Color theory for retail: blue and its effect

Color in fashion retail exerts a powerful influence on people and as such must meet the precise objectives of the store in which it is used. FashionUnited decodes the nuances used in stores. Today we are talking about the color blue.

Blue belongs to the category of cool colors. It is a symbol of serenity and has a wide range that allows it to meet different needs. Sky blue, for example, has a calming effect, while a deep blue creates a mysterious atmosphere.

Photo: Casablanca – Selfridges

Airport blue at Casablanca

Luxury brand Casablanca has designed like an airport lounge in its pop-up/store, which opens in London in summer 2022. In line with the motto, the color blue was chosen to pick up on the theme. The area is covered with a graphically graded carpet in azure blue, while several bold shades of blue accentuate elements such as the shelves or the curtain of the moving walkway.

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Photo: Jacquemus

Thematic blue at Jacquemus

The swimming pool blue chosen by Jacquemus for his London pop-up in May 2022 evokes the changing rooms of city swimming pools when used in its original meaning. The light shade was applied to small tiles and combined with a white floor to increase the space and emphasize the impression of freshness. Lined from floor to wall, the saturated hue brought a sense of escape and joy to the space, approaching shades of turquoise.

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Image: Jacquemus

As blue is at the heart of the retail concept, it also extended to the label’s bags and clothing, creating a unified whole with a strong visual impact. By using this colour, the brand also strengthened its identity, which is rooted in Mediterranean culture: blue represents sea, summer sky and holidays.

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Image: A Cold Wall

Industrial blue at A-Cold-Wall

The strong blue of the English label A-Cold-Wall, which is used on one wall and some elements, gives the store a characterful atmosphere. In combination with white, it also highlights the industrial details of the place.

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Image: Brown’s

Blue bathroom at Browns

When English retailer Browns officially launched its beauty segment in its Browns East store in April 2022, the color blue was chosen. It is a fresh bathroom blue applied from floor to ceiling to convey a sense of cleanliness and an escape from it all.

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Image: Louis Vuitton

Patent blue at Louis Vuitton

For its pop-up store on Lake Como, Italy, Louis Vuitton chose to clad the walls in a rich ultramarine. It has been combined with a complementary nuance, the brown of the floor, to create a harmonious two-tone accord. The lacquered look of the color creates a mirror effect that enlarges the space and in which the shoes are reflected.

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Image: Marni

Blue design at Marni

In its Milan flagship store, opened in June 2022, Marni has covered the floor with a blue carpet punctuated with graphic stripes in the same tones. This large area of ​​color is combined with walls and a ceiling covered with silver mirror ceramic tiles that reflect the light. The whole gives the shop a strong creative character and sets it apart from the other shops on chic Via Montenapoleone.

This article was previously published on FashionUnited.uk. Translation and editing: Barbara Russ.

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