An article of footwear, apparel or sporting equipment or a component of footwear, apparel or sporting equipment (100; 130; 160; 400; 500; 600), comprising: an optical element (12A'-12M'; 112a-b; 136a-b'; 172a-b; 175a-d; 182; 185; 187a-e; 197; 200; 300; 410; 510; 610) disposed on a surface of the article or component, wherein the optical element includes at least a first region A (412; 512; 612) and a first region B (414; 514; 614) disposed on a first area of the article or component and a second region A (452; 552; 652) and a second region B (454; 554; 654) 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; 690R) to the article or component, wherein the first region B and second region B of the optical element impart a second structural color (492G; 592B-D; 692G) to the article or component, wherein an area between the first region B and the second region B is a middle region (440; 540; 640) having a third color (494B; 594A; 694A-B), wherein the first structural color, the second structural color, and the third color are each different from the others 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), each layer having a thickness of from 10 to 500 nanometers, wherein a total number of the layers in the first region A and the first region B of the optical element correspond and wherein a total number of the layers in the second region A 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 (416; 516; 616) of the first region A to a first point (418; 518; 618) 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 (456; 556; 656) of the second region A to a second point (458; 558; 658) 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 the middle region includes at least a first layer that consists essentially of the same material as one of the layers of the first region B or second region B. an optical element (12A'-12M'; 112a-b; 136a-b'; 172a-b; 175a-d; 182; 185; 187a-e; 197; 200; 300; 410; 510; 610) disposed on a surface of the article or component, wherein the optical element includes at least a first region A (412; 512; 612) and a first region B (414; 514; 614) disposed on a first area of the article or component and a second region A (452; 552; 652) and a second region B (454; 554; 654) 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; 690R) to the article or component, wherein the first region B and second region B of the optical element impart a second structural color (492G; 592B-D; 692G) to the article or component, wherein an area between the first region B and the second region B is a middle region (440; 540; 640) having a third color (494B; 594A; 694A-B), wherein the first structural color, the second structural color, and the third color are each different from the others 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), each layer having a thickness of from 10 to 500 nanometers, wherein a total number of the layers in the first region A and the first region B of the optical element correspond and wherein a total number of the layers in the second region A 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 (416; 516; 616) of the first region A to a first point (418; 518; 618) 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 (456; 556; 656) of the second region A to a second point (458; 558; 658) 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 the middle region includes at least a first layer that consists essentially of the same material as one of the layers of the first region B or second region B.