7 Lucky Colors to Attract Abundance This lunar new year
As the Year of the Fire Horse begins, many people look for simple, meaningful ways to invite good fortune. One straightforward option: lean on color. Fashion buyer Philippa Brooks maps out seven hues that carry luck, protection and fresh starts for the lunar new year — from the iconic red to softer tones that symbolize renewal.
Why color matters for the lunar new year
Color operates like a silent language. It can change moods, catch attention and carry centuries of cultural symbolism into a single outfit. Red, for example, is omnipresent in public celebrations and private rituals during the new year: it decorates doors, wraps gifts and threads through celebratory foods as a visible promise of luck and reunion. Brooks notes that some colors can non‑verbally influence or communicate emotions, and choosing them intentionally is a simple way to shape how others engage with you and how you feel about the year ahead.
Seven luck‑bringing hues and what they mean
Here are the seven colors highlighted for attracting abundance and positive energy this lunar new year, with what each one symbolizes and how people commonly use them.
- Red — The most iconic color for the celebration. Red symbolizes good luck, protection from bad energy and happiness. It was historically believed to drive away misfortune and bad spirits, and it carries bold, attention‑grabbing energy tied to passion and vitality. Even a small red accessory can serve as a luck charm.
- Gold — Gold projects wealth, success and prosperity. It is associated with royalty and power and is frequently paired with red to amplify fortune. Gold jewelry, embroidery and accessories are traditional ways to channel luxurious, fortunate energy.
- Orange — Oranges and tangerines are common gifts during the season because the word for the fruit sounds like the word for good luck or gold in some dialects. Wearing orange is thought to strengthen luck and multiply blessings; bright cuffs, scarves or a pocket square are easy ways to introduce the hue.
- Green — Linked to nature, growth and renewal, green suits the new‑year theme of fresh starts. It’s a good color for intentions around health and career development — think blazers, knitwear or subtle accents that suggest steady forward motion.
- Purple — Purple conveys honor, wealth and spiritual awareness. In some regions it’s favored as a modern alternative to red’s tradition; it keeps the meaning of luck while offering a slightly more understated, regal look.
- Blue — While blue can sometimes evoke melancholy, it is also strongly associated with serenity and contentment. Soft blues can temper the intensity of bolder colors while contributing calm, steady energy — useful for intentions centered on inner balance.
- Yellow — Yellow reads as bright and cheerful; it brings optimism and warmth. A yellow accessory or top can lift an outfit and act as a small, wearable invocation of positivity for the new cycle.
How to wear these colors to invite abundance
You don’t need a head‑to‑toe transformation to make a color work for you. Practical tips:
- Use accessories: A gold necklace, red scarf or orange clutch can be enough to carry intention without feeling overwhelming.
- Mix meaningfully: Pair red with gold for classic fortune symbolism, or use green and blue together for a grounded, calm energy that signals growth and stability.
- Choose what feels authentic: If full red feels too attention‑grabbing, try a single red element. Purple or green can offer meaningful alternatives that still align with luck and renewal.
- Be respectful: Wearing these colors is a personal ritual for many. Taking time to understand their cultural resonance and wearing them with positive intent honors the tradition.
Whether you favor bold red and gold or a quieter palette of greens and blues, color provides a low‑friction way to set an intention for the year ahead. This lunar new year, wearing a chosen hue can be a small, visible act of hope — and a reminder to carry that intention into daily life.
