color, creating a very dramatic portrait.
For fair-skinned brunettes, a stunning blue that could work harmoniously is one like this cobalt turquoise color, which has about 25% yellow and 100% cyan added. This creates a softer, more approachable look, yet still is very striking with the contrast of the dark jet black hair and cool skin tone.
Recommended Blue Colors for Blondes
For medium blondes with highlights, there are a lot of options! This sun-tanned blonde can wear bright, warm blues like this Tinted Thalo Blue, which could be called Periwinkle. It is a spring color that complements her warm skin tone.
For Ash Blondes with neutral skin, a shaded and tinted gray indigo blue like the one the woman is wearing below works well. In general, she can wear soft blues. These colors not only work with her neutral skin tone but match her blue eyes as well—an added bonus when one wants to draw attention to the face!
For medium blondes with dark blue eyes, the blues can be more intense and darker. For instance, this woman is wearing a deep indigo blue, which once again, brings out her eyes!
As you can see, the color blue really is one of the most versatile colors in the color spectrum. Its connotations and symbolism are rich with meaning. And as the predominant color on our planet Earth, it evokes feelings of positivity, peace, happiness, and hope. With that said, I’d like to end this blog with one of my favorite quotes that references the color blue. Enjoy!
To really understand color, sign up for the ColorInsight color classes using the color ColorProfile System™. Taught by one of the nation’s leading color experts, Mary Lou Manlove, the ColorInsight color classes will teach you how to see color in a whole new way. This series of classes—which starts with ColorKinetics™ to help you learn your colors, and then progresses to Color Profile™ to help you master color—will give you new color skills that you can use for yourself or even help others!
See the ColorInsight Color Classes
If you would really like to know more about colors and what colors look good on you, feel free to contact Mary Lou to have your colors done. She’ll help you reveal your best self by emphasizing the colors that work best on you!