I’ve been known to be loud. I’ve worn bright colors, I’ve shouted, and I’ve been opinionated. Much of the time I’m more modest and even occasionally somewhat self-effacing, and more often than not I’d rather anyone else be the center of attention, but once in a while I do just let
‘er rip and enjoy the noise.
It’s possible that my sometime dislike of bright orange reflected my then predominant shy and introverted parts. When I was little and not yet worried about others’ opinions of me, I chose as my first self-selected garment a coat of the color in today’s illustration, and I wore it proudly and felt like a (miniature) queen in it. Now, ten years after beginning useful treatment for that nasty old anxiety-and-depression cocktail that had drizzled over me in the many subsequent years’ passing after that coat purchase, I appreciate bright orange again. But in that middle time I was a nervous and insecure type and orange was far too ebullient and exotic and full of uninhibited good cheer for me to even look upon it without a twinge.
You know what, though? ‘Orange’ and ‘twinge’ may end with the same sound, but they sure don’t rhyme, and I can’t think of much else they really have in common either, so why should I let the fact that I look awful in that color (never mind my generous childhood self-image) steer me away from delighting in the joy and sunshine that orange represents and just allowing that loud, reckless, gleeful color to shine all over me. Maybe even though I might not be able to be orange enough myself, I can reflect the joy and sunshine of orange a bit. Whee!
Art-Colored Glasses 
People with lighter tones could get into any colors without looking funny. I am brown-skinned so an orange shirt is not great to look at. (laughs)
Oddly, I think the *under*-tones of one’s skin often do more to decide what does or doesn’t work visually on a person. I, for example, am *very* pale (one of my aunts used to affectionately call me Caspar, after the children’s cartoon character ghost who was literally as white as a bedsheet), so you might think I’d be a completely ‘neutral palette’ for any color. But the undertone of my skin is quite sallow and yellowish, so wearing any color that has a lot of yellow in it makes me look like I’ve contracted a sudden, terrible case of jaundice. ‘Cool’ colors, yes; ‘warm’—no! So mostly I admire the latter on others, or in my surroundings, and let it go at that. But sometimes, admittedly, I’m very happy to just go a bit crazy and enjoy it! 😀 Maybe you’d find a happy surprise if you tried a different *kind* of orange…. 😉
Yes, we choose the most comfortable clothing for us. The colors are sometimes the x factor of what others see in us. But then as you said, we can go ‘crazy’ sometimes and say what the heck and wear whatever we want. That’s freedom and that’s liberating.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about this.
Blessings,
belsbror
Colors do in some eerie way reflect one’s personality. but your personality is in thy own hands, let not the colors intimidate you. Wear on Kathryn. I think orange rocks 🙂
😀 You’re right: we’re masters of our own destinies in that sense, so yes, I’ll wear what I choose. My latest fun with that has been a coat my older sister had for a while and passed down to me; it’s a plain, knee-length wool coat and cut very much like my other winter coats, but it’s an intense orchid pink, so I was unsure how I’d feel about wearing it. Not my usual choice! But first of all, I found that every time I walked out the door in it I got compliments left and right, and then in December it was announced that the Pantone color of 2014 was supposed to be—you guessed it—this exact color. I laughed! No one has accused me of being super chic or a fashionista, but suddenly people were commenting on my wearing the Color of the Year, too. So funny. Maybe orange is my next-big-thing! 😉 With your beauty, I can’t imagine there’s *any* color you can’t wear spectacularly, so until I get up the nerve to try it, wear orange for me, won’t you? 🙂
I feel the opposite of belsbror (maybe it’s you, orange). As a pale person, very few colors make me look worse than orange or yellow. But I’m wearing bright, orange fuzzy socks this morning that make me feel happy!
I hear a certain fictional character in my head, saying: ‘Happiness is a pair of orange socks!’ 😀
As you can see by my response to belsbror, I’m with you. And like you, I’ll happily put on a pair of fuzzy orange socks if I get the chance. Might just have to keep my eyes peeled (heh-heh) for those oranges…
Whee! Indeed. I also look shocking in orange and don’t love the colour but I did love your post! 😉
Good thing there are so many colors to love. Something for everyone. But maybe you and Michelle and belsbror and I and our orange-averse kin should have a nice Orange Day to celebrate our rebellion sometime. 😉
love orange…..when its paired with something more subtle!! 🙂
That’s often a good solution to our urges to be bold without being ridiculous. 🙂 Everything in moderation…including moderation! 😀
Love the title, and the thoughts here, Kathryn! My shyness (not necessarily my spirit) has always steered away from bright colors, especially orange and yellow. I know there is ‘talk’ about wearing purple as we get older … but I think these flaring colors are much more the ticket to nicely thumb our noses at whatever others think looks good on and is appropriate for us! Go for Gold … and Orange, of course! XO
I agree! I even think the Red Hat Society might be ever so slightly short of the mark they could hit with orange! But in our hearts, you and I wear our orange proudly: that’s what makes us artistes. 😀
xoxo!
Orange you glad that as we mature, we can wear whatever we please. 🙂
Haha! That reminds me of the prank callers from years back who would dial (!) the same number repeatedly, saying only “banana” when the phone was answered and then hanging up, and on their final call, say, “orange you glad I didn’t say ‘banana’?!’ Ah, youth. 😀