Positive and Negative Meanings of Each Color

Colors are a challenging subject to study. Their meaning and perception depend on social and cultural context, personal history and memory, the light in which they are seen, and also the other colors they are paired with.

The bibliography on colors is endless, and there is no exact science about it. Therefore, we will approach this world through anecdotes, examples, and insights we have learned over the years from reading fascinating books on the subject. This approach is not intended to be exhaustive but rather to share a captivating world closely linked to clothing and fashion.

We will undertake this enjoyable analysis by highlighting both the positive and negative sides of each color. Each color carries multiple symbols that can be imagined as a continuum constantly oscillating between a positive and a negative pole.

To begin this review, we have chosen one of the most “challenging” colors: white.

White Is Divine

In Western culture, white is the color of purity par excellence. Like black, it is an absolute color and thus symbolizes totality. It has an ethereal, rarefied quality. It is pure and luminous, and these characteristics often associate it with the divine.

If black is the color of the night and darkness, white, in contrast, is the color of the day and light. Yellow approaches light, but white *is* light itself. Symbolically, this total, blinding light represents the divine in its various forms and, therefore, also the inner light, the psychological self.

White Is Untainted

White represents the untainted, conveying sensations of peace and silence. Think of a fresh snowfall, the morning breeze heralding that white blanket outside the shutters, evoking a sense of time frozen and suspended.

White is also chosen in hospitals because it suggests cleanliness, and therefore reliability and order.

White Is Coldness

However, white also carries negative meanings: coldness, detachment, hostility, and elitism are among them. Think again of the hospital, specifically an operating room illuminated by bright white neon lights, with freshly painted white walls. The feeling this image evokes is one of sterility, indifference, and isolation.

White in Clothing

In clothing, white is the quintessential color of wedding dresses. Brides wear this color to communicate purity. The white of the wedding dress symbolizes virginity, traditionally considered a positive attribute. White is also the classic color for household linens and intimate apparel, due to its ability to evoke cleanliness and sterility.

Generally, white is worn to clear the mind of thoughts, go straight to the point, and when one wants to appear sharp, honest, and sincere.

It is best to avoid wearing white in situations where one should not seem cold or unapproachable, as it may come across as snobbish or even elitist.

White and the Diamond

Thanks to its qualities of brilliance and purity, the diamond carries meanings similar to the color white. A diamond is a stone that reflects light without returning any color shades, and its transparency can be considered as white taken to its extreme.

Traditionally, diamonds are given as gifts during engagements. They allude to the divine (and religion), as well as to totality and union, symbolizing the Self and consciousness more broadly.

Fancy some white?

Raffaella and I had fun creating and shooting the look you see at the top, using vintage pieces from our shop in Cambiago. Raffaella was surprised by the effects this color had on her, as she’s usually used to wearing dark colors (like most of us, let’s be honest).

If you’re feeling inspired to add a touch of white to your wardrobe, here are some suggestions from our website. Please note that currently, and until November 22, we have an active online promotion on many items in our virtual catalog.

Let’s start with some stunning pieces from the Antique Linens category.

Next, some suggestions from the clothing section.

See you next time, dear friends! Or rather, see you next Color!

Bibliography

• Claudio Widmann, “The Symbolism of Colors”
• Karen Haller, “The Little Book of Color”

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