After pink, blue, and orange, today our color post is dressed in red. And as you’ll see below, that means dressing in many things. Curiously, the color red is one of the most universal: while other colors vary in meaning depending on the culture, red usually keeps its meaning. It is one of the colors we see most throughout the day, and if you ask someone to name a color without thinking, most people will choose red.
But what is it about the color red? What does it convey to us? Today we’re going to dive into a contradictory, intense color that inevitably captures all our attention. Do you like the plan?
THE COLOR RED: PURE PASSION.
Yes, we’re probably not revealing any secrets. When we see a very intense red, we call it passion red. But it symbolizes both good and bad passions, as long as they are intense and overwhelming. Red is the color of love, hearts, the flushed cheeks of people in love, the most suggestive roses, buuut…
Red is also the color of anger, hatred, and danger… The same blood that makes us flush with embarrassment or shyness also makes us turn red with anger. Indeed, our perceptions of red are often based on our “blood-related” experiences. A state of intense excitement always causes a more agitated and abundant flow of blood, and it’s something we can’t hide.
Have you ever turned as red as a tomato without being able to do anything to stop it?
HAPPINESS AND EXTROVERSION.
Not content with claiming something as powerful as passion, red also becomes a symbol of happiness. That’s why it’s often abundant at celebrations where a happy event is being celebrated (have you noticed the Christmas decorations lately?). This symbolism is especially strong in some cultures, such as China. Did you know that Chinese women get married dressed in red? Can you imagine getting married dressed in red? What would your mother say!
It’s also the color of extroversion for a very obvious reason: it’s impossible not to see red. It grabs our attention powerfully and stands out from everything else. When we want something to be seen, we cover it in red: this applies equally to a traffic sign and to our lips. That’s why people who prefer to go unnoticed often avoid wearing this color.
VITALITY AND DANGER.
That visibility makes it a perfect candidate for danger signs. A red traffic light or a red line forces us to stop. There’s a prohibitive element that makes us be careful: a flashing red light, a waving red flag… They put us on alert and tell us that some danger is lurking.
But at the same time, red is the most vigorous color of all: its direct connection with our blood makes it the color of strength and life. That’s why it also conveys a strong sense of vitality and energy.
Of course, we also can’t overlook its prominent role as a symbol of eroticism and seduction. This eroticism and representation of sexuality was, in Christian tradition, a reason to associate the color red with sin (hell, fire, the devil… Have you seen The Scarlet Letter?). However, in Hindu culture, it is the sacred color of Lakshni, the goddess of beauty and wealth. Indian women also use red in their wedding dresses.
This role in Hindu culture, associated with beauty and wealth, represents another characteristic of the color red. It is a very material, very carnal color, so to speak, in opposition to blue, which is the color of spirituality par excellence.
Passionate, dangerous, contradictory, changeable, vital, strong, warm, and extroverted. Just like you…?
Stop by our store and discover all the colors we have prepared for you.