What would you say is the “official” color of corporate or collegiate environments?

Are you asking about school colors, or about the colors of clothing that people tend to wear?

@wundayatta In this instance, color combinations that are used for a school uniform, or an office uniform.

College kids don’t wear uniforms of any sort you’d recognize, for them it would be clothes from a newly popular store that is not yet known to high school kids.

And business casual at a place where everyone conforms is usually khaki slacks with a long sleeve shirt in a solid color, no pattern. But I have always worn Brooks Bros pink, striped, yellow, plaid, madras shirts. and I wear a variety of slacks.

Yes, school uniforms are about as you described, not a lot of variety there. Lands End has a whole catalog on school uniforms, and most schools use it to choose colors and materials.

The colors you suggest are found in Health Clubs, resorts and hotels. There is a sort of class difference between office and recreation businesses.

@YARNLADY If a resort why not happier colors, pink, lime, orange, fuchsia, etc? Even nurses have bright scrubs and not the drab green or pewter color all of the time.

US here…It seems like many schools use blue as one of the colors. Red probably comes in second place, and possibly green for third. They are strong colors. They are common. They evoke the image of strength.

Why not something in the pastel collection? They are calming colors on the psyche. The reason for using them in the medical environment is because they are more prone to a soothing effect. It’s the same reason why pastel colors are chosen for wall paint in situations where a visitor needs to cool down.

I was referring to the alternate colors in your details, the ones you never see.

@Hypocrisy_Central the colors you list are conservative colors and translate easily into the colors of suits, ties, blazers, vests, sweaters than can be worn with a tie etc. They could all be considered “businessy” or “preppy” or “collegiate” —they may also be considered “power colors”
The pinks, oranges, lime greens, aquas and all the colors you suggest are not “power colors”—more the colors from the steno pool or the streets.

Odd ducks on the edge—you probably don’t see much brown, even though it is a sombre color. You might occasionally see a pink oxford-cloth button down shirt.

You probably don’t see much teal or pewter or rust even though these are good power colors for women.

Although you see khaki and navy you don’t see olive drab. Khaki and navy seem not limited to military connotations, but not true for olive drab. Connotes either military or army surplus/thrift/charity.