An article of footwear, apparel or sports equipment or a component of footwear, apparel or sports equipment (100; 130; 160; 400; 500), comprising: an optical element (12A'-12M'; 112a-b; 136a-b'; 172a-b; 175a-d; 182; 185; 187a-e; 197; 200; 300; 410; 510) disposed on a surface of the article or component, wherein the optical element includes at least a first region A (422; 522) and a first region B (424;524) disposed on a first area of the article or component and a second region A (462; 562) and a second region B (464; 564) disposed on a second area of the article or component, wherein the first region A and second region A of the optical element impart a first structural color (490R; 590R) to the article or component, wherein the first region B of the optical element imparts at least a second structural color (494A-E; 592A-C), wherein the second region B of the optical element imparts at least a third structural color (494G; 594G), wherein an area between the first region B and the second region B is a middle region having a fourth color (496W; 596W), wherein the first structural color, the second structural color, and the third structural color are different from each other when viewed from the same angle of observation, and the fourth color is different from the first structural color, the second structural color, the third structural color, or all three when viewed from the same angle of observation; wherein the optical element has 2 to 20 constituent layers (220, 230, 240, 245; 320, 330, 340, 345), wherein a total number of the layers in the first region A and the second region A of the optical element correspond, wherein a total number of the at least one layer in the first region B and the second region B of the optical element correspond, wherein each corresponding layer in the first region A, the first region B, the second region A and the second region B of the optical element consists essentially of the same material, wherein at least one of the layers of the first region B tapers from a first edge (426; 526) of the first region A to a first point (428; 528) of the first region B so that the thickness of the layer at the first edge of the first region A is greater than the thickness at the first point in the first region B, wherein at least one of the layers of the second region B tapers from a second edge (466; 566) of the second region A to a second point (468; 568) of the second region B so that the thickness of the layer at the second edge of the second region A is greater than the thickness at the second point in the second region B, wherein a first region B cross section (442; 544) and a second region B cross section (482; 584) are structurally different, in that one has a sloping structure while the other has a stair-step design. an optical element (12A'-12M'; 112a-b; 136a-b'; 172a-b; 175a-d; 182; 185; 187a-e; 197; 200; 300; 410; 510) disposed on a surface of the article or component, wherein the optical element includes at least a first region A (422; 522) and a first region B (424;524) disposed on a first area of the article or component and a second region A (462; 562) and a second region B (464; 564) disposed on a second area of the article or component, wherein the first region A and second region A of the optical element impart a first structural color (490R; 590R) to the article or component, wherein the first region B of the optical element imparts at least a second structural color (494A-E; 592A-C), wherein the second region B of the optical element imparts at least a third structural color (494G; 594G), wherein an area between the first region B and the second region B is a middle region having a fourth color (496W; 596W), wherein the first structural color, the second structural color, and the third structural color are different from each other when viewed from the same angle of observation, and the fourth color is different from the first structural color, the second structural color, the third structural color, or all three when viewed from the same angle of observation; wherein the optical element has 2 to 20 constituent layers (220, 230, 240, 245; 320, 330, 340, 345), wherein a total number of the layers in the first region A and the second region A of the optical element correspond, wherein a total number of the at least one layer in the first region B and the second region B of the optical element correspond, wherein each corresponding layer in the first region A, the first region B, the second region A and the second region B of the optical element consists essentially of the same material, wherein at least one of the layers of the first region B tapers from a first edge (426; 526) of the first region A to a first point (428; 528) of the first region B so that the thickness of the layer at the first edge of the first region A is greater than the thickness at the first point in the first region B, wherein at least one of the layers of the second region B tapers from a second edge (466; 566) of the second region A to a second point (468; 568) of the second region B so that the thickness of the layer at the second edge of the second region A is greater than the thickness at the second point in the second region B, wherein a first region B cross section (442; 544) and a second region B cross section (482; 584) are structurally different, in that one has a sloping structure while the other has a stair-step design.