Color temperature: warm vs. cool.

Division of the chromatic circle by temperature

One of the most critical classifications in our discipline is temperature. If we draw a dividing line on the color wheel, we get two opposing hemispheres.

The warm hemisphere ranges from yellows to reds and reddish purples, evoking elements such as fire, dry earth or the sun.

In contrast, the cold hemisphere comprises ranges from greens to bluish violets, sensorially linking to water, ice or shady vegetation.

This distinction is not just poetic; it generates immediate physical and psychological responses in the viewer and is the basis for diagnosing a client's palette.

Visual effects of expansion and contraction

Color temperature alters the perception of space and body volume. Warm colors have a centrifugal nature: they appear to vibrate, move toward the viewer and expand.

Thus, a bright orange garment will make the area of the body where it is placed appear visually larger and closer.

In contrast, cool colors are centripetal: they generate a sense of stillness, visually recede and contract volume.

A navy blue or bottle green suit tends to compact the silhouette, giving a more reduced and distant appearance.

Mastering these effects allows the consultant to visually sculpt the client's figure without dieting, simply by applying the correct temperature in strategic areas.

How to distinguish undertones in complex colors

Not all reds are warm and not all blues are cool; the key lies in the predominant undertone or hue. Each color can "cool" or "warm" depending on its chemical composition.

For example, think of green: if we add a higher load of yellow (as in a lime or pistachio green), it becomes warm and vibrant.

If we inject that same green with blue pigment (as in a pine or emerald green), it becomes a cool tone.

The same goes for red: a tomato red (with yellow undertone) is warm, while a cherry or raspberry red (with blue undertone) is eminently cool.

This ability to dissect the composition of a color is the most valuable tool for a consultant when shopping or auditing a closet.

Summary

The circle is divided into two hemispheres: warm (yellows to reds) and cool (greens to violets). This classification generates immediate physical and psychological responses, being the basis of customer diagnosis.

Temperature alters spatial perception: warm colors expand and advance (centrifugal), while cold colors contract and recede (centripetal). This allows the figure to be visually sculpted by using the correct shades strategically.

It is vital to distinguish the undertone in complex colors. A green can be warm if it has more yellow, or cool if it has blue; identifying this chemical composition is the most valuable tool.