COLORS IN THE HAESENI COURTS

[sarahbarah 5008]

Moda i ve Kort

Published under the Mistress of the Wardrobe

12th of Tov ag Yermey, 407 E.S.

 

PENNED BY THE HANDS OF 

HER GRACE, MARIE LORRAINE RUTHERN 

AND MISS AMELYA EVELOT

COLORS 

AND THEIR RESPECTIVE SYMBOLISMS IN THE ROYAL COURTS OF HANSETI-RUSKA

A depiction of a Prinzenas donning red for her Hauchmetvas.

 

 

VA VE EDLERVIK,

 

Since the revival of Ruskan fashion during Koenas Annika’s reign, and the birth of it brought about by Duchess-consort Ingrid Barclay, the color of a lady’s clothing has held great significance within the Courts of Hanseti-Ruska. Subsequently, any considerate lady of the courts should want to understand what meaning her attire holds. A key element in that meaning is the hue of her garbs, which may bear many underlying hints to a lady’s noble, marital, or even emotional status.

 

As written by Koenas Annika: “Colors which people often wear speak a message to those around the wearer and can represent a multitude of things.”

 

Haeseni fashion has since then risen to unprecedented peaks. As such, Prinzenas Nikoleta and her assistants, under the caring gaze of Her Majesty, Koenas Emma, shall dutifully honour the beloved legacy of Ruskan fashion by pursuing the regulation and restoration of fashion principles to energize the Haeseni Courts once more. 

 

Without further ado, we present Moda i ve Kort: the colors and their meanings within Hanseti-Ruskan fashion. This document is an essential read for any lady of the Courts.

 

 

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RED

 

Donning the color red bears a multitude of symbolisms, though the primary ones are passion and love. This color also symbolizes an openness to courtship, hence why all Haeseni debuts wear it on their fourteenth name day, or Hauchmetvas. 

 

Brighter reds, however, are reserved for younger women who are seeking courtships and marriages, while darker reds and wine-like colors are reserved for married women so that they may represent their devotion to their spouses through their chosen attire. In fact, an older woman who is spotted donning darker shades of red during the Haeseni social season, Lifstala, would be perceived as a loving wife who is quite content with her marriage and the subsequent match she achieved from the season prior. However, should an older woman be seen donning brighter shades of red, it would be deemed inappropriate and shameful.

 

For the men of Haense, the color red does not hold as much meaning within their wardrobes. It may symbolize strength or devotion to their spouse, though the shades of red they find themselves wearing, bright or dark alike, share these universal meanings. Haeseni men are allowed more leverage; all shades of red are appropriate for them to wear. 

 

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ORANGE

 

Adorning the color orange signifies determination and ambition. It provokes these feelings from the hopefulness of yellow and passion of red to create the perfect shade of combined sensations. Most frequently worn by those within the upper classes, it is meant to be honored by its symbolism of resilience and determination.

 

Orange also displays a possessed strength both mentally and physically through its vibrance. 

Since orange dye is a luxury in clothing from its rare ingredients, those who wear it show a much higher degree of wealth. An individual donning this color would most certainly be deemed an ambitious individual, and one not to be interfered with, either.

 

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YELLOW

 

Wearing the color yellow displays a yearning for hope or friendship primarily. Should one be seen wearing yellow at a ball or an outing of some kind, it would symbolize the wearer’s desire for friendship. 

 

Additionally, donning yellow can symbolize hopeful tidings, hope for one’s good health, etcetera. The color yellow, in these circumstances, serves as a beacon for the desire of friendship and hope for the future of the person that wears it, essentially. 

 

Alternatively, this color may also demonstrate a state of mourning. Particularly, those who adorn themselves with a single yellow accessory, such as a flower pinned atop one’s shirt or dress, would be perceived as mourning. Aside from mourning, yellow may also be paired with black during any occasion, as those are the two national colors of Hanseti-Ruska.

 

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GREEN

 

Dressing oneself in green may exhibit many characteristics of the wearer, such as one’s wealth, desire for fertility, or love of nature and the outdoors. Green is quite an attractive color in the courts, for those who wear it may be presenting a green-thumb, an exuberant amount of wealth, or even their own pregnancy and impending motherhood. 

 

It is also considered to be quite the lucky color, especially for expecting mothers, as many are seen wearing it during or around the birth of their child since the color itself symbolizes fertility. Should any lady of the courts expect a pregnancy, they would most certainly don green apparel for good luck regarding the birth and well-being of their child. 

 

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BLUE

 

    Wearing blue attire is very common among all the classes but still shares many distinct meanings. Blue often signifies someone with a broadened imagination, strong confidence, and a gracefulness to them. 

 

The different shades of blue can often dictate its meaning from the affordability of each recipe. A muted or dull blue suits the lower class while a rich or deep blue is only befitting of those that come from royal and upper class nobility. The color blue also exhibits truth, as many partners wear it as a sign of fidelity or faithfulness. 

 

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PURPLE

 

    The adornment of the color purple establishes one’s royal or high noble status within the courts due to its symbolism of regality and luxury. Since the dye required to make purple garbs  is quite rare, queens, princesses, and those from ducal families should be the only ones wearing this lavish shade. Otherwise, it would be deemed improper, pretentious, or even rude for someone of a lower class to adorn themselves with this hue. 

 

There are exceptions, of course, as those who bear magic in the courts may also wear this shade regardless of their status. Due to the color’s underlying meanings of mysticism and wonder, mages and the like are free to wear purple in the courts should they choose to do so. 

 

These rules do not apply to lighter shades of purple, however. Adorning oneself with shades of lilacs and lavender are permissible amongst the lower nobility, and can symbolize the youth and purity of the wearer. 

 

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PINK

 

    Those who showcase the color pink in their apparel express delicate youth and purity, similarly to lighter shades of purple. Pink can be adorned by any class but should not be worn by married women. It would be deemed highly inappropriate if a married woman wore pink as it would be implied that she was wedded but also a child. 

 

Moreover, a combination of red and white’s symbolisms are also exhibited when one adorns oneself with shades of pink, in which love, purity, and innocence are expressed. Pink is most often donned by children, but can be worn by anyone of any class if they are unwed.

 

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BLACK

 

Should one don black as the primary color of their outfit, it would symbolize that they are in a state of mourning. It is important to note, however, that this color should not be worn outside of mourning unless the wearer is a clergy member. Doing so would indicate that the wearer is of holy status when they are not, which would be deemed improper within the courts. 

 

This rule does not apply to accents, though; black accents are appropriate with any garb. Further, black and yellow may be paired together, since these are the national colors of Hanseti-Ruska as previously mentioned. 

 

Since the color black is most frequently worn by members of the clergy, this color also symbolizes piety and wisdom, of which all clergy members should possess. Occasionally, the color black may also embody one’s power as well.

 

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WHITE

 

The color white is the primary symbol of purity, innocence, and holiness within the Hanseti-Ruskan courts. Adorning oneself with it could imply a plethora of symbolisms, such as a purity and devotion to Godan, hence why it is often worn on religious holidays and wedding days.

 

However, it is crucial to note that it would be considered inappropriate to adorn white as the primary color of an outfit unless it is a religious holiday or the wearer’s wedding day in particular.

 

On the contrary, wearing white as an accent is entirely appropriate and can serve as a symbolism of one’s innocence, purity, and love for Canonism. 

 

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BROWN

 

Dressing in brown has the least amount of significance with its representation of simplicity. It is one of the most affordable colors to wear, seen regularly among the lower classes. The color lacks much of its symbolism through its earthy tone that's easiest to obtain.

 

If someone of the upper class is seen wearing brown, it shows humility through their lack of lavish and rich colors. When brown fabric is utilized in one’s attire, it is most often seen in tunics, cloaks, or girdles instead.

 

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FINAL REMARKS

 

Acknowledging what each color in one’s garb symbolizes is an essential part to understanding Hanseti-Ruskan fashion and courtly etiquette. Not only may it start a cordial conversation, but it properly exhibits one’s status in the presence of the Royal family and within the courts, which is, of course, common courtesy. 

 

It should be noted that the colors that may be deemed inappropriate for casual wear (such as purple, depending on the wearer’s status), can be donned if it is part of a wearer’s family colors or crest, but at family events only for the purpose of exhibiting family pride. This is the only occasion when such is appropriate; otherwise, the lords and ladies of the courts should practice etiquette and awareness with the colors of their attire. 

 

With the revival of fashion etiquette and color symbolisms, the Mistress of the Wardrobe and her assistants shall continue to dutifully ensure that these standards of fashion are upheld within the courts.

 

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SIGNED,

 

HER ROYAL MAJESTY, Queen Emma Karenina

 

HER ROYAL HIGHNESS, Princess Nikoleta Barbara, Duchess-Consort of Akovia

Mistress of the Wardrobe

 

HER GRACE, Marie Lorraine Ruthern, Duchess-Consort of Vidaus

Lady Chamberlain of the Royal Courts of Hanseti-Ruska

 

Miss Amelya Evelot

Ward to the Mistress of the Wardrobe

 

Spoiler

Thank you to @wowsirss and @zuziee for writing the outline and @niki for help writing the post as well!

Inspo for the colors and their meanings come from @Mady's post, which I’ll link here:

 

 

 

[Borin 5244]

"green and blue... i gracefully touch grass" friar viktor mutters as he reads the weird colour missive

[zuziee 3213]

Prinzenas Nikoleta, Mistress of the Wardrobe, took a moment out of her sobbing to read the missive her friends had worked so hard on. "Dobry job. Ea just love an in-depth fashion dive." then returning to her crying. 

[1_Language_1 1670]

             "I can't wait to wear pink in court." Abraham smirks softly at the thought of painting the knight armor pink.

[CopOwl 1668]

Adrianna Darkwood grins brightly at the work of the Queen's Council once more. "Another lovely study-!" She admires with an appreciative nod before opening her wardrobe and removing various dresses she now needs to re-dye. She also takes a moment to grasp a small yellow flower from her collection and thread a pin through the stalk. From then on, said yellow flower could be seen adorning her outfits.

 

Meanwhile, Adele Ludovar exclaims upon slowly reading the missive with her sister- "Ea have to remember ALL of that????" The young girl gasps, though then she grins and squeals excitedly before rushing to their wardrobe and shouting throughout the Otistadt Keep: "PAPEJ, AMICIA AND EA NEED NEW DRESSES!!!"

Edited January 10, 2022 by CopOwl

[yopplwasupxxx 5664]

Very cool +1

[Mady 2989]

From her balcony, Koenas Annika would smile happily as she saw her credited work be broadened and expanded upon through the well written missive, a strum of pride within the ageing queen mothers heart. 

[MissToni 3487]

Ingrid Barclay smiled proudly from the seven skies as she watched the ruskan fashion trend that she had brought and started in Haense become more fleshed out and respected.