Shady Grey Paints the Town Black!

Neeti speaks of two other colours, Black and Grey, after last week’s Whites. Dwelling on the colour Black, she reminds us, who can forget the Little Black Dress by Madame Coco Chanel, which revolutionised fashion? Audrey Hepburn, the famous Hollywood actress, epitomised this dress in her movies, looking so classy and elegant! Grey is the colour of compromise, it is the transition between two non-colours. The closer grey gets to black, the more dramatic and mysterious it becomes. The closer it gets to silver or white, the more illuminating and lively it becomes. Our columnist reveals the soul of colours, in the weekly column, exclusively for Different Truths.

Wow, it’s the sixth week already! Time flies when we talk about Fashion! I hope it’s becoming your favourite subject too and you are enjoying it.

So did you love bathing in the pristine White last week? I hope you did because it’s the perfect colour for our hot summers. And forever classy! But now it’s time to move on to two more classy colors, without which we just can’t imagine our lives!

Yes, as promised, I’m back with a bang with Black & Grey…colours which are forever here to stay, come what may!

The Colour Black

Is Black really a colour?

Black is the absorption of all colours and the absence of light.

Who can forget the Little Black Dress by Madame Coco Chanel, which revolutionised fashion? Audrey Hepburn, the famous Hollywood actress, epitomised this dress in her movies, looking so classy and elegant!

Black is a very powerful colour. It has many different connotations.

To some, it represents sophisticated elegance. To others, it’s a panorama of mystery and drama!

Sometimes, we just want to hide from this world…in those moments we seek solace in colour black.

Some of us use it to hide our weight; others among us use it to hide our feelings, our fears or our insecurities. A lot of secrets are hidden in those black shadows, but beware of the dangers lurking around, as you may get lost, never to be found!

Black is associated with power, elegance, formality, death, evil, and mystery. It’s associated with fear and the unknown (black holes).It usually has a negative connotation (blacklist, black humour, black magic, ‘black death’ and mourning.)

It can prevent two-way communication because of its intimidation. The salesman wearing all black will make a lot of sales, but no friends! It radiates authority, but creates fear in the process.

Black implies self-control and discipline, independence and a strong will, and giving an impression of authority and power.

Black absorbs negative energy. It is useful to carry something black with you to protect you from harm and negativity when travelling or when going about your usual daily activities outside your home.

Black is often associated with sexiness, as in the temptress in sexy black lingerie creating an air of mystery and intrigue. Seduction thy name is Black! It can also imply submission to another (including a sexual partner), similar to the priest wearing black robes in submission to God. Interestingly it’s all about dominance and submission at the same time.

People who like black may be conventional, conservative and serious, or they may think of themselves as being sophisticated or very dignified.

The colour black is often seen as a colour of sophistication, as in ‘the little black dress’, or ‘the black tie event’.

Affluent and success orientated women often choose black as it can give an impression of elegance, sophistication and confidence.

Teenagers feel a special pull towards colour Black in their transition stage. They are no longer innocent children but moving towards sophisticated adulthood.

Every colour goes well with black! It is suggested to wear bright colour with black to balance it.

The next colour is Grey!

The Colour Grey

Grey is made by mixing black and white in equal amounts. It lacks the mystery of Black and the lightness and purity of White. It’s called a fence-sitter. It is neutral and unassuming, happy being lost, while other colours against it take predominance and shine in contrast!

It is also said to be the colour of compromise – being neither black nor white, it is the transition between two non-colours. The closer grey gets to black, the more dramatic and mysterious it becomes. The closer it gets to silver or white, the more illuminating and lively it becomes.

It’s called motionless and emotionless, cold and uninviting.

No one likes grey skies for long as they give a feeling of depression.

Gray is a professional colour and so it is perfect for office wear. Grey shirts and trousers are best sellers as they go with many colours.

It conforms – it is conventional, dependable and practical. It is a colour of maturity and responsibility, associated with the gray hair of old age. It will never be the centre of attention, the dynamic leader or the director – it is too safe and toned down.

It is not advisable to wear all grey as it gets too monotonous and boring. One may feel neglected too. You can wear a bright shirt or scarf to bring out the colour.

It’s a nice colour for the walls too as interesting bright colour furniture would go very well with it.

So after I have drowned you in all fifty shades of grey (Ahem Ahem!) presenting the three classy colours in my poem:

A Shady Story

Dark and deep, mysterious and bold

The Classy Black, never gets old

It commands attention, in a silent way

Gets lost in the night, strikes out in the day

An illusion of slimness, as it absorbs all light

Blends with other colours, without a fight

Black Kohl eyes or the little black dress

I have to confess, that

Black can never, fail to impress!

And fine day, it met the pure, innocent White

And suddenly the night was flooded with light!

Thus began their romance, they danced their dance,

And a new color called Grey, got a living chance!

No longer was the world Black and White

As shades of Grey, were now in sight!

A little dull and serious, grey was an introvert

It stayed in the background, and no one got hurt!

They lived in harmony, Black, White & Grey

A monochrome family, classy all the way!

ombre-gray

Bibliography:

http://www.empower-yourself- with-color- psychology.com/meaning-of- colors.html

https://resources.oncourse.iu.edu/access/content/user/rreagan/Filemanager_Public_Files/meaningofcolors.htm

©Neeti Banga

Pix from Net sourced by the author.

author avatar
Neeti Banga
Neeti Banga, a fashion professional, is currently a faculty at her Alma Mater, NIFT, New Delhi. Her poems and short stories have won national and international awards. These are published in various anthologies. Her Poetry anthology, 'The Dewdrops...a journey begins', with two co-poets is a best seller. Wild, nomadic and romantic at heart, her gypsy soul finds solace in expression through painting and writing. She is penning her short story collection and her debut novel.

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