Cheryl Marie Cordeiro

• White smocked cotton voile blouse with accents of red roses
• Red tulip shorts, Patrizia Pepe
• Limited edition Luella Gisele bag by Luella Bartley, in tangerine
• C-buckle peep toe shoes with wooden stacked heels, Chloé
• Seashell ear hoops in a golden hue

I’ve always been aware that colours, when it comes to wardrobe, can correlate to a person’s mood on a day to day basis. And in a broader influence, surrounding colours can lift moods or make people depressed. An individual’s personality can also be described in terms of colour. Most would understand the sentence, Meeting Alex changed her life, where she was a walking shade of grey before, she is today a myriad of pinks, greens and vermillion!

Even Winston Churchill is not neutral to colours, as he said:

I cannot pretend to feel impartial about colours. I rejoice with the brilliant ones, and am genuinely sorry for the poor browns.

I’ve personally seldom thought of using colours consciously when dressing for the day. Most of the time, it has been what colours I felt like wearing for the day. Until I read some about feng shui dressing, where most suggest that one could use colours consciously, in order to change one’s state of mind, energy and/or aura.

Below are a few snippets of a longer article or Q&A session by Lillian Too, who is a best selling author on all things Feng Shui. She lends some advice – and a brilliant excuse to go shopping! – for positive energy on colours in dressing for the year of the Rat, which is this year, 2008:

On the general colours for 2008

Some basic things to remember about the Year of the Earth Rat is that it is a year of crashing elements ruled by earth and water, with earth sitting on top of weak water. This means that the metallic colours are excellent for 2008.

…the year is totally lacking in metal energy, so wearing any gold or silver would bring luck. White is also a colour that signifies metal, so it is a good idea to have a basic white shirt in your wardrobe and to wear it whenever you need to have a boost of energy and luck.

The year is also completely lacking in fire element, so the colour red is important, too. It is excellent to invest in a pair of red shoes and to carry a bright red wallet. Wearing red in the year 2008 really brings great financial creativity and luck.

General colours to avoid for 2008

This year, it is advisable to avoid wearing green and brown as these colours are described as bringing imbalance and hence, are not lucky. Do avoid wearing them too often.

Colours / types of accessories for 2008

The best accessories to wear for 2008 would be gold, yellow gold, as it brings amazing good fortune. …[wear] at least one piece of gold jewellery through the year, not only will it protect you but it also attracts good fortune for the year. This includes career advancement and great recognition luck.

In addition, carry a crimson wallet or handbag as these brings enormous good fortune. White is also a great colour for handbags. Black is not so good for 2008.

It is also excellent to wear diamonds and if you cannot afford them, then wear crystals. This brings good career and relationship luck. But if you can, I suggest you invest in at least one good diamond this year! It’s a great start to the new cycle of the zodiac.

Well, if what is mentioned above has any foundation, then the combination below would be ‘lucky’ dressing for 2008.

From top L-R: See by Chloe shift dress in gold floral jacquard, DAY Birger et Mikkelsen Bini V-neck blouse in cream silk, Vera Wang diamond and pearl ear drops, a bangle in various shades of red / pink and gold threads

From bottom L-R: Miu Miu metallic gold leather sandals with basket weaving details, By Malene Birger Afon metallic skirt, Louis Vuitton Ludlow wallet in Pomme D’amour, Marc by Marc Jacobs white leather tote.

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Readings on Feng Shui and colour

• BBC Online News, Feng shui expert tackles stadium ‘jinx’
• Jamilin.com, Wearing Your Feng Shui Colors
• Meltzer, C. / Andrusia, D., 2003. Feng Shui Chic: change your life with spirit and style. Fireside: New York.
• Rossbach, S. / Lin Y., 1994. Living Color. Kodansha International Ltd: USA, New York.