Designers are well aware of striking national differences in color preference. Albou despairs of the conservatism of French men, but says American and Australian customers are begging her to pile on the color. Paul Smith reports strong sales of his more colorful pieces to Japan. Complexion and weather also play a part. The long Italian summers and olive skins of the men are perfectly suited to deep, rich or very bright colors.
National tastes can change.
French men like the color green, but it was once a widely held traditional French belief that green brought bad luck. It's for a few weeks in July and August, for the holidays and four high summer Sundays in London.