Tailors and Seamstresses of Marrach

Page 03: Colors for Everyday Wear - Outer Bailey
Page 04: Colors for Everyday Wear - Inner Bailey

Page 05: Colors for Dances
Page 06: Colors for Vigils
Page 07: Colors for Weddings

Page 08: Colors for Formal Balls
Page 09: Colors for Formal Meetings
Page 10: Colors for Formal Initiations
Page 11: Colors for Formal Courtship

Page 12: Colors for Picnics
Page 13: Colors for Wakes
Page 14: Colors for Arcane rituals
Page 15: Colors for Martial Events
Page 16: Colors for Religious services

Hello. This is my book on appropriate colors to wear for different themes, called: Colors for All Occasions. This book is only a guideline and should be used as such. Also, this book is to help give people ideas if they cannot figure out what colors they want to use for different events.

Please remember that these are only suggestions and that there are exceptions to every golden rule. I think, mostly, a lot of this, once you think about it, is common sense. But, I know that sometimes I get so wrapped up in my life that I forget when things make sense. So, I hope this book helps.

Sincerely,
Sera Sara
Apprentice to Mistress Ermengarde
11th day of the 7th month

Colors for everyday wear depend mostly on who you are and what your rank is. What is appropriate for someone of high rank is generally not appropriate for someone who has just recently awoken. I will spilt them up by category.

Recent Newly Awakened: These people are very new to the castle, do not really understand the Great Chain and are still trying to find their path. For these people, because they live in the Outer Bailey, should wear the least expensive dyes that are a bit dull. Dull clothing hides dirt. These colors are: natural, brown, gray, ochre, olive, beige and tan.

Experienced Newly Awakened: These are the guests who have been awake for a while, found their path, are members of guilds and are contributing to the castle. They can wear all the previously mentioned colors plus these brighter colors: russet, ivory, white, auburn, red, mustard and sage.

Honored guests, Acolytes, honored students and others who live in the Outer Bailey but have access to the Inner Bailey: These are the guests who have been acknowledged for their work and performance. They are allowed to wear some of the nicer, more expensive colors on a more regular basis. These colors include: ebony, sable, saffron, green, sepia, ecru and pumpkin.

Courtiers: These are the guests who live in the Inner Bailey and fill most of the court's positions. They have access to many more interesting, rare and vibrant colors. Those within the Inner Bailey wear colors befitting their station. These colors can include: black, orange, pink, cream, blue, purple, burgundy, crimson, apricot, lemon, puce, lime, plum, amber, canary, scarlet, cinnamon, lavender, rose, forest, teal, cyan, mauve, violet, chartreuse, vermillion, fuscia, lilac, orchid, indigo, magenta, cobalt, alabaster, azure, raven and emerald. Only members of the Royal Court may wear the color cerulean.

Dances are, in general, festive occasions. The colors should reflect this. Bright vibrant colors that make a person feel happy and feel like dancing. Generally, you would not use colors such at ebony, sable, black, brown, sepia, gray or the like. The thing to be careful of here is to make sure you choose complimenting colors and not colors that clash.

Examples of complimenting colors: White and most vibrant colors. Yellow and green. Pink and red. Sage and russet. Emerald and plum.

Examples of clashing colors: Teal and forest. Olive and mauve. Auburn and lime. Grey and lilac. Rose and orange.

The other thing you have to keep in mind when picking colors for a dance is the reason for the dance. People associate some colors with some events. For example, if it is a Sweetheart dance, red/pink/white would be appropriate where lime/green/saffron would not. However lime/green/saffron would be appropriate for a garden party dance where red/pink/white would not work.

Love or affection dances: reds, pinks, whites
Winter dances: whites, blues, purples
Garden dances: greens, yellows, oranges or greens, blues, pinks, whites
Seeker dances: greens and whites
Counsel dances: reds
Fall dances: reds, yellows, browns, oranges

Vigils are a silent time of inner reflection. The clothing and colors you wear should mirror this attitude. Bright colors can be distracting and actually disruptive if they are too bright or clashing on the eyes. A couple going into a vigil should remember this and plan ahead. They should wear colors that are muted and that blend with each other as well as the surrounding area.

The best colors for such an occasion in my opinion are the muted neutral colors such as: natural, brown, beige, tan, ivory, white, sepia and ecru. However, some couples may have a favorite color that means something to them as a couple. That color would also be appropriate.

Where the vigil is a silent time of inner reflection, the wedding is a bright, happy affair to join a couple together in holy matrimony. Colors for this occasion can be bright and vibrant indeed. It is a celebration of life and love. Pretty much any color will do except for the more somber colors of: ebony, sable, black, brown, sepia, gray or the like. Also, it is not appropriate for guests to the wedding to wear such colors unless they wish to make a silent statement with their clothing.

Generally, the colors of the wedding are the mixture of the two or three favorite colors of the bride and groom. However, more often than not, the wedding colors will match the colors of the bride's dress.

The best colors for a formal ball are the more expensive, rare, richer colors of the rainbow. Red, Blues, Greens, Purples and Yellows. Black and the various shades of black are also appropriate for this event. Also, rich shades of brown such as sepia and taupe are appropriate. The only colors not appropriate for a formal ball are the dull, drab colors like olive, gray, ochre and the like.

The other things to keep in mind for formal balls are the host and the reason for the ball. As mentioned on page 5, various colors are more appropriate than others for different events. Keep this in mind when choosing your colors for the formal ball.

Truth be told, the fabric and cut of your clothing is actually more important than the color for a formal meeting. However, colors can speak volumes about who you are and what you are like. For most formal meetings, the colors mentioned on pages 3 and 4 for everyday wear are appropriate. However, different colors might help or hinder you in a formal meeting.

For example, wearing all gray to a formal meeting with an Armsman could assist you in the meeting. Especially if it is an interview to become a member of the Watch. However, it would probably hinder you if you were meeting with a member of the Duelists about becoming a Duelist.

Another example is wearing red to a Counsel interview meeting. Red is the color of the Counsel and the counselors do wear red. Wearing this color could help you by making it seem that you are already a part of the Counsel with your red clothing.

The final example of where color can help or hinder in a meeting is finding out the favorite color of the person you are meeting with before the meeting and wearing that to the meeting. As the person likes the color you are wearing and looks favorably upon it, it may help them look favorably on you as well.

The colors for a formal initiation or induction depend solely on the group doing the initiation or induction. Various groups throughout the castle have a predominant color associated with them. For these initiations or inductions, it is safe to dress in the main color of the group or guild. However, as a guest, you are allowed to deviate from this.

Known group and guild colors:
Seekers: Green and white
Watch: Grays
Counsel: Reds
Gardener Society: Green and brown
Sorcerers: Blues
Seamstresses: Apricot
Knights: Whites

There are no written rules on the colors a courting couple should wear. Only that the two of them can wear complimentary colors when appearing together in public. In particular, a man might wear a shirt or doublet in the same shade as the dress the woman he is courting is wearing. Or, a woman might give her courting gentleman a scarf or handkerchief in her favorite color as a sign of her favor and affection.

However, while there are no rules on clothing colors for a courting couple, there is an entire language based on the color of a flower - not to mention the flower itself. For more information on this, please speak to a member of the Garden Society.

Picnics are light-hearted, casual events. So, the colors mentioned on pages 3 and 4 for everyday wear are fine. Though, for reasons I do not understand, a red and white checkered blanket is often thought of for picnics. I think it is due to the idea of red associates to love, while white associates to friendship. If you are going on a picnic with someone, hopefully, you either like or love your companion - which is reflected in the blanket you sit on.

A wake, remembrance or funeral for someone is a solemn and somber occasion. Bright, happy clothing is not appropriate for these functions. The only bright color that might be acceptable would be a hint of the favorite color of the person the wake is for. This can be wore as a scarf, a handkerchief, a vest or a bodice. Otherwise, the much more sober colors of brown, gray, ebony, sable, black, burgundy, forest and raven are appropriate. To wear bright, festive colors would be disrespectful to the mourners and the person they are mourning.

For most arcane rituals, the color white is the most appropriate color and should be worn by everyone in the ritual or attending the ritual. In an arcane ritual, white represents purity of mind, body and soul. It is a lot less distracting than a riot of color that clashes with the surroundings. Also, there is the thought that some colors can work against the magic that is being performed, so the 'no color' of white is best to avoid this.

Martial events themselves have no real required colors. However, if a martial event like a dueling tournament is held, the colors usually go with the group or guild hosting the event. It is one of those common sense things I mentioned in the introduction.

If it is a formal duel between two parties, you can wear the predominant color of the person you favor in the duel. For the duelers themselves, the colors are their preference. Though, some duelers wear a red shirt to mask the blood from any injuries they might suffer.

Since the main colors for the Seekers of Natura Balanus are green and white, it is a safe assumption that greens and whites are appropriate colors for religious services of Natura Balanus. However, as Natura Balanus does embody all of the seasons, the wearing of seasonal colors for seasonal religious services is also appropriate. These include: Spring colors of greens, pinks, yellows and light shades of blue; Summer colors of golds, browns, greens and reds; Fall colors of browns, yellows, reds and oranges; Winter colors of whites, blues and purples. The main importance here is to know the purpose of the religious service of Natura Balanus and to dress accordingly.