An article of footwear, apparel or sporting equipment or component of footwear, apparel or sporting equipment (100; 130; 160; 400; 500; 600; 700; 800) comprising: an optical element (12A'-12M'; 112a-b; 136a-b'; 172a-b; 175a-d; 182; 185; 187a-e; 197; 200; 300; 410; 510; 610; 710; 810; 916) disposed on a surface (405; 505; 605; 705; 805; 914) of the article or component, wherein the optical element includes at least a region A (420; 520; 620; 720; 820), a middle region (440; 540; 640; 740; 840), and a region B (450; 550; 650; 750; 850), wherein the middle region is between the region A and the region B, wherein the middle region imparts a first structural color (492; 592; 692; 792; 892), wherein each of the region A and the region B impart a second structural color (494; 594; 694; 794; 894), wherein a color parameter of the first structural color and the second structural color differ from one another when viewed from the same angle of observation by a person having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from the article or component under the same lighting conditions; and 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 region A, the middle region, and the region B of the optical element correspond, wherein each corresponding layer in the region A, the middle region, and the region B of the optical element consists essentially of the same material, wherein at least one of the layers of the region A tapers from a first transition edge (422; 522; 622; 722; 822) to a first boundary point (424; 524; 624; 724; 824) so that the thickness of the layer at the first transition edge is greater than the thickness at the first boundary point, wherein at least one of the layers of the region B tapers from a second transition edge (452; 552; 652; 752; 852) to a second boundary point (454; 554; 654; 754; 854) so that the thickness of the layer at the second transition edge is greater than the thickness at the second boundary point; wherein at least one of the layers of the region A tapers in a stair-step manner from the first transition edge of the region A to the first boundary point, and at least one of the layers of the region B tapers in a stair-step manner from the second transition edge of the region B to the second boundary point. an optical element (12A'-12M'; 112a-b; 136a-b'; 172a-b; 175a-d; 182; 185; 187a-e; 197; 200; 300; 410; 510; 610; 710; 810; 916) disposed on a surface (405; 505; 605; 705; 805; 914) of the article or component, wherein the optical element includes at least a region A (420; 520; 620; 720; 820), a middle region (440; 540; 640; 740; 840), and a region B (450; 550; 650; 750; 850), wherein the middle region is between the region A and the region B, wherein the middle region imparts a first structural color (492; 592; 692; 792; 892), wherein each of the region A and the region B impart a second structural color (494; 594; 694; 794; 894), wherein a color parameter of the first structural color and the second structural color differ from one another when viewed from the same angle of observation by a person having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from the article or component under the same lighting conditions; and 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 region A, the middle region, and the region B of the optical element correspond, wherein each corresponding layer in the region A, the middle region, and the region B of the optical element consists essentially of the same material, wherein at least one of the layers of the region A tapers from a first transition edge (422; 522; 622; 722; 822) to a first boundary point (424; 524; 624; 724; 824) so that the thickness of the layer at the first transition edge is greater than the thickness at the first boundary point, wherein at least one of the layers of the region B tapers from a second transition edge (452; 552; 652; 752; 852) to a second boundary point (454; 554; 654; 754; 854) so that the thickness of the layer at the second transition edge is greater than the thickness at the second boundary point; wherein at least one of the layers of the region A tapers in a stair-step manner from the first transition edge of the region A to the first boundary point, and at least one of the layers of the region B tapers in a stair-step manner from the second transition edge of the region B to the second boundary point.