An article of footwear, apparel or sporting equipment, or a component of footwear, apparel or sporting equipment (100; 130; 160; 400) comprising: an optical element (12A'-12M'; 112a-b; 136a-b'; 172a-b; 175a-d; 182; 185; 187a-e; 197; 200; 300; 410) disposed on a surface of the article or component, wherein the optical element includes at least a first section disposed on a first area of the article or component and a second section disposed on a second area of the article or component, wherein the first section of the optical element imparts a first structural color to the first area of the article or component, wherein the second section of the optical element imparts a second structural color to the second area of the article or component, and wherein a color parameter of the first structural color and the second structural color are different from each other when viewed from the same angle of observation of a viewer having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from the article; wherein the first section has a first number of layers (220, 240, 245; 320, 340, 345; 424A-D, 430) and the second section has a second number of layers (220, 240, 245; 320, 340, 345; 430, 444A-F), wherein the refractive index of adjacent layers in each section is different, wherein the first number of layers and the second number of layers differ by at least 5, and wherein at least one of the corresponding layers (424A-D, 430, 444A-D) is a continuous layer that extends over the first section and the second section of the optical element and has a different average thickness (426A, 446A) in the first section than the second section. an optical element (12A'-12M'; 112a-b; 136a-b'; 172a-b; 175a-d; 182; 185; 187a-e; 197; 200; 300; 410) disposed on a surface of the article or component, wherein the optical element includes at least a first section disposed on a first area of the article or component and a second section disposed on a second area of the article or component, wherein the first section of the optical element imparts a first structural color to the first area of the article or component, wherein the second section of the optical element imparts a second structural color to the second area of the article or component, and wherein a color parameter of the first structural color and the second structural color are different from each other when viewed from the same angle of observation of a viewer having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from the article; wherein the first section has a first number of layers (220, 240, 245; 320, 340, 345; 424A-D, 430) and the second section has a second number of layers (220, 240, 245; 320, 340, 345; 430, 444A-F), wherein the refractive index of adjacent layers in each section is different, wherein the first number of layers and the second number of layers differ by at least 5, and wherein at least one of the corresponding layers (424A-D, 430, 444A-D) is a continuous layer that extends over the first section and the second section of the optical element and has a different average thickness (426A, 446A) in the first section than the second section.