Orange: Colour Of Murder. Who Looks Good In It?

Orange is one of those colours people love to dismiss immediately — almost as if its arrival in their lives would be like a maniac with a chainsaw.

And no wonder: we so often associate this colour with Halloween, or rather with cheesy, cheap decorations that will eventually end up in an orange pile of rubbish somewhere outside of town.

But orange can be different. What about the shade of autumn leaves? Or of a pumpkin?

Terracotta. Sunset. A chunky, cheeky Persian cat.

Orange can be nice and it should be worn.

Why Orange Feels So “Difficult”

Orange is neither yellow nor red. It lives somewhere in between, which makes it emotionally charged with both. It carries the joy and cheerfulness of yellow, but also the passion and vigour of red. It’s a colour that never disappears from view — and that persistence is exactly what some people find difficult to deal with.

Emotional Associations With Orange

However, across studies in colour psychology, orange is consistently linked to positive traits:

• warmth

• sociability

• creativity

• appetite

• optimism

• emotional openness

It’s no coincidence orange is used in food branding, hospitality, and spaces meant to feel welcoming. The brain reads orange as life-supporting, not threatening.

Who Looks Good In Orange

Orange For Cool Types

Periwinkle and Hellebore can sometimes get away with certain orange-adjacent shades that fit their palettes — though even then, it will never be perfect. For Periwinkle, this might mean an ever-so-subtle coral. For Hellebore, a deep blood orange can work better than expected. Columbine, however, needs to think twice before wearing orange at all.

The best possible option for Columbine would be a mid-tone orange with a strong red base — but even then, it will still clash with their appearance. Why? Because Columbine is, first and foremost, cool. Not light, not dark — cool. Coolness is a defining characteristic of this type, and warm colours fundamentally fight against it. Orange, being unapologetically warm, disrupts Columbine’s colour harmony rather than supporting it. For this type, orange is best kept away from the face and used sparingly, perhaps as a small accessory rather than a dominant colour.

Orange For Warm Types

Warm Zazu Feu types, on the other hand, are here to own orange. And that’s no surprise — orange is a truly warm colour. On warm skin, orange doesn’t look foreign or forced. It mirrors the warm undertones of the skin, echoes the warmth in the eyes and hair, and creates a sense of cohesion rather than contrast.

If you’re a Buttercup, reach for subtle oranges: peach, soft coral, gentle apricot tones. If you’re a Marigold, mid-tone oranges are your territory — warm apricot, glowing orange, balanced and alive. If you’re a Rudbeckia, your oranges are deeper and earthier: terracotta, pumpkin, baked clay.

Who Can Wear Bright Orange

Bright orange looks best on Marigold, especially when their brightness exceeds the medium range. Think of someone like Cameron Diaz, with her radiant skin and warm blue eyes. She has enough depth to sit comfortably in Marigold, and enough brightness to carry strong, warm shades without being overwhelmed. It’s the only situation in which bright orange doesn’t overpower the wearer.

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