Perceptual Interactions of Blue Clothing Attributes and Asian Skin Tones in Professional Impression Judgments

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the effects of blue clothing attributes and Asian skin tones on professional impression judgments. Unlike prior research emphasizing cross‐hue comparisons, it focuses on attribute‐level variation, examining how combinations of hue, saturation, and brightness in the blue spectrum influence professional impression in business contexts. The study was conducted in two stages. First, 12 Asian skin tone samples and 20 blue clothing color samples were developed, and five affective descriptors were selected. Second, 150 participants evaluated 3D avatar stimuli combining different skin tones and blue clothing colors; the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and correlation analysis. Results indicate that clothing color attributes are the primary factors shaping professional impression, with hue exerting the strongest effect, followed by saturation–brightness (S–B) combinations. Skin tone shows a relatively small direct effect but moderates the optimal range of color configurations. High ratings are concentrated in the blue (210°) to standard blue (240°) range under medium‐to‐high saturation and brightness, whereas blue–green (190°) and blue–violet (260°) receive lower evaluations. Associations between professional impression and the affective descriptors were observed in only two of the 12 skin‐tone conditions, indicating a relative distinction between professional impression and general affective evaluations. These findings suggest that professional impression is better explained by attribute‐level configurations and their interactions with skin tone than by the category of “blue” alone, supporting attribute‐based color strategies in apparel design and professional visual communication.