Quick psychological experiment: Before you read any more, think of the whole week, and choose a color of the day for each. Don’t think about why, just pick whichever comes to mind.
Monday: Yellow
Tuesday: Red
Wednesday: Orange
Thursday: Green
Friday: Blue
Saturday: White
Sunday: A kind of purple/brown hybrid
If they were then congratulations, you’ve picked the same colors as me. There’s no specific color to represent each day, but a lot of people pick something similar. The psychology is pretty straightforward- you ease into the week on Monday, and then the colors we associate with stress come up as we think about the heavy part of the week. By Thursday green comes up as we start to see the finish line, and by Friday it’s all clear blue sky.
Saturday is white because it’s heaven maybe? Sunday is an interesting one, mine was a combination of purple and brown. It was as if my brain couldn’t decide whether Sunday was fun (purple), or getting ready for a new week (brown).
With the months though, there’s a more fixed set of colors. Several, actually. Due to the parallels with astrology, they have become known as colorstrology.
What Is Colorstrology?
Believe it or not, it’s a real thing. Well, sort of. A lot of research has gone into the psychology of color, and the effect it can have on our emotional well-being. We know that there are emotions we tend to feel more or less, depending on the time of year. It’s difficult to narrow it down to one or two for each month, but there are colors that better for certain months.
The colors of the month differ depending on who you ask, and often seem to be more about selling books, or paint. I’d be lying if we said we had no interest in selling anything. It may not entirely be a coincidence that we offer advice on how to fill up your wardrobe, as well as everything you need to fill up your wardrobe.
The list we’ve chosen to share though, evolved more organically, and seems more grounded in psychology. No one can tell you definitively which color fits best with each month, but it is worth thinking about when you decide which colors to show off.
Choosing which color to wear is proven to have an impact on mood, and capturing this feeling can be very profitable if you’re deciding which clothes to sell in your store. The seasons are relevant here, so our colors of the month apply more to temperate, northern hemisphere climates. Take a look at the color psychology chart below, and see if you agree.
Color Psychology Chart
| Month | Colors |
|---|---|
| January | White, Light Blue |
| February | Cherry Red, Pink |
| March | Emerald Green, Purple |
| April | Pale Yellow, Grass Green |
| May | Cream, Lilac |
| June | Pale Orange, Pearl |
| July | Coral, Yellow |
| August | Burnt Red, Orange |
| September | Rust, Bright Blue |
| October | Maroon, Indigo |
| November | Brown, Gold |
| December | Forest Green, Dark Red |
Colors for Each Month
Let’s have a look at how each month has become associated with these colors, and how you can take advantage.
January: White, Light Blue
White is the color of innocence, and while we may not feel at our most innocent on January 1st, it’s something many of us strive to recover over the month. It symbolizes a fresh start, and a time to think of the possibilities for the coming year. It’s also the color of snow, often seen in January. Light blue is an extension of these ideas, representing clear skies ahead for the new year.
Red and pink represent love and passion, so Valentine’s Day probably has a bit to say about these associations, with February now the month of romance. These colors also represent excitement. February may not sound like the most exciting month, but I like to think it’s a time to consciously add some energy into our lives, after the malaise of January. There’s the Superbowl, and you can use your wardrobe to add some vibrancy and pick everyone around you up, rather than waiting for spring to do it for you.
March: Emerald Green, Purple
Green is a common theme in March. Symbolizing growth after the winter, we often have the image of green shoots breaking through the snow. The color also represents freshness and prosperity. Purple represents flowering plants and inspiration. Spring doesn’t really arrive until towards the end of March, but you can use clothing to bring about the change of mood a little early.
April: Pale Yellow, Grass Green
March and April have some crossover, as the start of spring (weather-wise) can fall in either, as does Easter, which represents rebirth. April is the start of the real spring. We see more growth, optimism, and sunshine, and the colors of the month embody that. The days get warmer and longer, and we want to wear fresh colors and get outside.
May: Cream, Lilac
The cream and lilac of May complete the spring colors. Flowers are in full bloom, cream depicts the sun when it’s still clouded over a little. These colors exude comfort, calm, and tranquility, as we take a breather between the excitement of the start of spring, and the possibilities of the summer ahead.
June: Pale Orange, Pearl
Everyone knows June is the best month, regardless of my birthday. It’s the start of the summer, kids start to finish school (depending on where you’re from), it’s pride month, and the soccer World Cup starts in June. Orange signals the introduction of the bolder, summer colors, but it’s pale because we’re just getting started. The pearl comes from the gemstone of the same name, the birthstone of June.
July: Coral, Yellow
With summer in full flow, we get the vibrant colors of July. The sun is at its strongest, and this month is about fun and excitement. Wearing these colors can transmit this energy, optimism and happiness to others, as well as yourself. Brighten up your wardrobe and see if it doesn’t just brighten you up too.
August: Burnt Red, Orange
Think of beautiful, balmy sunsets, and red and orange are probably the colors that come to mind. These colors of the month represent the August heat, and are also a sign that we are approaching fall. Orange and red also symbolize abundance and joy, two things which go hand in hand, and are common to August.
September: Rust, Bright Blue
Rust continues the theme of summer heat turning into fall. We also start to see the leaves change color, helping you color-coordinate as you walk down the street. Bright blue is the post-summer version of the pale blue in January, it represents a new start as kids go back to school. It’s also the color of September’s birthstone- sapphire.
October: Maroon, Indigo
As the days get darker, so do the colors. That doesn’t mean they need to get more depressing though. Maroon and indigo are beautiful colors that can keep those around you in a positive frame of mind as we head towards winter. These colors represent thoughtfulness, tranquility and mystery. A time for reflection between the summer and the festive season perhaps.
November: Brown, Gold
Brown tells us that we’re in the thick of the fall, and it represents shelter, because maybe we want to retreat a little before all the festivities. Gold stops us getting too down, and helps introduce the start of the festive season, with Thanksgiving. Together they create a cozy effect to help keep us warm, if only psychologically.
December: Forest Green, Dark Red
No prizes for guessing what inspired these colors. December has a heavy focus on Christmas, which is such a special time it keeps us positive throughout the winter. The green and red combo is a great way to get yourself and others in the mood from the start of the month, and of course to add to the Christmas spirit once the holiday season itself comes around.
Choose Wisely
Your wardrobe choices can do a great job of amplifying the mood you’re in. They can also help shift your mood, if that’s what you need. So think twice the next time you pick up a t-shirt, it might just make your day. For retailers, capturing the mood of your customers is essential to stocking the right goods. It’s not always as simple as looking at what they buy though. Sometimes people don’t know what they want yet, and if you can figure it out before them, the clothes will fly off your shelves.
At Wordans we pride ourselves on our extensive range, so whatever color you’re looking for, in whatever material, you can find it on our website. For more ways we can add some color to your life, head over to our Instagram, @wearewordans.
