Michiko Fujiwara's "Color" Stories, Part 4: September – A Red Coat
2008.09 Red Coat
This is a series where Michiko Fujiwara, a leading hair and makeup artist, shares episodes related to "color."
Of our six senses, how much drama does "sight" create on a daily basis? By feeling and savoring the colors that appear before our eyes, we create drama right there.
This time, the theme is "red." Here is her story of red.
Text by Michiko FujiwaraPhoto by Jamandfix
Red Coat
"Oh, all black clothes!"
That's what an acquaintance said when they saw my closet in my mid-thirties. It's true, my style up to then was a standard of black turtlenecks and black pants. In other words, I wore "black" all year round. A big reason was that it didn't matter if it got dirty on set with so many cosmetics, but beyond that, the color "black" suited my stoic personality at the time, and I felt comfortable in it.
Then one day, while looking for clothes in a shop, a color suddenly caught my eye. It was a coat in a clear, bright red. "Ah, I found it..." The moment I saw it, I felt like I had encountered something I had been searching for. Looking back now, I think I was seeking a different self at that time, and I felt that my purely stoic attire was becoming misaligned with who I was. I wanted to wear a color that was perfect for me now.—I was unconsciously thinking that.
When choosing clothes, reasons like fashion trends, a desire to express oneself, or how one wants to be perceived by others come into play. However, when it comes to color, I believe that the deep psychology of the moment has a significant influence. For example, when we lack energy, we tend to choose dark colors; when we are in love, we tend to choose gentle or cute colors; and when we are full of energy, we tend to choose vivid colors.
Thinking about it that way, it's safe to say that I was in a transitional phase from stoic "stillness" to dynamic "movement." Or perhaps, it was a time when the desire to become that way began to sprout. "Red" awakened in me, and from then on, I was able to confidently try colors that instantly lift my spirits, such as vivid pinks and blues. And a little later, I decided to start my own agency. Indeed, the time I chose the "red coat" can be called my transitional period, and it was a precursor to it.
The colors we choose reflect our deep psychology. If that's the case, wouldn't it be interesting to objectively explore what colors you prefer right now? It allows for a simple self-analysis of who you are at any given moment.