Dr Parul R Sheth unearths the many facets of the colour red

Valentines and roses, red lips, cherries, red wine, sports cars, stop lights, red cross - all the colour of love, passion, anger, ego, will, leadership and survival.

Red is used to attract. Red clothing conveys power and energy and the person wearing it may appear aggressive and seductive. For some, red represents vitality, life force, assertion, bravery, vengefulness and virility. For others it may symbolise heat, fire, blood, warmth, power, excitement and danger. Blood red represents strong emotions such as passion, anger and pain. Red suggests extravagance and ostentatiousness.

Gimme Red
If you are young, you'll find yourself choosing the bright, vivid primary colour red. "It's such an amazing color. It can symbolize so many different things. A red rose for passion and love along with a fine, aged red wine - how romantic!" exclaims Neha, an aspiring model. Sumita, a student of Psychology exclaims, "I love red. It reminds me of red balloons, a speeding red sports car, red roses and love."

According to Dr Shubha Thatte, Clinical Psychologist, ex- Head of Psychology, KEM Hospital and G S Medical college, Mumbai, and Trustee and Supervisor, Institute for Psychological Health (IPH), Thane, "A woman's perception of any colour depends on the culture in which she is brought up and so it differs from one another. In India red colour is perceived as auspicious as it is the colour of 'Shaadi ka Joda' in many communities.

Scientists reveal that men and women perceive colour differently. Men cannot pinpoint the subtle differences in colours. You ask a man and he will say the colour is pink but the same shade may be peach for a woman. Also men prefer cooler colours such as white and blue while women opt for warm colours like red and yellow.

"With changing trends even mens' preferences for colours have undergone a serious makeover from dull and light colours to bright ones like red and orange. Seasons impact our choice of colours too - it would cheer you up if you opt for bright and floral attire on gloomy rainy days. When we are happy and cheerful we tend to pick brighter colours like green, pink, etc", says Dr Thatte.