New York magazine recently ran a story for its Spring Fashion 2008 series called “One Is the Loveliest Color.” It features interviews with five different New York residents, each of whom wears only one signature color… all the time.

There’s a shoe designer in blue, musician Stephin Merritt in brown, and my personal favorite, “The Green Lady.”

New York magazine’s interviewees in “One Is the Loveliest Color” might inspire you to find your signature hue.

I always referred to Elizabeth Sweetheart as The Green Lady when I lived in the city. I’d see her often in my Brooklyn neighborhood and on the train. I was always amused and impressed by all of the ways she folded green into her wardrobe. I recall the green barrettes in her green hair, atop a face with green tinted glasses. The green shoes, green socks, and of course, green overalls.

I never had the nerve to ask her about her unique look, so until I stumbled upon this article, I didn’t really “get” it. Reading the other interviews, this idea of a signature color, and how it evolved for these creative people, it suddenly made sense.

First, the color seems to find you, not the other way around. It trickles in initially, but quickly takes over. And it does so because it reflects the wearer’s personality. It immediately feels tied to the wearer, and vice versa. It’s like a brand. Tiffany & Co wouldn’t be the same without its “Tiffany blue” boxes, just as Elizabeth Sweetheart wouldn’t be the same without her green. She can’t sleep if she’s not wearing her green.

Sure, it’s unlikely that this notion of dressing monochromatically in a signature shade every day will be the next big trend, but it should make you think a bit about what defines you.

What about your look says something about your personality to potential clients or employers, or just the general public? If someone saw you on the train every day, but didn’t know your name, what would they call you? The Green Lady? Blue Glasses Guy? Pigtails Girl? Like a brand, your look is your first impression, and when repeated regularly, itss how people remember you. That’s not to say these little things would help or hurt you when seeking your next design job, but hinting at your design style or your professional personality can have quite a subconscious impact.

So what’s your personal color or signature look?

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