Frank Sinatra is said to have held the opinion that orange was the happiest colour, and artist Vincent van Gogh claimed "Yellow is capable of charming God."

What does your choice of colour in clothing say about you? What does colour do for you?

In the The Healing Power of Colour by Betty Wood (Inner Traditions, 1998) it is noted that our colour preferences are a key to understanding our personalities.

For instance, says Wood, white is symbolic of purity, innocence, and naivety. Older individuals who prefer white could be indicating a desire for perfection and impossible ideals, or an attempt to recapture lost youth and freshness, the author claims.

Here are some other colours and what the experts say they mean to those who wear them:

Red - Dominance, power, attention, sexual energy, health, determination, passion, persistence, excitement, strength

Pink - Upbeat, good health, calming, friendly, compassionate, faithful, femininity, calm

Orange - Happy, courageous, successful, enthusiasm, bold, adventuresome, friendliness, warmth, informality, welcoming, movement, energy

Brown - Informal, reliable, approachable, relaxed, stability, earthy

Yellow - Anxiety, alert, optimistic, confident, stimulating, enthusiastic, playful, cheerful, communicative, expressive, intelligent

Green - Relaxing, compassion, prosperity, prestige, growth, abundance, money, vitality, harmony, efficiency

Aqua - Motivated, active, dynamic

Turquoise - Refreshing, cool, imaginative, innovative, youthful

Blue - Loved, high regard, knowledge, authority, trust, serious, responsibility, peace, social status, caring, good health, tranquil, intuitive, happiness, calm, honest, loyalty, integrity

Light blue - Peaceful, sincere, affectionate

Indigo - Knowledge, power, integrity

Purple - Spiritual, passionate, visionary, regal, powerful, respected, dignified, luxurious

Lavender - Romantic, imaginative, fantasy

Magenta - Outrageous, imaginative, innovative

Gold - Illumination, wisdom, prestige, expensive

Silver - Prestige, cold, scientific

Black - Elegance, authority, dignity, sophistication, seductive, mystery

Gray - Brainy, class, efficiency, sophisticated, confidence

White - Virtue, fertility, clean, status, prosperity

Red is the colour of strength, health, and vitality. Red is often the colour chosen by someone outgoing, aggressive, vigorous, and impulsive. The choice of maroon indicates that harsh experience has probably matured the individual into someone likeable and generous.

Pink is said to embody the gentler qualities of red, symbolising love and affection without passion, while orange is the colour of luxury and pleasure, appealing to the flamboyant and fun-loving.

Purples are highly individual, fastidious, witty, and sensitive, and a brown person has stamina and patience, tending to be very solid and substantial, conscientious, dependable, steady, and conservative.

Gray is said to be the colour of caution and compromise, diligent grays search for composure and peace and often work hard without reward, but black is dignified and impressive without being showy.

Partial information source: www.askandyaboutclothes.com