Teal is a bluish-green color that has become increasingly popular in fashion and decor over the past few years. But where did this trendy hue come from and what causes do people wear it for? Here’s a look at the meaning and symbolism behind the color teal.
The Origins of Teal
Teal gets its name from the common teal, a member of the duck family that has dark greenish-blue feathers. The word “teal” comes from the Middle English “tele” meaning greenish-blue. It first started being used as a color name in the mid-1700s.
In terms of hexadecimal code, teal is usually defined as #008080, which is a mix of green and blue. The first recorded use of teal as a color name in English was in 1917.
Teal began gaining popularity in interior design in the 1990s. Its surge as a fashion color came in the 2010s, especially around 2014. Pantone named “emerald,” a vibrant jewel tone teal, as its color of the year in 2013. This helped bring teal to the forefront.
Teal Symbolism
Teal has some interesting symbolism and meanings attached to it that explain why many are drawn to wearing this shade.
Balance – Teal is seen as representing a balance between the stability of blue and the growth and change of green. It brings together the best of both colors.
Calming – The cool tones of teal are considered peaceful, relaxing, and calming. It evokes images of tropical waters.
Compassion – In color psychology, teal is seen as a color of compassion, intuition, and insight.
Healing – Because of its association with water and nature, teal is thought to promote emotional, physical, and spiritual healing.
Openness – Teal is linked with open communication, clarity of thought, and mental relaxation.
Spirituality – As a blend of the sky (blue) and earth (green), teal is seen as uniting heaven and earth. It’s considered spiritual.
Creativity – The balance and tranquility teal represents is said to enhance creative thinking.
Overall, teal resonates with qualities like harmony, wisdom, stability, peace, trust, loyalty, and openness. This makes it an uplifting color to wear for many people.
Causes & Awareness
The soothing sense of purpose teal evokes has led to it being adopted for various causes and awareness campaigns. Some key examples include:
- Sexual Assault Awareness – Teal ribbons promote prevention of sexual violence.
- Ovarian Cancer Awareness – Teal represents ovarian cancer awareness in memories of Ginny Moyer.
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome – The PCOS community wears teal to raise awareness.
- Food Allergy Awareness – Teal represents food allergy awareness as a mix of blue and green.
- Anti-Bullying – Organizations like PACER have used teal to symbolize anti-bullying.
- Tourette Syndrome – Tourette Association of American uses teal ribbons to promote awareness.
- Cervical Cancer – Teal represents hope for a cure for cervical cancer.
Teal is associated with these causes because of its soothing, compassionate, and healing symbolic meanings. It provides comfort and openness for difficult conversations around topics like assault, cancer, bullying, and other traumatic experiences.
Teal in Fashion
In the fashion world, teal exploded in popularity in the 2010s. Some reasons why it became a trendy staple color include:
- Complementary – Teal flatters most skin tones and brings out eyes.
- Flattering – It’s an on-trend alternative to basic blacks and neutrals.
- Versatile – Teal works year-round and transitions well from day to night.
- Unique – Vibrant teal offers something more exciting than primary colors.
- Chic – Teal has a sophisticated look at the right saturation levels.
Teal offers more versatility than primary blues and greens. Designers and tastemakers embraced it as an unexpected neutral with a subtle pop. However, the color trend has roots as far back as the Art Deco era.
In the 1920s and ’30s, teal was a popular accent hue for fashion icons like Coco Chanel. But it wasn’t until the 2010s that it became a standalone neutral color. Now, it can be found across all types of clothing and accessories.
Teal Clothing
Today, you can find teal clothing for women, men, and children. Here are some of the staple ways people wear teal:
- Dresses – From casual sundresses to formal gowns
- Tops – Blouses, tanks, t-shirts, sweaters
- Bottoms – Skirts, shorts, pants, leggings
- Activewear – Sports bras, athleisure, swimwear
- Outerwear – Jackets, coats, cardigans
- Shoes – Pumps, sneakers, sandals
- Bags – Handbags, backpacks, wallets
- Accessories – Hats, scarves, jewelry
Teal makes for a great color pop against neutrals like white, black, gray, navy, and brown. It also pairs beautifully with shades like yellow, coral, pink, purple, and even other shades of blue and green.
How to Wear Teal
Here are some top tips for wearing teal fashion:
- Go for teal bottoms with neutral tops to balance the look.
- Use teal shoes or bags to add subtle pops of color to outfits.
- Try a teal cocktail dress for formal weddings or events.
- Mix different shades of teal together for more depth.
- Add teal jackets or cardigans over dresses and jeans.
- Look for teal accents on things like collars or plackets.
- Match teal eye makeup like liner or shadow to your outfit.
Teal offers lots of versatility to take you from the office to cocktails with ease. It works for casual daytime errands but can also be dressy enough for formal affairs. Play around with different textures like suede, silk, or sequins.
Teal Decor
You’ll find teal making a statement in home decor as much as fashion. It’s a bold accent color that adds an invigorating splash to any room. Here are some ways people incorporate teal home decor:
- Accent walls
- Area rugs
- Pillows
- Throws
- Kitchen appliances
- Dinnerware
- Vases
- Desk accessories
- Bath towels
Teal makes a vibrant alternative to common accent colors like red and yellow. It has an uplifting, rejuvenating effect. Use it in combinations like:
- Teal and orange
- Teal and pink
- Teal and purple
- Teal and yellow
- Teal and gray
However, teal can overpower a space if overdone. Use it in moderation against clean white or beige backdrops. A little of this stimulating shade goes a long way in home decor.
Teal in Branding
Teal is a trendy logo and branding color as well. Its balance of calm and vibrancy appeals to a wide range of companies. You’ll spot teal logos across industries like:
- Technology – Twitter, Samsung, Nokia
- Finance – Visa, Barclays
- Insurance – Esurance, JetBlue
- Retail – J.Crew, Cost Plus World Market
- Beauty – Nyx, Essie
Teal logos give off feelings of trust, tranquility, and openness. Companies leverage these associations to connect better with customers. It provides distinction from overly-common blues and greens.
When used for branding, teal conveys:
- Professionalism
- Creativity
- Clarity
- Wisdom
- Stability
It offers the ideal balance of being energizing yet soothing. This makes teal a versatile shade suitable for any industry.
Conclusion
Teal has come a long way from just being the color of a duck’s feathers. Today, it holds deep symbolism and meaning. People wear and use teal for its promotion of compassion, healing, awareness, wisdom, stability, and openness.
In fashion, teal provides the perfect versatile pop of color. It works year-round for clothing, accessories, and makeup. Teal home decor has revitalizing yet relaxing effects. The color also builds trust and likability when used in logos and branding.
So next time you see someone wearing teal, know they are making both a fashion and a purposeful statement. This beautiful oceanic shade says a lot without saying a word.
