Therefore, it is always advisable to bear the unconscious meanings of colour in mind whenever dressing for any occasion.

As we age, our perceptions of these colours change.

There are three specific attributes of every colour:

Hue: Hues, the names of colours and their colour families, are the colours we perceive. This is attributed to the wavelengths of the colours themselves.

Value: The lightness or darkness of a colour. Value is added or removed to a colour by adding degrees of white or black respectively.

Intensity: Also known as the chroma of the colour, weaker intensity colours has a more faded, grey quality, whilst high-intensity colours have a more powerful, jewel-like quality.

Psychology and Healing

Different colours will spark different emotions.

Red - The Base Chakra - Bottom of the Spine, Foundations, Grounding, Element Earth Symbolises fire and blood, and stands for excitement and physical strength. It has a great deal of energy and intensity, and can also create a very romantic, passionate or dramatic mood. It can appear aggressive and should be used appropriately as it could create the wrong impression. If worn in business, keep it small - a tie for a man, preferably below the waist for a woman, a red jacket could be perceived as too much, but is entirely dependant upon the situation and the audience, just be aware of the potential reactions to this colour.

Pink and Peach - Are delicate, feminine, compassionate and calming. They project less energy than red. They can be worn by men exceptionally well, especially when contrasted with deeper colours, a pink tie worn with a charcoal suit for example. A peach shirt with stone chinos at the weekend.

Orange: The Second Chakra - The Element of Water - Frequently used in children's toys and games, Orange is mainly associated with play, fun and friendliness.

Yellow: The Third Chakra - The Element of Fire - Yellow isn't as fierce as orange or red, and allows for a more receptive, approachable appearance.

Green: The Fourth Chakra - The Element of Air - Green is one of the more dualistic colours, either representing tranquillity and order or drama and tension depending on where it is worn.

Blue: The Fifth Chakra - The Element of Space - The value of blue really defines how it is perceived. Light blues are often seen as calming, whilst darker values are more authoritative.

Purple: The Sixth Chakra - The Element of Light - With historical links to the church, royalty and the law, purple is a sign of power and mystical presence.

Brown: A comfortable and plain colour, brown a sign of reliability, normality and security.

Black: A sign of power and mystery, but also dignity, black is a very versatile colour and can fit to almost any circumstance.

Grey - Is a neutral that is not based on any hue. It is a mixture of black and white. It represents peace, calmness, reliability and conservatism. Dark grey signifies power and authority.

White: The Seventh Chakra - Symbolic of light and divinity, white is a very pure, clean colour.

So, be aware of the different message you may be giving by the shades of colour that you chose to wear. If you are feeling depressed or low, red is a fantastic colour to wear as it will give you an instant energy lift, but be aware too of the potential reaction from others'. Orange will also lift your spirits and make you feel upbeat and happy, bright pink will do the same for those of you who cannot carry orange well. If you are in a position where you need to communicate clearly, then any shade of blue, especially if worn on the top half of the body, will help enormously.

Experiment with different colours and your mood and discover for yourself just how powerful colour is, it's a lot more than what colour lipstick you can wear!